title: Reduced heart rate variability in pet dogs affected by anxiety-related behaviour problems.
abstract: We present here the first evidence of correlation between canine anxiety-related behavioural problems and heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is known to be related to a range of mental disorders in humans; however this has not been explored in dogs. Behavioural problems in dogs can result in suffering, property destruction and human injury. Dog behaviour problems were assessed by owner questionnaire and the extreme high and low scoring dogs were recruited into either affected (n=10) or unaffected (n=20) groups. HRV was assessed in dogs at their homes, while being held in lateral recumbency for 5min using manual restraint. Salivary cortisol samples were taken before and after HRV testing. Dogs were assessed as either being reactive to the procedure (barking, growling, struggling or shaking) or unreactive. There was no effect of reactivity or behaviour problems on salivary cortisol levels at baseline or in response to the treatment. There was a significant effect of reactivity on HR (F1,26=5.54; P=0.026), and no effect of behaviour problems (F1,26=1.07; P=0.311). There was no effect of reactivity on any of the HRV measures. The presence of behaviour problems had a significant effect on a range of measures of HRV, with unaffected dogs having higher standard deviation of RR intervals (F1,26=6.39; P=0.018), higher high frequency spectrum (F1,26=5.23; P=0.031) and higher low frequency spectrum (F1,26=9.25; P=0.005) power. There was no effect of behaviour problems on very low frequency spectrum power (F1,26=1.40; P=0.248). Together these results provide evidence for a fundamental physiological difference between dogs affected or unaffected with behaviour problems. This study provides evidence for further investigation into the role of HRV in the pathophysiology of canine anxiety-related behaviour problems.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia. Electronic address: denniswormald@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wormald
authors.affiliation: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Advanced Vetcare, Kensington, VIC 3031, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone