{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]],"date-time":"2026-09-09T08:26:38Z","timestamp":1788942398145,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,18]],"date-time":"2023-07-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1689638400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Dogs are increasingly being employed for conservation purposes worldwide. In Africa, they work in challenging environments with unique health risks which have not been investigated until now.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>To understand the health challenges faced by the dogs, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from 14 organisations that used working dogs in their conservation programmes. The data was qualitatively analysed by thematic analysis.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Five themes were generated. Three affective themes influenced how participants responded to the challenges associated with having a successful conservation dog programme. A strong handler-dog attachment, proficient handler training, and the acknowledgement of the challenging environment were pivotal to maintaining dog health. Two themes related to the difficulties in managing these programmes and how veterinary support interacts with the management choices being made.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>To have healthy conservation dogs, current and future programmes should focus on fostering the handler-dog relationship and provide continuous handler training. The management of conservation dogs\u2019 health should adopt an evidence-based approach. Future research should focus on areas where the evidence base is lacking, particularly in the areas of prevention and treatment of African canine trypanosomiasis. Programmes should develop a good working relationship with a veterinarian that has access to evidence-based veterinary medical information.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2023.1179278","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,18]],"date-time":"2023-07-18T08:21:00Z","timestamp":1689668460000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The health of working dogs in conservation in Africa"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Nicola","family":"Earnshaw","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Neil","family":"Anderson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jill","family":"Mackay","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Megan","family":"Parker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"184","DOI":"10.1111\/jzo.12445","article-title":"Using dogs to find cats: detection dogs as a survey method for wide-ranging cheetah","volume":"302","author":"Becker","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Zool"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1186\/1746-6148-8-110","article-title":"Sarcoptic-mange detector dogs used to identify infected animals during outbreaks in wildlife","volume":"8","author":"Alasaad","year":"2012","journal-title":"BMC Vet Res"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"34758","DOI":"10.1038\/srep34758","article-title":"Cost-effective scat-detection dogs: unleashing a powerful new tool for international mammalian conservation biology","volume":"6","author":"Orkin","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref4","first-page":"103","article-title":"Are wildlife detector dogs or people better at finding desert tortoises (Gopherus Agassizii)?","volume":"3","author":"Nussear","year":"2008","journal-title":"Herpetol Conserv Biol"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1926","DOI":"10.1111\/1365-2664.13714","article-title":"Factors affecting carcass detection at wind farms using dogs and human searchers","volume":"57","author":"Dom\u00ednguez del Valle","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Appl Ecol"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2018.11.004","article-title":"Training dogs to detect invasive alien species in Japan: discrimination of reptile odor","volume":"30","author":"Fukuzawa","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Vet Behav"},{"key":"ref7","author":"Braun","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"568","DOI":"10.1111\/2041-210X.13560","article-title":"Detection dogs in nature conservation: a database on their world-wide deployment with a review on breeds used and their performance compared to other methods","volume":"12","author":"Grimm-Seyfarth","year":"2021","journal-title":"Methods Ecol Evol"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20115","DOI":"10.25225\/jvb20115","article-title":"Twenty-five years of livestock guarding dog use across Namibian farmlands","volume":"69","author":"Marker","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Vertebr Biol"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.3390\/ani8120222","article-title":"Who\u2019s a good handler? Important skills and personality profiles of wildlife detection dog handlers","volume":"8","author":"Jamieson","year":"2018","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.3390\/ani8100176","article-title":"You are not my handler! Impact of changing handlers on dogs\u2019 Behaviours and detection performance","volume":"8","author":"Jamieson","year":"2018","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1016\/j.beproc.2014.10.012","article-title":"The advent of canine performance science: offering a sustainable future for working dogs","volume":"110","author":"Cobb","year":"2015","journal-title":"Behav Proc"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2016.00096","article-title":"Using scent detection dogs in conservation settings: a review of scientific literature regarding their