Veterinary Visits

“Having owners present or absent during routine veterinary visits and procedures continues to be a controversial issue. While many owners (myself included) maintain that it is imperative that we remain with our dogs during veterinary examinations, some veterinary professionals feel that dogs benefit if separated from their owner during routine examinations and procedures.”

  1. Csoltova E, Martineau M, Boissy A, Gilbert C. Behavioral and physiological reactions in dogs to a veterinary examination: Owner-dog interactions improve canine well-being. Physiology & Behavior 2017; 177:270-281.

  2. Stellato AC, Dewey CE, Widowski TM, Niel L. Evaluation of associations between owner presence and indicators of fear in dogs during routine veterinary examinations. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2020; 257:1031-1040.

  3. Girault C, Priymenko N, Helsly M, Duranton C and Gaunet F. Dog behaviours in veterinary consultation: Part 1. Effect of the owner’s presence or absence.  The Veterinary Journal, 2022; 280; 105788.

  4. Helsy M, Priymenko N, Girault C, Duranton C and Gaunet F. Dog behaviours in veterinary consultation: Part 2. The relationship between the behaviours of dogs and their owners.  The Veterinary Journal, 2022; 281; 105789.

“Despite this evidence, policies that require owners to wait in a reception area while their dog is removed from them and taken into “the back” continues to be standard operation procedure at a substantial number of clinics. The primary argument used to support this practice is a belief that dogs will be more, rather than less, stressed with their owner present. We now have two studies, plus supporting evidence in other stressful settings, that directly refute this assertion (see “Hey Teacher“). The evidence that we have to date shows that dogs are less stressed when their owners are with them during veterinary visits.”

Veterinary Visits: It’s Important to Be There for Your Dog: Whole Dog Journal, Linda Case

Be the (Type of) Support Your Dog Needs: The Science Dog, Linda Case