Background: Nowadays, more people are treating dogs as family members. This reflects their increased attention towards their nutrition, with renewed interest for non-conventional diets such as Biologically Appropriate Raw Food/ Bones and Raw Food in United States (BARF) or homemade. In previous studies, owners feeding their dog non-conventional diets reported lower levels of trust in veterinary advice. The aim of the study was to identify differences in lifestyle between owners feeding dogs non-conventional diets and those feeding conventional diets (i.e., dry/wet pet food) to give further insight for improving communication between veterinarians and owners. Results: A total of 426 surveys were usable. Fifteen percent of the participants lived in the metropole of Paris and had more than one dog (mean 1.72 dogs). Thirty-eight percent of the survey respondents stated that their dogs were fed exclusively with non-conventional diets, while 55% declared using conventional diets alone (not considering treats). The study canine population was for the most part neutered (63%) and purebred (68%). Amongst owners feeding conventional diets exclusively, 47% determined how much food to feed by consulting the feeding guidelines on the packaging, and only 28% said that the amount of food was prescribed by their veterinarian or veterinary nurse. Out of the participants feeding non-conventional diets, 65% declared that the information for formulating the recipes was gathered on the internet or in non-veterinary books. When compared with owners feeding exclusively conventional diets, those feeding non-conventional diets were living more frequently outside the metropole of Paris, had fewer children (0.23 ± 0.57 vs 0.37 ± 0.78; p = 0.03) and had more frequently other animals. They also dewormed less often their pets, walked their dog more each day (91 vs 78%; p < 0.001) and without leash for more than 6 h per week (46 vs 31%; p = 0.003). Conclusions: This survey described differences in the habits of owners feeding dogs non-conventional diets in comparison with those feeding conventional diets. Data suggest that owners using non-conventional diets may be more attentive to the ethological needs of their dog which could be a starting point for practitioners for achieving better client-veterinarian communication.

Managing pet obesity relies heavily on the active involvement of owners; however, a key challenge arises from misperceptions about their own pet’s body condition. Given evolving societal dynamics like the body positivity movement, understanding owners’ perceptions is increasingly pivotal. To evaluate the differences in owners’ perception, this study compared the use of verbal and visual body condition score scales versus the established nine-point body condition score system. The factors linked to underestimation were further specifically investigated. Owners of healthy adult dogs and cats attending vaccination consultations in Veterinary Hospitals in France between 2020 and 2022 were recruited. They were required to assess their pets’ body condition initially using an oral description and then with the nine-point BCS visual scale. Their assessments were then compared with the BCS determined by veterinary health care personnel, considered the primary investigator. A total of 304 dogs and 270 cats were included in the study. It was observed that 27% of dog owners and 24% of cat owners underestimated their pets’ body condition. Among dog and cat owners, factors associated with the underestimation of body condition were the pets’ overweight status and having children. This discovery emphasizes the need for a holistic One Health approach that prioritizes the health and well-being of both humans and their pets. When it comes to pet owners evaluating their pets’ body condition, underestimation proved to be the predominant misperception. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive education to empower owners to recognize and comprehend their pets’ overweight status, a critical step for the overall well-being of companion animals.

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the evolution of the percentage of overweight and obese cats during the COVID-19 pandemic in France, and to identify factors associated with excess weight to inform the development of targeted prevention strategies. Methods: Cat owners visiting the veterinary hospitals of Maisons-Alfort and Toulouse between 2020 and 2022 for their pets’ vaccinations were invited to answer a comprehensive questionnaire to gather general information about themselves and their cat, including details of its lifestyle, activity and diet. Only healthy adult cats were included in the study. During the vaccination consultation, veterinarians recorded the body condition score, muscle condition score and weight of each cat. This study followed a protocol adapted from a French study conducted in 2006 to allow analysis of any changes over time. Results: Of the 274 cats included in the study, 9.1% were underweight, 43.4% had an ideal body condition and 47.5% were overweight. Factors positively linked to overweight included age, being crossbred, being a male and having an owner who underestimated the cat’s body condition. Living with a child and having a high activity score as rated by the owner were associated with ideal body condition. The prevalence of cats with a sedentary lifestyle and the number of overweight cats had both increased since the previous study in 2006. Additionally, changes in cats’ diets and lifestyles over time, including those influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to an increase in exclusive dry food consumption compared with the 2006 study. Conclusions and relevance: Important changes in cats’ diet and lifestyle occurred between 2006 and 2020–2022. This study emphasises the need for further investigation into the duration of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on feline wellbeing. Educating owners on their cat’s body condition and encouraging cats to be active can be effective strategies for maintaining feline health in response to ongoing global changes.

