Hadžimusić Nejra, Hadžijunuzović-Alagić Dženita
Department for Clinical Sciences, University of Sarajevo-Veterinary Faculty, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Open Vet J. 2024 Nov;14(11):2893-2900. doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i11.18. Epub 2024 Nov 30.
Age-related changes in physiological parameters are crucial in understanding the health and performance of working dogs, particularly those in demanding roles such as military and law enforcement. However, limited research exists on how aging affects the hematological and biochemical health of these dogs.
This study aims to characterize age-related variations in hematological and biochemical parameters in working Belgian Shepherd dogs to provide insights that could inform health management strategies for these animals.
Blood samples were collected from 26 male Belgian Malinois working dogs, categorized into three age groups: adults (2-6 years), seniors (7-10 years), and geriatrics (11+ years). Comprehensive hematological and biochemical analyses were conducted. Analysis of complete blood count was performed for a total of 16 parameters: red blood cell, white blood cell, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, platelet, neutrophil, basophil, leukocyte, monocyte, lymphocyte, and eosinophil counts. Mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width, and mean platelet volume were subsequently determined. The biochemistry parameters included glucose, creatinine, urea, blood urea nitrogen:creatinive ratio, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, potassium, Na:K ratio, chloride, total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin:globulin ratio, as well as alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transeferase, total cholesterol, amylase, and lipase.
Significant age-related changes were observed in various parameters. Older dogs exhibited decreased creatinine and increased phosphorus and potassium levels, indicating potential changes in muscle mass, renal function, and electrolyte balance. Additionally, the albumin-to-globulin ratio decreased with age, reflecting shifts in protein synthesis and immune function.
The study highlights important age-related variations in hematological and biochemical parameters in working Belgian Shepherd dogs. These findings emphasize the need for age-specific health management strategies to maintain the health, performance, and longevity of these dogs, thereby enhancing their effectiveness in critical service roles.
生理参数的年龄相关变化对于理解工作犬的健康和工作表现至关重要，尤其是那些承担诸如军事和执法等艰巨任务的犬。然而，关于衰老如何影响这些犬的血液学和生化健康的研究有限。
本研究旨在描述工作中的比利时牧羊犬血液学和生化参数的年龄相关变化，以提供可为这些动物的健康管理策略提供参考的见解。
从26只雄性比利时玛利诺工作犬采集血样，分为三个年龄组：成年犬（2至6岁）、老年犬（7至10岁）和老龄犬（11岁及以上）。进行了全面的血液学和生化分析。对总共16项参数进行了全血细胞计数分析：红细胞、白细胞、血细胞比容、血红蛋白、血小板、中性粒细胞、嗜碱性粒细胞、白细胞、单核细胞、淋巴细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞计数。随后测定平均红细胞体积、平均红细胞血红蛋白、平均红细胞血红蛋白浓度、红细胞分布宽度和平均血小板体积。生化参数包括葡萄糖、肌酐、尿素、血尿素氮：肌酐比值、磷、钙、钠、钾、钠：钾比值、氯、总蛋白、白蛋白、球蛋白、白蛋白：球蛋白比值，以及丙氨酸氨基转移酶、碱性磷酸酶、γ-谷氨酰转移酶、总胆固醇、淀粉酶和脂肪酶。
在各项参数中观察到了显著的年龄相关变化。老年犬肌酐水平降低，磷和钾水平升高，表明肌肉质量、肾功能和电解质平衡可能发生了变化。此外，白蛋白与球蛋白比值随年龄下降，反映了蛋白质合成和免疫功能的变化。
该研究突出了工作中的比利时牧羊犬血液学和生化参数重要的年龄相关变化。这些发现强调了需要针对不同年龄的健康管理策略来维持这些犬的健康、表现和寿命，从而提高它们在关键服务角色中的效能。
