Prospective study of plasma prolactin and thyroxin concentrations in anxious and non-anxious dogs.

BACKGROUND

This study examined the relationship between anxiety and plasma hormonal concentration (thyroxin, canine thyroid-stimulating hormone [cTSH] and prolactin) in male dogs, utilising the Evaluation of Dog's Emotional and cognitive Disorders (EDED) scale for anxiety assessment.

METHODS

This research included a control group of non-anxious dogs for comparative purposes, with hormonal levels measured under controlled conditions.

RESULTS

The findings showed no significant difference in thyroxin and cTSH concentrations between anxious and non-anxious dogs, indicating that anxiety might not directly influence these hormones. However, a significant elevation in prolactin levels was observed in anxious dogs, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for anxiety-related disorders in canines.

LIMITATIONS: The study should be conducted on more dogs to confirm these results. Exploring prolactin concentration levels in females considering their estrous cycle should be performed in future research to be able to use prolactin as a biological marker of anxiety.

CONCLUSION

This study contributes to the understanding of the neuroendocrine underpinnings of canine anxiety, proposing future research directions to explore the causal relationships between prolactin and anxiety and the therapeutic implications of modulating prolactin levels.