Knowledge Inquiry And Communication For Animal Sports: The Impact Of Illicit Drug Usage On Animal Welfare And Performance

Illicit Drugs commonly used on Animals in Sports

Discuss about the Knowledge Inquiry and Communication for Animal Sports.

Research into animal treatment reveals that animals are important for human activities such as sports and recreation or entertainment hence require medical considerations in drug administration (Hedeland, et al., 2016). The use of drugs in the pharmacological treatment of horses reveals shocking details of doping in animal products. Reports about products advertised as having medical solutions like blood building yet containing undeclared elements of cobalt provide proof of this allegation.  Equestrian activities such as show jumping and horseracing face such controversies and experiments have proven this manipulation of animals for illicit performance (Murphy, et al., 2013). People find animal sports pleasurable and gather in multitudes just to watch such performances. However, there are concerns about a number of inhumane treatments on animals. Debates, initiatives and policy recommendations by the animal welfare groups advocate for standards that support proper training. Stakeholder involvements in regulating the sports ensure that the rule is effective in events, horse jumping, dressage movements and endurance training among others. Animals exhibit conflict behavior while in training, competition, and performance. As a result, they become restless, unpredictable, and uncontrollable. Different stimulus used in experiments indicate that standard procedures should apply when analyzing animal behavior and responses (Meijboom & Ohl, 2015).

Hedeland, et al (2016) identifies some of the illicit substances used on animals as discovered during drug testing. Among these is ionic cobalt, which is common in performance products. Purchased feeds contain mixed mineral elements, which contain supplements from farming producers. These may have questionable amounts of elements in extreme concentration. Injecting animals with elements is also a major risk factor that contributes to doping allegations and controversies about artificial manipulation of animals for performance. Research done on 200 horse urine samples reveals a high concentration of toxins in supplements (Hedeland, et al., 2016). The Institute of Biochemistry of the German Sports University Cologne (Germany) in conjunction with the Swedish National Veterinary Institute engaged the use of stimulating agents in products designed for animal sports. From the study, it is evident that the misuse of nickel is one way in which pharmacological stimulation in supraphysiological amounts becomes a risk to the animal especially those in the racing industry.

The use of the substance to enhance aerobic activity in sports animal may be through an injection or supplements containing nickel. In the same line, Paine, Hincks, Fenwick, Ridd, & Hillyer (2017) identify Cobalt as a critical micronutrient element required by adult horses for the synthesis of equine caecum, and colon. This nutritional component contins high doses of supraphysiological concentrates that need regulation during horse racing. Cobalt and vitamin B12 suppliments administered in high volumes. An analyis of the baseline concentration reveals that despite the fact that cobalt chloride is legitimate, its administartion becomes toxic when it accumulates in the plasma and urine content. This is an ethical research that supports animal welfare.

Conflict Behavior in Animals and its Implications in Animal Sports

Murphy, Jezierski, Jaworski, Kosinska, & Gorecka-Bruzda (2015) analyze conflict behavior in animals to point out that it is resistance to handling, training or equipment. The study looks at the mental and physical difficulty experienced by animals in the equestrian sports. Citing the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) welfare codes, the analysis acknowledges the importance of using training that matches up to the physical strength of the horse. As a result, its findings point out that conflict behavior is propagated by an obstacle, movement or time lapse. Strategic selection of animals for different purposes prevents wastage and effective training encourages performance (Welfare, 2018). There is a need for sensitization to ethical issues and animal practices in order to prevent limitations. Forcing animals to extreme behavior or physiological activities is uncalled for or unexpected because it contradicts nature. Medical solutions to animal treatment should also take calculated approaches.  Hotzel, Kanaan, Parsekian, & Leme (2014) carry out research on 197 animals to note that 92% of the animals depended on commercial grain concentrates and that animals in equestrian establishments exercised less. This is a wake-up call on the need for natural solutions to animal performance.

The use of horses in show jumping becomes controversial when there is artificial manipulation designed to force the horse into performance. Injecting with illicit supplements when the animal lacks movement inhibits natural motivation. In a study to find this out, horses were presented with two options of jumping over a short route and a longer one (Murphy, et al., 2013). In order to give an ultimate jump or performance, a horse or animal is subject to exposure to stimuli. Inquiry into the type of motivation offered to the animal reveals the use of different types of reinforcements. During competitions, horse managers induce stimulants for the arousal of stressed or weak horses. Although rider aids are effective in supporting the natural manipulation of animals, this should be under strict adherence to stipulated regulations. Questions about what animal abuse really is have sparked further debate on whether the use of animals in sports is ethically right. However, research agrees that animal sports is as essential as meat processing and contributes billions into the economic sector (Equine Veterinary Education, 2013). There are numerous strategies used for effective animal sports but not all are effective. Showjumping as the most popular among the equestrian sports calls for restraint when using reinforcement strategies.

