Publications by authors named "S A Blake"

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of four heights of cavaletti exercise on canine kinematics and kinetics. Eight dogs had kinematics and kinetics data collected whilst completing cavaletti pole exercises at four different heights (floor, mid-metatarsal, hock, and stifle). Dogs had anatomical markers placed on bony landmarks of the fore and hindlimb joints.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There are no regulations for the flyball box angulation, which ranges from 45° to 89°. As such at present, the box turn is deemed to represent the greatest injury risk to competitors. The aim of this study was to understand the influence of box angle on kinematic variables during a flyball turn, by comparing dogs turning on three different angulations of flyball box (45°, 60° and 83°) to allow for recommendations to be made regarding the most appropriate box design in terms of limiting risk of injury across the sport, to increase both wellbeing and safety for competitors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Wildlife tagging is important for understanding animal behavior and ecology, but the stress from this process can affect their movement and activity levels after being released.
  • An analysis of 1585 individuals from 42 mammal species showed that over 70% exhibited significant behavioral changes post-tagging, with herbivores traveling farther while omnivores and carnivores were less active initially.
  • Recovery from stress was generally quick, typically within 4-7 days, and animals in areas with a high human presence adapted faster, suggesting that tracking durations should be longer and consider species and location when designing studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Spinal surgeries are a common procedure, but there is significant risk of adverse events following these operations. While the rate of adverse events ranges from 8% to 18%, surgical site infections (SSIs) alone occur in between 1% and 4% of spinal surgeries.

Methods: We completed a systematic review addressing factors that contribute to surgical site infection after spinal surgery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF