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document
Effect of a synthetic appeasing pheromone on behavioral , neuroendocrine , immune , and acute-phase perioperative stress responses in dogs . OBJECTIVE To study the effects of a synthetic , dog-appeasing pheromone ( sDAP ) on the behavioral , neuroendocrine , immune , and acute-phase perioperative stress responses in dogs undergoing elective orchiectomy or ovariohysterectomy . DESIGN Randomized , controlled clinical trial . ANIMALS 46 dogs housed in animal shelters and undergoing elective orchiectomy or ovariohysterectomy . PROCEDURES Intensive care unit cages were sprayed with sDAP solution or sham treated with the carrier used in the solution 20 minutes prior to use . Dogs ( n = 24 and 22 in the sDAP and sham treatment exposure groups , respectively ) were placed in treated cages for 30 minutes before and after surgery . Indicators of stress ( ie , alterations in behavioral , neuroendocrine , immune , and acute-phase responses ) were evaluated perioperatively . Behavioral response variables , salivary cortisol concentration , WBC count , and serum concentrations of glucose , prolactin , haptoglobin , and C-reactive protein were analyzed . RESULTS Behavioral response variables and serum prolactin concentration were influenced by sDAP exposure . Dogs exposed to sDAP were more likely to have alertness and visual exploration behaviors after surgery than were dogs exposed to sham treatment . Decreases in serum prolactin concentrations in response to perioperative stress were significantly smaller in dogs exposed to sDAP , compared with findings in dogs exposed to the sham treatment . Variables examined to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis , immune system , and acute-phase responses were unaffected by treatment . CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE sDAP appeared to affect behavioral and neuroendocrine perioperative stress responses by modification of lactotropic axis activity . Use of sDAP in a clinical setting may improve the recovery and welfare of dogs undergoing surgery .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
synthetic appeasing pheromone
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Intervention_Pharmacological
synthetic , dog-appeasing pheromone ( sDAP )
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Intervention_Physical
sDAP solution
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Intervention_Control
sham treated with the carrier
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Intervention_Physical
sDAP
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Intervention_Control
sham treatment
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Intervention_Pharmacological
sDAP
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Outcome_Mental
behavioral , neuroendocrine , immune , and acute-phase responses
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Outcome_Mental
Behavioral response variables
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Outcome_Physical
serum prolactin concentration
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Outcome_Mental
alertness and visual exploration behaviors
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Outcome_Physical
serum prolactin concentrations
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Outcome_Mental
behavioral and neuroendocrine perioperative stress responses
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Outcome_Other
recovery
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Participant_Sample-size
46 dogs