Three Things to Know
Despite increased veterinary service utilization for dogs and cats, structured research on companion animal fear and stress during veterinary visits remains scarce. To address this, researchers surveyed over 90 pet owners in Romania regarding their perceptions.
Approximately 50% of owners observed stress behaviors (e.g., fear, trembling) immediately before and upon entering the veterinary practice, though this percentage significantly decreased ten minutes post-entry. Cats generally proved more challenging to handle than dogs, necessitating specialized approaches.
Over 80% of owners were permitted to accompany their pets into the consultation room, with a similar percentage believing their presence was beneficial. Pet owners identified calm communication and adequate space as crucial for improving how pets feel at the vet.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
This research offers valuable insights into how dog owners perceive veterinary visits. Encouragingly, over 90% of owners expressed satisfaction, believing veterinarians prioritized their pet’s welfare. The observed decrease in stress levels over time highlights the importance of allowing animals sufficient time to acclimate to the veterinary environment. Furthermore, the findings suggest that optimizing veterinary spaces with species-specific waiting areas and allowing owners to accompany their pets into the consultation room could significantly enhance animal well-being during visits.
The Full Picture
Pet ownership in Europe has grown significantly, with 166 million households owning pets as of 2023. Alongside this growth, veterinary services have expanded, reflecting owners’ increasing recognition of the importance of animal health care. However, many dogs and cats still experience fear and stress during veterinary visits, which discourages some owners from seeking regular check-ups.
This study, titled “Pet Owners’ Perceptions of Key Factors Affecting Animal Welfare During Veterinary Visits”, investigates pet owners’ perceptions of the factors affecting their animals’ behavior and welfare during veterinary visits and supports the need for a standardized welfare evaluation protocol for companion animals.
Study Methods
Researchers developed a 47-item questionnaire for dog and cat owners in Romania to complete after veterinary visits, capturing data on pet behavior, stress levels, and environmental factors across different stages of the visit.
Study Results
A total of 94 pet owners participated in the study, with 58.5% owning pet dogs and 41.5% owning pet cats. The most common reasons for veterinary visits included regular health check-ups (42.6%), routine vaccinations (19.2%), and deworming (9.6%), while a smaller percentage of visits were prompted by gastrointestinal, neurological, respiratory, or dermatological issues.
The animals varied in age and gender, and data were also collected on their home environments and social interactions. These factors aimed to provide context for understanding behavior during veterinary visits.
How Pets Feel at the Vet: Stress Level During Visit
During the veterinary visit, behaviors were assessed at three key points: arrival, after entering the clinic, and ten minutes later in the waiting room. Stress significantly increased immediately after entry (over 50% of owners identified stress behaviors), but decreased after ten minutes.
During weighing, about 30% of owners observed calm, cooperative behavior, while 21% reported escape attempts and 14% noted signs of fear. Most animals showed low to moderate stress levels. Notably, strategies such as weighing cats in covered carriers or weighing dogs before entering the consultation room can help.
When entering the consultation room, stress levels remained low to moderate for most pets, with only 6.4% of owners perceiving extreme stress. The majority of owners (85.1%) were allowed to accompany their pets, and 81.9% chose to do so. Some, however, opted not to enter despite being permitted.
In terms of handling, nearly 90% of pets showed no aggression, and around 60% were rated as very manipulable or manipulable. Only a small portion (6.4%) were considered impossible to handle, and about 16% of owners were either unsure or not present to assess this stage.
Pain levels varied, with 37.2% of owners reporting no pain, 17% reporting mild pain, and very few observing moderate to extreme pain. However, more than a quarter of owners were either unsure or not present to assess this.
Cats were generally harder to manage than dogs, requiring specialized approaches like gentle handling and providing a sense of control. Studies show that minimal restraint and species-specific appointments help reduce anxiety and vocalization.
Overall, the most frequently observed behaviors during the veterinary visits were agitation and stress (38.1%), followed by happiness and relaxation (33.3%), curiosity and attention (19.0%), and escape attempts or passivity (both 4.8%).
Other Perceptions
Regarding owner perceptions of pet welfare during vet visits, 76.6% strongly believed their presence was beneficial, and 87.2% said their animal’s welfare was not compromised. Nevertheless, 20.2% identified stress and fear as key welfare concerns, followed by the behavior of medical staff (19.1%), the presence of other animals and people (11.7%), and clinic infrastructure (9.6%).
Veterinary staff were generally rated positively: 91.5% of owners believed vets prioritized their pet’s welfare, and 72.3% found them sociable and informative. Notably, 90.4% of owners believed they had a greater role than the veterinarian in safeguarding their pet’s welfare during vet visits.
To improve welfare, owners suggested:
- Calm, gentle communication (31.4%)
- Adequate space and infrastructure (21.6%)
- Owner presence and involvement (11.8%)
- Use of rewards or distractions (9.8%)
- Gentle handling techniques (9.8%).
Moreover, practical strategies — such as species-separated spaces, pre-visit medications, low-stress handling, and better client education — can lead to more positive experiences and better health outcomes during veterinary consultations.
Conclusion
This study highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the behavioral and emotional responses of dogs and cats during veterinary visits. By capturing pet owners’ perceptions, it emphasizes the role of the environment, handling techniques, and owner involvement in shaping the veterinary experience. The findings support the need for improved communication between veterinarians and clients, as well as the implementation of stress-reducing practices in clinics. Ultimately, creating a more pet-friendly approach to veterinary care can enhance animal welfare and strengthen the human-animal bond.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Owned Dogs > Offering Better Care > Vet Care
Year of Publication:
2025
External Link:
Csiplo A-S, Popescu S. Pet Owners’ Perceptions of Key Factors Affecting Animal Welfare During Veterinary Visits. Animals. 2025; 15(6):894. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060894