In this 2022 study published in Animals, Norhidayah Noordin and colleagues investigated how dog owners in Klang Valley, Malaysia, perceive canine heart disease and what factors influence their decision to seek treatment. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior, the study analyzed how attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and empathy affect treatment intentions.
The researchers surveyed 261 dog owners with prior experience in caring for dogs. While 83.5% of owners reported being aware of canine heart disease, less than half could correctly identify more than five out of twelve clinical signs. Symptoms such as coughing, lethargy, fainting, exercise intolerance, and breathing difficulty were moderately recognized.
Most owners (92.3%) expressed willingness to seek treatment; however, cost was the most significant barrier (39.5%), followed by concerns regarding long-term care and stress on the dog.
The study revealed three major psychological predictors of treatment intention:
• Attitude – Owners who believed treatment could meaningfully improve quality of life were more likely to pursue care.
• Subjective norms – Support from family, friends, and veterinarians positively influenced treatment decisions.
• Perceived behavioral control – Owners’ confidence in managing care, administering medication, and providing emotional support increased treatment likelihood.
Interestingly, owners with lower empathic concern could still be motivated to treat their dogs—if they had high perceived behavioral control. This suggests that motivation can be strengthened by improving owner confidence, even when empathy is low.
The researchers emphasized that continuous education can help owners better recognize symptoms and feel more capable of managing long-term treatment. Veterinarians play a crucial role by providing information, emotional support, and guidance in decision-making.
The study concludes that improving treatment outcomes depends not only on medical access, but also on psychological empowerment, knowledge, empathy, and social support for dog owners managing chronic conditions such as heart disease.
Source: Noordin, N., Khor, K. H., Khor, K., Lim, Y. J., & Lee, Y. C. (2022). Dog Owners’ Perspectives on Canine Heart Disease in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Animals. Published April 1, 2022.
