Puppy classes are essential for preventing future problematic behavior by dogs, but in Japan few dog owners participate. In this context, we examined ways to increase awareness of the importance of puppy classes. To explore dog owners’ awareness, knowledge, and opinions regarding puppy classes, we conducted questionnaire at an animal rights festival in Ebetsu and puppy classes at Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan. The results showed that 76% (143/187) of dog owners reported knowing about puppy classes, but 75% (127/169) of these owners had not attended such a class. One reason for this lack of attendance is the scarcity of convenient private veterinarians who offer such programs. Most of those who attended the puppy class had heard about the class via the internet, word of mouth, or flyers at private veterinary clinics. The survey results indicate the need to awareness of and provide accurate information about the importance of puppy classes and increase the availability of such classes at private veterinary clinics.

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The enactment of the Act on Veterinary Nursing in June 2019 will establish the first national veterinary examination, which is planned to take place in 2023. The heightened awareness of veterinary nurses has motivated many students to pursue the career; however, their ambitions seem to decrease over the course of their studies at universities or technical schools. This study conducted a questionnaire among students studying veterinary nursing with the goal of finding out how and when their attitudes toward the subject changed. The images first-year students had about the duties of veterinary nurses were nebulous, while third-year students demonstrated more hostile attitudes. Responses from fourth-year students include more detailed, positive opinions for both questions about the images and duties of veterinary nurses. These findings imply that students become more independent and responsible as they learn specialized subjects with hands-on practice. The number of students hoping to become veterinary nurses significantly decreases between the students’ first and third years. By contrast, their opinions seemingly take a positive turn from the third year to the fourth year, contributing to the increase in applicants for veterinary nurse positions among fourth-year students. Further studies will be necessary; however, these outcomes suggest students should have an educational environment where they can sufficiently learn the value of veterinary nurses in specialized subjects.

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The average life expectancy of pets in Japan is prolonged annually, and it is recognized that increased age tends to decrease physical activity. In this study, we examined the effects of the administration of proteoglycan (PG) extracted from salmon heads on senior dogs. The activity and floor reaction force of seven older dogs ( 8 -15 years old) were measured both before and after PG administration. The results showed that the activity increased by 6.8% to 45.9% in three out of four dogs. Furthermore, the floor reaction force increased in all limbs in one animal, three limbs in three animals, and two limbs in one animal, with increases ranging from +0.06% to +15.91%. The amount of activity also increased in all limbs. One owner reported that their dog spent more time playing at home after PG administration. In addition, the palatability of the administered PG was good, and no problematic events were observed in any of the dogs. This study utilized a Plus Cycle activity meter, which makes it easier to assess the condition of the animal when administering supplements such as PG. It can also be used as a tool for communication between veterinary nurses and owners.

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Temperature measurements are relatively important for checking the health of animals, but measuring the rectal temperature is not always easy. Although several studies have shown that axillary temperature measurements are viable alternatives to rectal temperature measurements for dogs, similar studies have not yet been conducted on cats. In this study, the rectal and axillary temperatures of cats in good health were measured concurrently. The resulting regression line was expressed by y = 0.909x+3.436 (r 2 =0.829, p<0.01). In the normal rectal temperature range (from 37.5 to 38.5°C), the axillary temperature data, to which -0.03 to 0.07°C were added, were almost the same as those measured at the rectal position. The findings of this study suggest that the measurement of axillary temperature is a legitimate substitute for measuring rectal temperature in routine clinical examinations.

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The community cats program was referred to manage free-roaming cats on the university campus. To consider the factors that reduced the number of free-roaming cats and continued the program’s long- term activities, the numbers of identified, neutered, abandoned, immigrated, rehomed, disappeared, and dead cats, the number of treatment requests to the veterinary hospital on campus, the number of participants in the project group, and the cost of the activity were calculated and analyzed. The decreases in numbers due to rehoming, disappearance, and death outweighed the increases due to breeding, immigration, and abandonment, and the number of free-roaming cats on the university campus decreased to zero. Although about half of the cats disappeared or died, about half were transferred to new owners, and we were able to achieve reductions in the number of free-roaming cats on the campus. During six years of activity, we able to stably secure a number of participants in the project group and activity funds. Efforts combining a TNR (trap-neuter-return) program and rehoming, and the creation of a project group to demonstrate the effects of these activities are suggested as factors in reducing the number of free-roaming cats and in continuing the long-term activities.

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From the age of the primitive hunter-gatherer through to the modern information age, people have lived with animals. One of the reasons we live with animals is their psychological effects touching animals has on us. In this study, we provided opportunities for veterinary nursing college students to touch animals in an experimental setting and analyzedtheresulting“positivefeeling”.Asaresult, we found that touching animals (a dog and rabbit) significantly induced a“positive feeling”in the students.

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