Assessing canine stress in a veterinary clinic setting: Behavioral and thermographic analysis

Veterinary clinic visits are known to be a source of stress for many dogs, yet quantitative assessments combining behavioral and physiological indicators remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate canine stress responses during routine veterinary visits using both behavioral observations and infrared thermography. A total of 96 clinically healthy dogs visiting a veterinary clinic for routine vaccination were observed across four defined time intervals: waiting room, pre-examination, during examination, and post-examination. Twenty-one stress-related behaviors were recorded via direct observation. Surface temperature of the left lacrimal caruncle was measured using infrared thermography in a subset of 45 dogs. Rectal temperature was recorded during clinical examination to assess correlation with ocular surface temperature. Stress-related behaviors were observed in the majority of dogs, with the highest frequency occurring during the examination phase. Lip licking, tail tucking, and body trembling were the most common. Dogs weighing ≤ 5 kg and aged >2–6 years showed significantly more behavioral indicators of stress. Surface temperature of the lacrimal caruncle also increased significantly during examination, with no correlation to rectal temperature. Younger dogs (2 months to 1 year) showed higher eye surface temperatures than older dogs. Routine veterinary visits, especially the examination phase, induce measurable stress in dogs. Behavioral signs combined with thermography provide a non-invasive and practical approach to assess stress responses. Minimizing waiting times and optimizing handling procedures may reduce canine stress during clinical visits.