Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, the study by Teresa Schmidt, S. Meller, S. Talbot, R. Packer, and H. Volk investigates whether non-invasive urinary neurotransmitter testing can meaningfully contribute to the evaluation of behavioral disorders in dogs. Behavioral problems are common in domestic dogs and can significantly affect the well-being of dogs and their owners.
Because deviations in neurotransmitter systems have been linked to neuropsychological and neurobehavioral disorders in both humans and dogs, the authors examined whether urinary neurotransmitter profiles might correlate with validated measures of canine behavior. This approach—if reliable—could help identify biomarkers useful in diagnosing behavioral phenotypes and guiding neuromodulatory treatments.
The study assessed 100 dogs using established tools, including the C-BARQ, the ADHD Rating Scale, the Dog Personality Questionnaire, and the Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating Scale. These assessments were paired with laboratory measurements of urinary neurotransmitters.
The analysis found no correlation between urinary neurotransmitter levels and any of the evaluated behavior profiles. However, the researchers identified influences from age, sex, and neuter status on neurotransmitter excretion. The authors note that numerous confounding factors may obscure relationships between urinary biomarkers and behavior—including biological variables and methodological limitations such as low discriminatory power between anxiety and aggression in descriptive behavior scales.
As a result, urinary neurotransmitter testing could not be validated as a diagnostic tool for canine behavior evaluation in the present study. Nevertheless, the findings emphasize the importance of developing reliable, objective, and low-bias assessment methods to support more accurate diagnosis of canine behavioral disorders and to improve individualized treatment strategies.
Source: Schmidt, T., Meller, S., Talbot, S., Packer, R., & Volk, H. (2023). Urinary neurotransmitter analysis and canine behavior assessment. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Published February 6, 2023. Authors affiliated with institutions specializing in veterinary neurology, behavioral science, and companion animal medicine.
