Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Does classical music reduce stress in hospitalised dogs
By McDonald, C I & Zaki, S·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2020·Sydney School of Veterinary Science, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A role for classical music in veterinary practice: does exposure to classical music reduce stress in hospitalised dogs?
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at whether playing classical music could help reduce stress in dogs staying at the vet. While the evidence is not strong, some dogs showed changes in behavior and heart rate when exposed to classical music, suggesting it might help them feel calmer. This could be a simple way to improve the experience for dogs in stressful situations like vet visits. However, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
People also search for: does classical music help dogs at the vet · reducing dog stress at the vet · calming music for dogs in hospital
Abstract
CLINICAL SCENARIO: Classical music has been extensively studied and acknowledged for its ability to reduce stress and improve patient outcomes in human medicine. It has also been shown to influence the disposition of many captive species within the animal kingdom. Some studies have hypothesised that classical music can also benefit dogs, offering the potential to provide a simple and cost-effective method to improve patient outcomes and canine welfare when dogs are placed in unfamiliar and potentially stressful environments. This critical appraisal examines the current evidence available on the use of classical music for the purpose of stress reduction in hospitalised dogs. CLINICAL BOTTOM LINE: Based on six experimental studies, there is only weak evidence which demonstrates that exposure to classical music reduces stress in hospitalised dogs undergoing veterinary intervention. However; it was shown that classical music has the ability to significantly influence specific behaviours and physiological parameters that have been associated with the canine stress response such as heart rate variability, level of vocalisation and time spent resting.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31943134/