AKC Canine Health Foundation publishes 1,000th scientific publication

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), a non-profit organization committed to advancing the health and well-being of dogs, has published its 1,000^th scientific study which is published in Frontiers in Pain Research.¹

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Stephanie Montgomery, DVM, PhD, CHF CEO, stated, in an organizational release,² "The AKC Canine Health Foundation has left an indelible mark on the health and well-being of dogs worldwide. Reaching this monumental 1,000th publication milestone exemplifies the valuable knowledge gained through our studies, which will continue to benefit dogs for generations to come."

The 1,000^th study analyzes objective differences in pain sensitivity between certain dog breeds, challenging the commonly held belief regarding breed-specific pain sensitivity.² This research may ultimately help enhance the treatment of canine pain.

"Through its funding initiatives, CHF has encouraged 'out of the box' thinking that allowed this work to be done, opening an avenue of research with the potential to impact our understanding of pain and the practice of veterinary medicine," said the study's principal investigator, Margaret Gruen, DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB, a board-certified veterinary behavior specialist at North Carolina State University.²

Co-author Duncan Lascelles, BVSc, PhD, a board-certified veterinary surgeon, shared,² "Our work has uncovered some of the beliefs that both veterinarians and non-veterinarians hold about pain sensitivity in different dog breeds. Support from CHF has allowed us to start to understand the biological and behavioral bases for these beliefs, and importantly, whether different breeds do actually differ in pain sensitivity."

"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to engage in novel research that will improve the lives of dogs, as well as those who love them. My PhD and postdoctoral studies would not be possible without the generous funding from CHF," added lead researcher Rachel Caddiell, PhD, MS, a postdoctoral researcher specializing in animal welfare and behavior.²

Currently, CHF has an ongoing portfolio of 158 active canine health research studies and in the last half of 2023, it will be in search of and review other proposals surrounding aging canine medicine and infectious diseases.2 All projects are evaluated based off scientific merit and the possibility to accelerate canine health by a panel of experts to be eligible to receive funding.

References

1. Caddiell RM, Cunningham RM, White PA, Lascelles BDX, Gruen ME. Pain sensitivity differs between dog breeds but not in the way veterinarians believe. Front Pain Res. 2023;4. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1165340
2. AKC Canine Health Foundation celebrates 1,000th scientific publication. News release. AKC Canine Health Foundation. July 20, 2023. Accessed July 24, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akc-canine-health-foundation-celebrates-1-000th-scientific-publication-301879762.html