Work

Pet Owners’ Perceptions of Key Factors Affecting Animal Welfare During Veterinary Visits

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Over the past decade, the number of companion dogs and cats has grown significantly, leading to an increase in veterinary visits. These visits can be stressful for animals, potentially affecting their long-term physical and emotional well-being. The aim of this study was to investigate how dog and cat owners perceive the factors influencing their pets' behavior and welfare during veterinary visits. After completing a veterinary visit, dog and cat owners filled a survey assessing their pets' behavioral responses at different stages of the consultation. A total of 94 dog and cat owners participated in this study. The findings revealed that perceived stress levels were the highest right after entering the practice but declined significantly after about 10 min in the waiting room. The owners' observations, based on their familiarity with their pets' typical behavior, were considered a useful tool for assessing the stress levels in their companion animals during the veterinary visits. Although they had the possibility to choose terms from a list of behaviors, no ethogram was provided previously or during the data collection. In conclusion, while stress remains a key concern for animal welfare, the most critical period identified was immediately before and after entering the veterinary practice. Further research is needed to better understand this crucial phase and its implications for the health and welfare of dogs and cats.

Source: Animals

DOI: 10.3390/ani15060894

Authors: Andrei-Sebastian Csiplo, Silvana Popescu

Institutions: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, University of Veterinary Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Subfield: Small Animals

Field: Veterinary

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896