Date of Award
Spring 5-20-2023
Document Type
Honors Project
University Scholars Director
Dr. Christine Chaney
First Advisor/Committee Member
Dr. Janet Bester-Meredith, Dr. Cindy Bishop
Second Advisor/Committee Member
Dr. Eric Long
Keywords
Canine, Dog, Stress, Veterinary Clinic, Behavior, Veterinary
Abstract
This study investigated whether stress responsiveness in dogs is more significant when the owner is present or absent during a veterinary examination. The study consisted of two experimental groups: "owner absent" and "owner present." Both groups consisted of 25 dogs each, totaling 50 dogs observed. A veterinarian and veterinary assistant recorded the dog's behavioral and physiological stress responses. Each group's behavioral and physiological stress-induced responses were compared using a Fischer Exact test and an Analysis of Covariance. The findings showed that dogs whose owners are present during the veterinary examination display fewer stress responses than dogs whose owners are absent because the owner-absent group showed significant differences in panting, heart rate, and respiratory rate. This study demonstrates that owner-dog interactions have positive impacts on stress experienced by dogs in veterinary clinics. The research aids in discussing stressors and stress-related behaviors in dogs because identifying these responses will allow veterinarians to mitigate stress, ultimately improving the accuracy of medical findings.
Recommended Citation
Vester, Jessica Ellen, "PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL STRESS-INDUCED RESPONSES OF DOGS DURING VETERINARY EXAMINATIONS" (2023). Honors Projects. 186.
https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/honorsprojects/186
Copyright Status
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Additional Rights Information
Copyright held by author.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Included in
Comments
A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Scholars Honors Program.