According to the Animal Welfare Science Ethics and Law Veterinary Association (AWSELVA), there are boundaries on what animals can and cannot handle (Equine Veterinary Education, 2013). Debates about the use of anabolic steroids on horses led to further discussions about whether it was right to use animals in sports or human pleasure. Animal abuse occurs when the animal health comes under threat. Such risks may occur during training, or in interaction with humans. Whipping, doping, and other actions inflict injury on the animal causing suffering. A cost-benefit analysis enables those handling the animals to make the proper judgment on what to avoid and what is reasonable. Professional codes cover animal treatment as well as medical procedures. Animal owners in the horse industry and veterinary services should beware of products, which stimulate the endogenous production of elements. Trace elements may contribute to the development of trace elements. Dealing with any suspicion of doping is essential especially when the determination of a threshold level. Animal welfare prohibits misuse of elements and gives guidance on the relevance of doping for control purposes. It also advises on proper handling of animals such as dressage and prevention of training errors.

Debates on the Use of Animals in Sports

Conclusion

Animal sports industry consists of multibillion-dollar establishments featuring animals secluded for recreational activities. Although this is a fully-fledged industry with economic benefits, unscrupulous dealers are using the industry for animal exploitation and selfish gain. The debate about the use of horses for entertainment and performance raises questions about the legality of using horse stimulants in performance enhancing products. Doping interferes with the natural functions and mental capacity of animals leading to adverse side effects. Abused substances could be food or medical supplements and injections administered on the animals without medical recommendations. Evidence shows that failure to justify the use of products high in cobalt causes doping hence the outbursts by welfare societies. Misinterpretation of horse responses in training often leads to misuse of such drugs, which later raises ethical questions about the price paid by animals in equestrian culture. As a result, it is advisable to adhere to stipulated control measures when administering health and feeding practices on such animals in order to avoid misuse and misconceptions.

References

Equine Veterinary Education. (2013). When does use become abuse in equestrian sport? Equine Vet Education, 25(10), 489-492. Retrieved April 3, 2018, from file:///C:/Users/BAT/Downloads/2084374_543463374_KECJournalArticlenumberone-727%20(1).pdf

Hedeland, M., Bondesson, U., Due, M., Schanzer, W., Piper, T., Krug, O., . . . Thelvis, M. (2016, January 30). Nickel in equine sports drug testing-pilot study results on urinar nickel concentrations. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom, 982-984. Retrieved April 3, 2017, from file:///C:/Users/BAT/Downloads/2084372_909873619_KECJournalArticlenumberthree.pdf

Hotzel, M. J., Kanaan, V., Parsekian, H. A., & Leme, P. D. (2014). Management, health, and abnormal behavors of horses: A surve in small equesterian centers in Brazil. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 9(3), 114-118.

Meijboom, F., & Ohl, F. (2015). Ethical issues associated with the use of animal experimentation in behavioral neuroscience research. Current Topics Behavioural Neuroscience, 19, 3-15.

Murphy, J., Jezierski, T., Jaworski, Z., Kosinska, I., & Gorecka-Bruzda, A. (2015). Conflict behavior in elite show jumping and dressage horses. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 10, 137-146. Retrieved April 3, 2017, from file:///C:/Users/BAT/Downloads/2084377_980704330_KECJournalArticlenumberfour-97.pdf

Murphy, J., JMurphy, J., Jezierski, T., Jaworski, Z., Jedrzejewska, E., Muszynska, A., . . . Gorecka-Bruzda, A. (2013). To Jump or not to jump? Strategies employed by leisure and sport horses. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 8, 253-260. Retrieved April 3, 2018, from file:///C:/Users/BAT/Downloads/2084371_1121766922_KECJournalArticlenumbertwo.pdf

Paine, S. W., Hincks, P., Fenwick, S., Ridd, Z., & Hillyer, L. L. (2017). Pharmacokinetics of inorganic cobalt and a vitamin B12 supplement in the thoroughbred horse: differentaiting cobalt abuse from supplementation. Equine Veterinary Journal , 343-349.

Welfare, O. (2018). Animals used for work, sport, reccreation or display . Retrieved from One welfare: https://onewelfare.cve.edu.au/animals-used-for-work-sport-recreation-or-display