Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Does having the owner with dogs reduce fear during vet exams
By Stellato, Anastasia C et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2020·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of associations between owner presence and indicators of fear in dogs during routine veterinary examinations.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study involving 32 dogs showed that having their owner present during a routine vet exam can help reduce signs of fear. Dogs with their owners nearby were less likely to vocalize and showed fewer signs of stress, like shaking or avoiding the exam. In contrast, dogs without their owners tended to have higher heart rates and more fearful behaviors. The findings suggest that it might be beneficial for pet owners to stay with their dogs during vet visits to help them feel more comfortable.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of owner presence on behavioral and physiologic indicators of fear in dogs during routine physical examinations. ANIMALS: 32 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs underwent a standardized, video-recorded examination consisting of 6 phases (examination of the head, lymph node palpation, body palpation, axillary temperature measurement, heart rate assessment, and respiratory rate assessment) with or without their owner present in a randomized, controlled study. Behaviors reported to be indicative of fear, including reduced posture, avoidance, escape, lip licking, body shaking, yawning, and vocalizing, were assessed during each phase, and physiologic measurements were assessed during relevant phases by the investigator. Owner presence and sex and age of dogs were investigated for associations with behavioral signs of fear; behavioral and physiologic measurements were compared between groups (owner present vs owner absent). RESULTS: Dogs in the owner-present group had a lower rate of vocalizations, lower mean axillary temperature, and higher rate of yawning than dogs in the owner-absent group. Female dogs in the owner-absent group had a higher heart rate than females and males in the owner-present group and males in the owner-absent group, and the rate of lip licking decreased as age increased in the owner-present group. The presence of reduced body posture and rates of lip licking, avoidance behavior, and escape behavior were associated with examination phase. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that, when practical, owners should be encouraged to remain with their dog during routine veterinary examinations. However, effects of owner presence during procedures require further investigation. (2020;257:1031-1040).
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33135972/