Stress in dogs during grooming in a pet shop

ABSTRACT The objective was to study the stress level in dogs during grooming services in a pet shop. A total of 55 grooming services carried out in a pet shop in the city of Janaúba, MG, were evaluated and divided into four categories according to sex and body weight. The flowchart of the grooming process contained six steps that began with the transportation of dogs to the pet shop and finished with their return to the place of origin. Behavioral, physiological, and blood component evaluations were performed at different steps of the process. Changes in dog behavior and physiological parameters were observed primarily upon arrival at the pet shop and during drying. Employee characteristics also influenced dogs’ behaviors. However, dogs were able to thermoregulate and maintain the homeostasis of leukocytes, glucose and cortisol in the blood.

摘要 本研究旨在探究宠物店内开展宠物美容服务过程中犬只的应激水平。研究针对巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州雅努巴（Janaúba）市一家宠物店所实施的共计55项宠物美容服务案例进行评估，并按性别与体重将其划分为四个类别。本次宠物美容流程共包含六个环节，起始环节为将犬只运送至宠物店，终止环节为将其送回原出发地。研究人员在该流程的不同环节对犬只开展了行为学、生理学以及血液成分检测。结果显示，犬只的行为与生理参数变化主要出现在抵达宠物店阶段以及吹干环节。美容从业人员的个体特征同样会对犬只的行为产生影响。不过，犬只能够完成体温调节，并维持血液中白细胞、葡萄糖与皮质醇的稳态。