BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN SLED DOG PAW SKIN ASSOCIATED WITH PHYSICAL STRESS AND COLD TEMPERATURES

Twenty-six Alaskan sled dogs were used to study the biochemical and hi stopathological changes which occur when dog paws are exposed to cold temperatures and physical stress. They were separated into a running g roup of 20 dogs and a control group of six non-running dogs. Over 2 1/ 2 days, the running group ran in their natural environment for 170 mil es and environmental parameters were recorded. Following the run, an 8 -mm diameter skin biopsy specimen was taken from the lateral aspect of the right fore and hind paws of the running and non-running dogs. The skin was evaluated for histopathological changes and the presence of 2, 3-dinor thromboxane B-2 (2,3-dinor TxB(2)) NO significant histopath ological changes were noted in any of the biopsy specimens. Based on m easured elevation of 2,3-dinor TxB(2), the forepaws experienced more p hysical stress than the hind paws. Wet snow at higher environmental te mperatures caused more paw stress than hard crusted snow at lower envi ronmental temperatures.