Mindshift Alert: How veterinary students' views on dog breeds transform – And what it means for pet care!

In a groundbreaking duo of studies, researchers from North Carolina State University have unraveled a remarkable transformation in the mindset of veterinary students. As these students progress through their coursework, their perceptions of dog breeds' pain sensitivity and trustworthiness undergo a fascinating shift, aligning more closely with those of practicing clinicians and faculty. This revelation offers deep insights into the transmission of veterinary attitudes and culture to future veterinarians, particularly in instances where these beliefs may conflict with reality.

Margaret Gruen, Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine at NC State and the corresponding author of this new research, points out, "In a previous study, we found that while dog breeds differ in their sensitivity to pain, it didn’t necessarily reflect the beliefs veterinarians held about which breeds might be more sensitive. So we wanted to look at when these attitudes are formed by students and what this might mean."

Gruen, along with lead author Rachel Caddiell, crafted a comprehensive cross-sectional survey to capture diverse groups' attitudes about pain sensitivity and trustworthiness in dogs. The survey spanned members of the general public, pre-veterinary undergraduate students, veterinary students at different stages of education, veterinary faculty, and practicing clinicians. This endeavor shed light on the intricate dynamics of how these beliefs transform over time.

Participants in the survey were tasked with rating pain sensitivity and expressing their personal sentiments of warmth or coolness towards 10 distinct dog breeds. These included breeds like Siberian Huskies, Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies, Boston Terriers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Jack Russell Terriers, Maltese, Pitbull-type dogs, and Chihuahuas. These breeds were selected based on variations in how veterinarians and the general public perceive their pain sensitivity. The survey, expanded from previous research, also delved into participants' trust levels in these breeds across different scenarios.

The results presented a fascinating trajectory. As veterinary students progress from undergraduate studies through their academic journey, their beliefs align more closely with those held by professors and practicing veterinarians. For instance, concerning warmth and trustworthiness, the general public is significantly more likely to trust Chihuahuas with children than veterinary faculty and staff. Similarly, the general public exhibits a higher likelihood of adopting Siberian Huskies or Maltese compared to veterinary faculty and staff.

Margaret Gruen emphasizes the intriguing correlation between feelings of warmth towards a breed and pain sensitivity ratings, which diverge between the public and veterinarians. She highlights the shift in this correlation as students advance through their education. Interestingly, warmth correlates with lower pain sensitivity ratings. Gruen explains, "For example, the public rates golden retrievers as more sensitive, while veterinary students, faculty, and staff rate them much less sensitive, likely due to their behavior in the clinic."

Amid these revelations, some surprises emerged. Undergraduates with clinical experience displayed ratings that fell between those of the general public and clinicians. Those with clinical exposure rated breeds like Chihuahuas, Siberian Huskies, and German Shepherds as more sensitive to pain – aligning with veterinarians' beliefs. Strikingly, veterinary students in their third and fourth years leaned towards the far side of the spectrum, rating breeds as even more sensitive than faculty and clinicians.

Rachel Caddiell raises thought-provoking questions about the connection between pain sensitivity and warmth, pondering the impact of a breed's temperament on these ratings. She underscores that factors like standoffishness towards strangers or anxiety during vet visits could contribute to these beliefs. This emphasizes the role of cultural transmission in veterinary education, a phenomenon beyond just data dissemination.

While not necessarily negative or deliberate, Gruen hopes that these studies will lay the groundwork for distinguishing behavior from biology in training future veterinarians. The insights call for critical reflection on the language used to discuss pain, behavior, and biological traits, potentially altering the way clinicians perceive and approach canine patients.

The impactful studies have been published in Scientific Reports and received support from the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (grant 67627). The research also features contributions from NC State colleagues Duncan Lascelles, Kenneth Royal, Kimberly Ange-van Heugten, and Brigham Young statistician Philip White.