Effect of Reggae Music on Vocalizations of Hospitalized Canine Patients

Abstract

Kenneling in a veterinary clinic can be stressful to canine patients. One behavioral indicator of stress in canines is vocalization which can contribute to noise pollution that can negatively affect other patients and veterinary staff. This study investigated potential impacts playing reggae music could have on owned dogs (n=24) that were kenneled at a veterinary hospital. Silence and reggae music conditions were alternated hourly starting at 8am with the final session starting at 3pm. Canine vocalizations were assessed in 2-minute intervals for a total of 30 intervals each hour with intervals being marked positive (+) if vocalizing was present and negative (-) if vocalizing was not. The results of this study showed that reggae music had little to no effect on vocalizations of canine patients, but it does not mean there is no overall benefit. Individual data was not collected, which could be useful in future studies. Even though reggae music had little effect in reducing vocalizations overall in canine patients it likely did not cause harm to them and staff perception of decreased vocalizations can have a positive impact on staff mentality. Owner perception in the efforts veterinary staff take to reduce stress while their dogs are kenneled can have a positive influence on owner-veterinary relationships as well. Future studies could look at different measures relating to canine stress and stress-related behaviors to further evaluate the effectiveness of reggae music in reducing vocalizations in canine patients kenneled in veterinary settings.