selection","author":"Beebe","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2017.06.010","article-title":"Identifying suitable detection dogs","volume":"195","author":"Jamieson","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"430","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2021.644431","article-title":"Enhancing the selection and performance of working dogs","volume":"8","author":"Bray","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2018.00056","article-title":"When the nose doesn\u2019t know: Canine olfactory function associated with health, management, and potential links to microbiota","volume":"5","author":"Jenkins","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref17","author":"Parker","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref18","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1002","DOI":"10.7205\/MILMED.171.10.1002","article-title":"Challenges to military working dog management and Care in the Kuwait Theater of operation","volume":"171","author":"Toffoli","year":"2006","journal-title":"Mil Med"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e467","DOI":"10.1093\/milmed\/usx235","article-title":"Causes of death in military working dogs during operation Iraqi freedom and operation enduring freedom, 2001\u20132013","volume":"183","author":"Miller","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mil Med"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1124","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.245.10.1124","article-title":"Noncombat-related injuries or illnesses incurred by military working dogs in a combat zone","volume":"245","author":"Takara","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"854","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.2004.225.854","article-title":"Search-and-rescue dogs: an overview for veterinarians","volume":"225","author":"Jones","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"396","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.240.4.396","article-title":"Injuries and illnesses among urban search-and-rescue dogs deployed to Haiti following the January 12, 2010, earthquake","volume":"240","author":"Gordon","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.19182\/remvt.7687","article-title":"Prothidium and isometamidium as drug against Trypanosoma brucei canine trypanosomiasis","volume":"23","author":"Tour\u00e9","year":"1970","journal-title":"Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1016\/S1471-4922(00)01856-0","article-title":"Tick-borne infectious diseases of dogs","volume":"17","author":"Shaw","year":"2001","journal-title":"Trends Parasitol"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.4102\/jsava.v75i4.477","article-title":"Retrospective study of snake envenomation in 155 dogs from the Onderstepoort area of South Africa","volume":"75","author":"Lobetti","year":"2004","journal-title":"J South Afr Vet Assoc"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1111\/nyas.12405","article-title":"The power of poison: pesticide poisoning of Africa\u2019s wildlife","volume":"1322","author":"Ogada","year":"2014","journal-title":"Ann N Y Acad Sci"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"314","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2929.2006.02418.x","article-title":"The qualitative research interview","volume":"40","author":"DiCicco-Bloom","year":"2006","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.1111\/avj.12718","article-title":"Discovering new areas of veterinary science through qualitative research interviews: introductory concepts for veterinarians","volume":"96","author":"May","year":"2018","journal-title":"Aust Vet J"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual Res Psychol"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042","article-title":"Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups","volume":"19","author":"Tong","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int J Qual Health Care"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1080\/17439760.2016.1262613","article-title":"Thematic analysis","volume":"12","author":"Clarke","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Posit Psychol"},{"key":"ref33","volume-title":"Nvivo 12 for windows. NVivo qualitative data analysis software","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"388","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2018.04.025","article-title":"Ecological research and environmental management: we need different interfaces based on different knowledge types","volume":"218","author":"Gosselin","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Environ Manag"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"834","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2021.646022","article-title":"Working dog training for the twenty-first century","volume":"8","author":"Hall","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci."