Can stress-related behavior in dogs be due to pain? A pilot study.

Abstract: Dogs and other pets can have back pain for years that no one notices. As a result they become stressed and can e.g. develop aggressiveness or decrease their feeding. There are indications that chiropractic treatments can treat these animals but this is not commonly known by veterinarians. This study investigated stress related behaviors and average heart rate in ten dogs before and after chiropractic treatment. A control group of eight dogs was also tested but did not receive the treatment. The test consisted of three parts: 1) one part without owner interaction, 2) one part where a human approached and 3) one part were the owner commanded the dog to sit and lie down. Eight out of ten owners experienced a positive change in their dogs’ behavior one week after the treatment though the test results did rather point at more stressful behaviors. The test group showed an increase in yawning and panting from the first to the second test (after the treatment) and showed a higher heart rate after the treatment compared to the control group during part 1. Probably due to that the treatment and the tests were in the same local and the dogs became stressed by being there again. Part 3 did show a possible increase in movability and contact with the owner but more studies are needed to confirm the change that the owners experienced. Though, this study is a step in the right direction; more animals could be treated and saved from euthanizing if chiropractic and the diagnosis of this back injury are taught to veterinarians.