International Journal of Molecular Zoology 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 273-280 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 277 6.3 Limitations of current research Despite the promising results, the study has several limitations. Firstly, the sample size was relatively small, with only 20 dogs divided into two groups. This limits the generalizability of the findings. Secondly, the study focused solely on dogs with incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCI), which may not be representative of all canine surgical cases. Additionally, the study did not account for potential confounding variables such as the dogs' age, breed, or pre-existing conditions, which could influence recovery outcomes. Figure 1 Body weight-supported treadmill training with quadrupedal step training. Technician preforming bicycle movements (Adopted from Martins et al., 2021) 6.4 Implications for veterinary practices The findings of this study have significant implications for veterinary practices. Implementing BWSTT as a standard pre-surgical behavioral training protocol could enhance recovery rates and reduce the time required for functional recovery in dogs. This could lead to improved quality of life for the animals and potentially lower healthcare costs for pet owners due to shorter recovery periods. Veterinary practitioners should consider incorporating BWSTT into their rehabilitation programs, especially for dogs undergoing surgery for spinal cord injuries. 7 Concluding Remarks The research on the effects of pre-surgical behavioral training on recovery in dogs has yielded several important insights. Firstly, the study on pre-operative stress in dogs highlighted significant variations in behavioral and physiological responses among dogs hospitalized for elective surgery. Active dogs exhibited higher heart rates and lower heart rate variability (HRV), indicating elevated stress levels, while passive dogs showed less pronounced physiological arousal but still displayed stress-related behaviors such as panting and snout licking. Secondly, a randomized clinical trial investigating post-operative rehabilitation in dogs after spinal surgery found that while early rehabilitation is safe, it does not significantly enhance the rate or level of recovery in dogs with incomplete spinal cord injuries.
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