Stress responses to simulated avalanche search and rescue operations in military dogs

Levis V., Barbato O., Guelfi G., Lolli C., Zasso R., Cagnati A., Di Mari W., Alciati S., Santoro M., Tartaglia R., Diverio S.

Research Partners

LEBA (Laboratory of Ethology

and Animal Welfare)Department of

Veterinary Medicine,Perugia University

IDPA-CNR (Consiglio Nazionale

delle Ricerche) Venice University

Arabba Avalanche Centre ARPAV: Agency for the protection of the

environment of the Veneto Region

Guardia di Finanza (GdF) S.A.G.F. = GdF Alpine Rescue Force

The problem

There is the need to identify the limiting factors affecting avalanche dogs’

performance and welfare which could lead to failure of search and rescue operations

The problemStress in military dogs may delay the success of avalanche rescue operations.

This is a critical situation because there is a precipitous drop in survivability during the first minutes the victim is buried under snow.

Aim of the study

• Is the avalanche search and rescue work stressful for the dogs?

• Is this stress posing a risk to military dogs’ welfare?

Materials and Methods

• Weather and snow conditions• Assessment of the physiological

response to stress • Behavioral Qualitative Assessment

Simulated Avalanche Area (SAA) (about one hectare, at 2170m altitude)

3 areas (50m x 30m)

3 disperse victim pits (1.5m x 50cm x 1m)

Helicopter transport (about 5-6 min) to SAA

17 SAGF Units

Simulated Avalanche Search and Rescue (SASR)Operation

Experimental design

T2 T3

2 hours after the rescueImmediately after rescue Search start point

Simulated search and rescue operation of a buried victim

T1

Blood HRT°C

T0

Baseline at rest

Blood HR

T°C

Blood HRT°C

Blood HRT°C

Behaviour

Simulated Avalanche Search and Rescue (SASR)Operation

Experimental design

T2 T3

2 hours after the rescueImmediately after rescue Search start point

Simulated search and rescue operation of a buried victim

T1

Blood HRT°C

T0

Baseline at rest

Blood HR

T°C

Blood HRT°C

Blood HRT°C

Behaviour

Physiological responses

• Rectal Body Temperature

• Heart Rate

• Cortisol

• Non Esterified Fatty Acid

(NEFA)

• Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)

• Creatine kinase (CK)

• Aspartate aminotransferase

(AST)

Dog’s characteristics rated by the SAGF military trainers at the end of the SASR operation

Qualitative Behavior Assessment

Weather conditions

• Air temperature from -8,5°C to -17°C

• Air Humidity from 28 to 37%

• Wind from 3 to 7 m/s

“Wind Chill”up to -29°C

Results and Discussion

All SAGF dogs concluded the simulated avalanche search and rescue trial

within 15 minutes.

Physiology

*

Physiology

Physiology

Physiology

*

Physiology

Physiology

Physiology

Are SAGF avalanche military dogs in a state of distress during the simulated avalanche search and rescue

operation?

Physiological responses

• Significant modifications in physiological parameters were induced by the SASR operation.

However, only CK and NEFA at T1 showed values outside the

reference range for healthy dogs.

• Physiological changes progressively tend to decrease

until recovery in some parameters after two hours from rescue.

• Sera cortisol showed a slower decline.

Physiological responses

• Physiological changes indicate the activation of a response to stress probably induced by

additional factors (helicopter transport, pulling to the ground, search and rescue

exercise).

Physiological responses

• However, changes are moderate and limited over the

time, notwithstanding the extreme harsh environmental

conditions.

• SAGF dogs quick recover and high performance could

indicate the possibility to safely use them in multiple

search and rescue operations.

Qualitative Behavior Assessment

Agreement Kappa Test among the Handler (H) and the two Observers (O1 and O2)

Behavioral assessment

The agreement among the opinions on dog performance during search of its handler and the two observers is poor. However, most of the times overall scores tend to slip by one category, indicating that differences are not large. 

-individual opinion

-better training 

• Not a particular behaviour seems to be related to the search speed of the dogs.

• The only exception is signalling: the more intensively dogs do it, the faster they find the person.

• Further research is needed to investigate if good signalling is predictive of good performance in finding disperse people.

Behavioral assessment

Conclusions

• SASR work does not seem to negatively affect the welfare of dogs, though it involves physical and psychological efforts

• The parameters investigated were useful indicators of the stress induced during the simulated avalanche, missing person, search exercise

AknowledgementsFor the Guardia di Finanza:

Col. Stefano MurariCol. Fabio MannucciAll the SAGF Handlers

For the LEBA:Dr. Chiara LolliMartina Iaboni

For the Photos:Giovanni Barbieri – Scuola Alpina Predazzo

AknowledgementsWe are mostly grateful to

all SAGF Handler-dog Units:

-

Handlers Dogs

Gaio M. Sara and Luna

Ganz R. ARES

Bertinelli A. OMEN

Crucco V. FLYING

Terroni M. IKO and TAZ

Tronco F. AGOR

Zannin F. TALOT

Gatti G. SADON

Marri M. SAR

Fazzolari N. UFOR

Minotti F. PAB

Casera M. TAPPO

Simoni M. BILLY and DUCKI

Olier D. TERRY

Thank you