Published in BMC Research Notes, this study by Thanikul Srithunyarat and colleagues examined how different physiological and behavioral parameters respond to the stress and pain associated with surgery in dogs. Their goal was to identify new biomarkers that could more precisely reflect canine welfare during and after medical procedures.
The researchers focused on catestatin (CST) and vasostatin (VS)—two peptides derived from chromogranin A (CGA), a neuropeptide linked to the body’s stress response in humans. Thirty healthy female dogs scheduled for elective ovariohysterectomy were evaluated before surgery, three hours after recovery, and again 7–15 days later. The team recorded multiple parameters, including cortisol levels, body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and behavioral pain and stress scores using the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF) and Visual Analog Scales (VAS).
Findings revealed that three hours after surgery, dogs showed significant physiological and behavioral changes—pain and stress scores increased, while plasma catestatin, respiratory rate, and body temperature decreased significantly. By the follow-up period, both catestatin and cortisol levels were lower than baseline, indicating recovery. Vasostatin and salivary catestatin, however, did not show significant variation across conditions.
These results suggest that catestatin may act as a sensitive biomarker for acute stress and pain in dogs, potentially offering a more nuanced indicator than cortisol alone. The authors highlight the need for future studies to validate the diagnostic value of these peptides in various painful or stressful contexts, including clinical and welfare assessments.
By integrating physiological markers with behavioral scoring, this research contributes to a growing movement in veterinary science toward multi-dimensional welfare evaluation. Such biomarkers could help veterinarians and caregivers detect discomfort earlier, tailor pain management strategies, and ensure faster, more compassionate recovery for dogs undergoing medical treatment.
Source: Srithunyarat, T., Höglund, O., Hagman, R., Olsson, U., Stridsberg, M., Lagerstedt, A., & Pettersson, A. (2016). Catestatin, vasostatin, cortisol, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, scores of the short form of the Glasgow composite measure pain scale and visual analog scale for stress and pain behavior in dogs before and after ovariohysterectomy. BMC Research Notes, 9. Published August 2, 2016.
