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Preliminary study of guard hair morphology in four dog breeds
Author(s) -
Tumiłowicz Paweł,
Goliszewska Agata,
Arct Jacek,
Pytkowska Katarzyna,
Szczepanik Marcin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/vde.12656
Subject(s) - labrador retriever , breed , medulla , biology , anatomy , german shepherd dog , zoology , veterinary medicine , pathology , medicine
Background Morphological differences between mammalian hair types are useful for species distinction. Differences in animal hair structure are observed between species, whereas there may be breed differences within a species. Hypothesis Guard hair structure may vary between different dog breeds. Animals Hair samples were collected from 73 dogs of four breed types (wire‐haired Dachshund, Labrador retriever, German shepherd dog and Yorkshire terrier). Methods Hair was measured and analysed by scanning electron microscopy. The following were evaluated: hair thickness; medulla to hair cross‐sectional area ratio; scale density, pattern and margins; and medulla shape, composition and structure. Results There were significant differences in all measured parameters between breeds. Conclusions and clinical importance These study findings may be useful for the study of classifying dog breeds and for forensic identification of a dog breed through hair sampling.