The Welfare of Fighting Dogs: Wounds, Neurobiology of Pain, Legal Aspects and the Potential Role of the Veterinary Profession
Throughout history it has been common to practice activities which significantly impact on animal welfare. Animal fighting, including dogfighting, is a prime example where animals often require veterinary care, either to treat wounds and fractures or to manage pain associated with tissue and where d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/17/2257 |
| _version_ | 1797496634061357056 |
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| author | Daniel Mota-Rojas Chiara Mariti Míriam Marcet-Rius Karina Lezama-García Angelo Gazzano Ismael Hernández-Ávalos Patricia Mora-Medina Adriana Domínguez-Oliva Alexandra L. Whittaker |
| author_facet | Daniel Mota-Rojas Chiara Mariti Míriam Marcet-Rius Karina Lezama-García Angelo Gazzano Ismael Hernández-Ávalos Patricia Mora-Medina Adriana Domínguez-Oliva Alexandra L. Whittaker |
| author_sort | Daniel Mota-Rojas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Throughout history it has been common to practice activities which significantly impact on animal welfare. Animal fighting, including dogfighting, is a prime example where animals often require veterinary care, either to treat wounds and fractures or to manage pain associated with tissue and where death may even result. Amongst the detrimental health effects arising are the sensory alterations that these injuries cause, which not only include acute or chronic pain but can also trigger a greater sensitivity to other harmful (hyperalgesia) or even innocuous stimuli (allodynia). These neurobiological aspects are often ignored and the erroneous assumption made that the breeds engaged in organized fighting have a high pain threshold or, at least, they present reduced or delayed responses to painful stimuli. However, it is now widely recognized that the damage these dogs suffer is not only physical but psychological, emotional, and sensory. Due to the impact fighting has on canine welfare, it is necessary to propose solution strategies, especially educational ones, i.e., educating people and training veterinarians, the latter potentially playing a key role in alerting people to all dog welfare issues. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the risk factors associated with dogfighting generally (dog temperament, age, sex, nutrition, testosterone levels, environment, isolation conditions, socialization, education, or training). A neurobiological approach to this topic is taken to discuss the impact on dog pain and emotion. Finally, a general discussion of the format of guidelines and laws that seek to sanction them is presented. The role that veterinarians can play in advancing dog welfare, rehabilitating dogs, and educating the public is also considered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:07:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-382fd444965d4b7e97575ca3b68325fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:07:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-382fd444965d4b7e97575ca3b68325fb2023-11-23T12:37:53ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-08-011217225710.3390/ani12172257The Welfare of Fighting Dogs: Wounds, Neurobiology of Pain, Legal Aspects and the Potential Role of the Veterinary ProfessionDaniel Mota-Rojas0Chiara Mariti1Míriam Marcet-Rius2Karina Lezama-García3Angelo Gazzano4Ismael Hernández-Ávalos5Patricia Mora-Medina6Adriana Domínguez-Oliva7Alexandra L. Whittaker8Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, MexicoDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyAnimal Behaviour and Welfare Department, IRSEA (Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology), Quartier Salignan, 84400 Apt, FranceNeurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, MexicoDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyFacultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 54714, MexicoFacultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 54714, MexicoNeurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, MexicoSchool of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5116, AustraliaThroughout history it has been common to practice activities which significantly impact on animal welfare. Animal fighting, including dogfighting, is a prime example where animals often require veterinary care, either to treat wounds and fractures or to manage pain associated with tissue and where death may even result. Amongst the detrimental health effects arising are the sensory alterations that these injuries cause, which not only include acute or chronic pain but can also trigger a greater sensitivity to other harmful (hyperalgesia) or even innocuous stimuli (allodynia). These neurobiological aspects are often ignored and the erroneous assumption made that the breeds engaged in organized fighting have a high pain threshold or, at least, they present reduced or delayed responses to painful stimuli. However, it is now widely recognized that the damage these dogs suffer is not only physical but psychological, emotional, and sensory. Due to the impact fighting has on canine welfare, it is necessary to propose solution strategies, especially educational ones, i.e., educating people and training veterinarians, the latter potentially playing a key role in alerting people to all dog welfare issues. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the risk factors associated with dogfighting generally (dog temperament, age, sex, nutrition, testosterone levels, environment, isolation conditions, socialization, education, or training). A neurobiological approach to this topic is taken to discuss the impact on dog pain and emotion. Finally, a general discussion of the format of guidelines and laws that seek to sanction them is presented. The role that veterinarians can play in advancing dog welfare, rehabilitating dogs, and educating the public is also considered.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/17/2257dog fightdog welfareillegal sportsanimal fightpaindog aggression |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Mota-Rojas Chiara Mariti Míriam Marcet-Rius Karina Lezama-García Angelo Gazzano Ismael Hernández-Ávalos Patricia Mora-Medina Adriana Domínguez-Oliva Alexandra L. Whittaker The Welfare of Fighting Dogs: Wounds, Neurobiology of Pain, Legal Aspects and the Potential Role of the Veterinary Profession Animals dog fight dog welfare illegal sports animal fight pain dog aggression |
| title | The Welfare of Fighting Dogs: Wounds, Neurobiology of Pain, Legal Aspects and the Potential Role of the Veterinary Profession |
| title_full | The Welfare of Fighting Dogs: Wounds, Neurobiology of Pain, Legal Aspects and the Potential Role of the Veterinary Profession |
| title_fullStr | The Welfare of Fighting Dogs: Wounds, Neurobiology of Pain, Legal Aspects and the Potential Role of the Veterinary Profession |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Welfare of Fighting Dogs: Wounds, Neurobiology of Pain, Legal Aspects and the Potential Role of the Veterinary Profession |
| title_short | The Welfare of Fighting Dogs: Wounds, Neurobiology of Pain, Legal Aspects and the Potential Role of the Veterinary Profession |
| title_sort | welfare of fighting dogs wounds neurobiology of pain legal aspects and the potential role of the veterinary profession |
| topic | dog fight dog welfare illegal sports animal fight pain dog aggression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/17/2257 |
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