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Physiological and Behavioral Evaluation of Shelter Dogs During Veterinary Routine Health Checks.
Valentina Gazzano1, Maria Claudia Curadi1, Paolo Baragli1
1Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Veterinary Sciences
|June 25, 2025
Summary
Shelter dogs
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Behavior
- Canine Stress Physiology
Background:
- Shelter environments pose significant stress to dogs, impacting their well-being.
- Understanding canine stress responses is crucial for improving shelter animal welfare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate stress responses in shelter dogs during veterinary exams.
- To correlate behavioral observations with physiological and hormonal markers of stress.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 26 shelter dogs during routine veterinary examinations.
- Measured behavioral scores, heart rate, body temperature, cortisol, oxytocin, serotonin, tryptophan, and interleukin-6.
Main Results:
- Oxytocin (OXT) showed a negative correlation with cortisol (CRT) and body temperature, especially in relaxed dogs.
- No significant associations were found between tryptophan, serotonin, IL-6, and behavioral stress scores.
Conclusions:
- Oxytocin may buffer stress responses in dogs, potentially mitigating hyperthermia.
- Behavioral assessments might be more sensitive indicators of canine stress than hormonal or physiological measures alone.
