Going to the Vet? Don’t Fret: Using Treats and Scale Mats to Promote a “Stress-Free” Veterinary Experience for Dogs

Over 76.8 million pet dogs live in the United States and visit a veterinary clinic 2.4 times yearly, on average. For most dogs, these vet visits evoke stress, adding complications and complexity to executing necessary and routine care procedures. In a two-by-two mixed factorial study, we explored the potential effects and interactions relating to how a dog gets onto a veterinary scale, using a food lure or physical prompt, and whether a scale mat impacts procedural efficacy or efficiency. To analyze behavioral stress indicators within a veterinary context, we video-recorded a 3-min pre-experimental waiting period for each participant under both conditions. Dogs mounted the scale significantly faster if the scale was covered in a non-slip mat and a food lure was used. The handler effect was also significant, revealing that scale mounting procedural efficiency was impacted by whom the dog was handled. Lastly, behavioral analyses highlighted some key, easy-to-identify stress-related behavioral indicators that could serve as early warning signs a dog may struggle to complete necessary routine veterinary care procedures. These findings suggest simple, cost-effective strategies to reduce a dog’s stress when visiting the veterinary clinic.