Salivary cortisol and behavior in therapy dogs during animal-assisted interventions: A pilot study

Salivary cortisol concentration in healthy dogs is affected by size, sex, and housing context

“…Study on salivary cortisol concentrations to mark distress or undesirable outcomes in dogs is a topic that has received an increased attention in the last years (Bellaio et al, 2009;Bennet and Hayssen, 2010;Wenger-Riggenbach et al, 2010;Beetz et al, 2011;Pastore et al, 2011;Glenk et al, 2014). Saliva can be collected less invasively than blood or urine, and its cortisol concentration has shown to closely parallel plasma cortisol values (Beerda et al, 1996;Hellhammer et al, 2009).…”

Our Ethical and Moral Responsibility

“…It was suggested that this increase was due to an increase in locomotor activity stimulated by interaction with the owner, which was activity inducing, rather than stress inducing. In contrast, two recent studies reported that salivary cortisol in AAI dogs did not increase during the course of an intervention and was no different from when the same dogs were in their home settings (Glenk et al, 2014;Ng et al, 2014). In addition, Haubenhofer and Kirchengast (2007) found that cortisol levels were higher on the days of therapy compared to days that the dogs were not working, and these levels were positively correlated with the frequency of visits performed.…”

Increasing the Effectiveness of Palliative Care through Integrative Modalities

“…One such study includes the research recently conducted by Glenk et al (2014). This finding challenges the notion that these behaviors are indicative of canine distress, and may even indicate that these behaviors help manage stress, as Glenk et al (2014) suggest. This finding challenges the notion that these behaviors are indicative of canine distress, and may even indicate that these behaviors help manage stress, as Glenk et al (2014) suggest.…”

“…Likewise, Glenk et al (2014) recently examined salivary cortisol among therapy dogs visiting with adults in an in-patient substance abuse treatment facility, and found that canine cortisol decreased from pre-therapy to post-therapy sessions, with significant declines in two of five sessions. Likewise, Glenk et al (2014) recently examined salivary cortisol among therapy dogs visiting with adults in an in-patient substance abuse treatment facility, and found that canine cortisol decreased from pre-therapy to post-therapy sessions, with significant declines in two of five sessions.…”