In this 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Lori R. Kogan, Jen Currin-McCulloch, Emma Brown, and Peter Hellyer examined how dog owners interpret behavioral changes that may indicate pain, and how their veterinary decision-making is influenced by brief educational interventions.
The study involved 367 U.S. dog owners who completed surveys assessing their concern levels and intentions to seek veterinary care when presented with behavioral scenarios that might reflect pain, such as withdrawal, reduced mobility, or changes in mood. Afterward, participants were shown brief pain-related educational material explaining behavioral signs of pain in dogs.
Results revealed that owners’ concern levels increased significantly for two out of three behavioral scenarios after receiving the educational material. More importantly, in all three scenarios, participants reported a significantly higher likelihood of seeking veterinary care after being educated about pain-related behavioral indicators.
The study also assessed perceptions of the Colorado State University Canine Acute Pain Scale (modified version). A large majority of owners found it useful for:
• Identifying their dog’s pain level (89%) • Deciding whether to seek veterinary care (84%) • Describing pain to their veterinarian (89%)
However, despite improved awareness, many owners cited cost, convenience, and stress to the dog during vet visits as barriers to immediate veterinary care.
The researchers concluded that even very brief educational interventions can improve owners’ recognition of pain-related behavioral changes and increase their intention to take appropriate action. This has important welfare implications, as unrecognized or untreated pain can severely affect a dog’s physical and emotional well-being.
Source: Kogan, L. R., Currin-McCulloch, J., Brown, E., & Hellyer, P. (2024). Dog owners’ perceptions and veterinary-related decisions pertaining to changes in their dog’s behavior that could indicate pain. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Published July 19, 2024.