The study aims to explore the specific needs of French pet owners who have experienced the loss of a pet, recognizing the limited focus on end-of-life and palliative care in veterinary practice. By characterizing owner profiles, the research seeks to enhance veterinary approaches and education to better address the unique challenges and emotional aspects associated with pet care and loss. An anonymous online survey was distributed to 302 French owners who already experienced the loss of an animal, including demographic information and feelings about their experience of a pet's end-of-life (EOL). Data were analysed using descriptive and qualitative analysis (including the use of AI chatbot ChatGPT). 56.6 % of participants reported a relatively smooth pet death, yet 67.0 % found the end-of-life period challenging. Three distinct owner groups emerged, each with varying needs. The first group expressed high guilt and a greater need for support, emphasizing the necessity for information and improved training. The second group, more informed and independent, benefits from veterinary support, while a leaflet suits them. The third group, competent in pain evaluation, requires less veterinary support. These differences highlight the importance of personalized owner support. The study proposes essential pillars for veterinarians and nurses' training, forming the EPITO system: Emotional support, Personalization, Information, Training, Tools, and Open discussion.

Canine olfaction is increasingly studied as a tool for detecting cancer and other diseases. Previous pilot studies have demonstrated that dogs can effectively distinguish positive samples from negative samples in humans with breast cancer, achieving sensitivity rates as high as 100%. However, questions remain about dogs’ ability to detect low concentrations of volatile organic compounds in complex medium. While dogs’ detection thresholds for isoamyl acetate using a mineral oil substrate have been studied, there are no current studies on their detection limits using more complex substrates like urine, relevant in clinical settings. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the olfactory threshold of dogs using artificial urine with various concentrations of isoamyl acetate. Two dogs were trained to detect isoamyl acetate, initially using water as the substrate during the training phase, and subsequently using artificial urine during the testing phase, under single and double-blinded conditions. The dogs were trained to indicate the presence of isoamyl acetate solutions by sitting in front of the positive sample and ignoring controls. Training and testing occurred in a controlled environment, maintaining consistency with the same two handlers, a standardized methodology, and positive reinforcement with toy rewards. Based on double-blind performances, results showed a minimum detection threshold of 6.7 x 10-9 Molar (M) for Nougaro (Springer Spaniel) one dog and 2.1 x 10-7M for Prince (Labrador Retriever). The sample age did not affect performance. However, the position of the cone did, with higher failure rates for the first cone compared to the other three. These findings underscore the potential of trained dogs to detect volatile organic compounds at very low concentrations in complex substrates, supporting their use in clinical diagnostics.

Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome of aging increasingly studied in companion dogs. Two main operational models have been developed: the frailty phenotype, based on five clinical criteria, and the frailty index, derived from the accumulation of health deficits. Despite their frequent use in human aging research, no comparative analysis of these models has been conducted in canine populations. Baseline data from 566 dogs aged six years and older in the CaniAge cohort were used to assess frailty using both Frailty Phenotype and Frailty Index. Prevalence of frailty was 6.36% according to the Frailty Index binarised (EARS-FI ≥ 0.49) and 8.48% according to the Frailty Phenotype, with limited overlap between the two classifications. Both measures were positively associated with chronological age and with some adverse health indicators including comorbidity or sleep quality, and reduced quality of life. Multivariable analyses, independently of age and cofounding factors showed that polypharmacy and a lower extraversion were independently associated with frailty index. Engaging in daily activity higher than 15 min per day was negatively associated with frailty phenotype and specific personality traits (low extraversion and motivation) were independently associated with Frailty Phenotype-defined frailty. Findings indicate that the Frailty Index and Frailty Phenotype identify related but distinct domains. The frailty index captures a broader spectrum of physiological decline, whereas the Frailty Phenotype is more closely aligned with observable physical and behavioral characteristics. Use of both instruments provides complementary insights into aging trajectories in dogs and supports their combined application in translational geroscience.