Sled dog welfare in Cerro Chapelco, Argentina. Effects on Oxytocin, Gastrin & Creatinine Kinase.

ANTONELLA PANEBIANCO; ANTONELA MAROZZI; PABLO CARMANCHAHI; LEONARDO LEGGIERI; PABLO GREGORIO

Valencia

Conferencia; 2018 International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association (ISDVMA) conference; 2018

ISDVMA

A considerable increase in creatinine kinase (CK) activity and gastrin hormonedue to exercise has been observed in sled dogs during endurancemushing races; however, there have been no studies on sled dogs duringrecreational mushing. Although oxytocin hormone is involved in socialbehaviors and empathy, it has not been studied in sled dogs. This studyaimed to assess changes in plasma CK activity, and gastrin and oxytocinconcentrations in adult sled dogs used in touristic mushing in NorthPatagonia, Argentina. Blood samples were collected before, during, andafter the winter season of 2017. Creatinine kinase activity measurementwas done using an enzymatic assay. Hormone analyses were performedusing commercial Enzyme-Linked InmunoSorbent Assay kits. Resultsshowed an expected two-fold increase in CK activity during the winter,with recovering basal values after winter (< 400 UI/L), low and stable levelsof gastrin (9.4 ± 8.8 pg/mL), and a slight increase in oxytocin (23%) aftermushing activities. No evidence indicated gastrin alterations or musculardamage from touristic mushing, but an oxytocin increase would indicate astimulation of the brain reward system.