},{"key":"ref36","volume-title":"Introducing qualitative research","author":"Rosaline","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.2147\/PRBM.S74972","article-title":"Current perspectives on attachment and bonding in the dog\u2013human dyad","volume":"8","author":"Payne","year":"2015","journal-title":"Psychol Res Behav Manag"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2006.05.004","article-title":"The quality of the relation between handler and military dogs influences efficiency and welfare of dogs","volume":"104","author":"Lefebvre","year":"2007","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2012.05.006","article-title":"Dog attachment to man: a comparison between pet and working dogs","volume":"8","author":"Mariti","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Vet Behav"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2008.10.037","article-title":"A practitioner\u2019s guide to working dog welfare","volume":"4","author":"Rooney","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Vet Behav"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1163\/15685306-12341252","article-title":"\u201cAn extension of me\u201d: handlers describe their experiences of working with bird dogs","volume":"23","author":"Corkran","year":"2015","journal-title":"Soc Anim"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"412","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.i5470","article-title":"One welfare - a platform for improving human and animal welfare","volume":"179","author":"Pinillos","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vet Record"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"646","DOI":"10.1017\/S0030605315000356","article-title":"Occupational stress among law enforcement rangers: insights from Uganda","volume":"50","author":"Moreto","year":"2016","journal-title":"Oryx"},{"key":"ref44","author":"Singh","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref45","author":"Tan","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-804088-1.00015-0","article-title":"Use of livestock guarding dogs to reduce human-cheetah conflict","volume":"2018","author":"Nyhus","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cheetahs"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2016.01.015","article-title":"Relationships between personality of human\u2013dog dyads and performances in working tasks","volume":"177","author":"Hoummady","year":"2016","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yhbeh.2008.02.002","article-title":"Affiliative and disciplinary behavior of human handlers during play with their dog affects cortisol concentrations in opposite directions","volume":"54","author":"Horv\u00e1th","year":"2008","journal-title":"Horm Behav"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1007\/s10071-012-0584-9","article-title":"Dogs\u2019 attention towards humans depends on their relationship, not only on social familiarity","volume":"16","author":"Horn","year":"2013","journal-title":"Anim Cogn"},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2017.02.005","article-title":"Dogs\u2019 coping styles and dog-handler relationships influence avalanche search team performance","volume":"191","author":"Diverio","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-1591(02)00120-X","article-title":"Shyness\u2013boldness predicts performance in working dogs","volume":"79","author":"Svartberg","year":"2002","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1939-1676.2000.tb02223.x","article-title":"Editorial: towards evidence-based veterinary medicine","volume":"14","author":"Keene","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.18849\/ve.v1i3.34","article-title":"Non-clinical benefits of evidence-based veterinary medicine","volume":"1","author":"Hauser","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vet Evid"},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1116","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2021.666898","article-title":"The animal welfare science of working dogs: current perspectives on recent advances and future directions","volume":"8","author":"Cobb","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1580\/1080-6032(2001)012[0111:UOSGFV]2.0.CO;2","article-title":"Collective review: use of stun guns for venomous bites and stings: a review","volume":"12","author":"Welch","year":"2001","journal-title":"Wilderness Environ Med"},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0007175","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0007175","article-title":"Safety and efficacy of three trypanocides in confirmed field cases of trypanosomiasis in working equines in the Gambia: a prospective, randomised, non-inferiority trial","volume":"13","author":"Raftery","year":"2019","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0442.1985.tb01939.x","article-title":"The toxic effect of intravenous application of the Trypanocide Isometamidium (Samorin\u00ae)","volume":"32","author":"Schillinger","year":"1985","journal-title":"Zentralbl Veterinarmed A"},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.55460\/Y0AS-S4Y3","article-title":"Rethinking heat injury in the SOF multipurpose canine: a critical review","volume":"12","author":"Baker","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Spec Oper Med"},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"356","DOI":"10.1080\/23328940.2017.1367457","article-title":"Pathophysiology of heatstroke in dogs\u2013revisited","volume":"4","author":"Bruchim","year":"2017","journal-title":"Temperature"},{"key":"ref60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1111\/eve.12216","article-title":"Evidence-based veterinary medicine: what is it and why does it matter?","volume":"26","author":"Mckenzie","year":"2014","journal-title":"Equine Vet Educ"},{"key":"ref61","year":"2019"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Veterinary Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2023.1179278\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,18]],"date-time":"2023-07-18T08:21:06Z","timestamp":1689668466000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2023.1179278\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,18]]},"references-count":61,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fvets.2023.1179278"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2023.1179278","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-1769"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-1769","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,18]]},"article-number":"1179278"}}