Effects of a Novel Gel Formulation of Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) on Behavioral and Physiological Stress Responses in Dogs Undergoing Clinical Examination

The veterinary visit is necessary for safeguarding the health of dogs, but it can be stressful and threaten both the welfare of the patient and the accuracy of the examination. This randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study aims at evaluating how dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animals (Basel) 2022-09, Vol.12 (18), p.2472
Main Authors: Puglisi, Ivana, Masucci, Marisa, Cozzi, Alessandro, Teruel, Eva, Navarra, Michele, Cirmi, Santa, Pennisi, Maria Grazia, Siracusa, Carlo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Autonomic nervous system
Behavior
Blood pressure
Body temperature
Data collection
dog appeasing pheromone
dogs
Heart rate
Hormones
Patients
Pheromones
Physiological responses
Physiology
Respiration
Respiratory rate
Stress
Stress (physiology)
Stress response
Thermoregulatory behavior
Veterinarians
veterinary visit
Waiting rooms
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Summary:The veterinary visit is necessary for safeguarding the health of dogs, but it can be stressful and threaten both the welfare of the patient and the accuracy of the examination. This randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study aims at evaluating how dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) in a novel gel formulation influences the behavioral and physiological stress responses of 28 dogs undergoing a standardized clinical examination, while staying in the waiting room (WR) and visited in the examination room (ER). Behavioral responses were studied through behavioral categories and subjective scales (WR and ER). Autonomic response considered heart rate (WR and ER), blood pressure (WR and ER), respiratory rate (ER), and rectal temperature (ER). Neuroendocrine response considered salivary cortisol (WR and ER). In the waiting room, the use of DAP was associated with a significant reduction of lip licking (p = 0.0189), an increase in panting (p = 0.0276), and a reduction close to significance (p = 0.0584) of low body postures. No significant differences were observed within the physiological responses. In the examination room, neither behavioral nor physiological differences were found.
ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani12182472