Assessment of Stress in Dogs Under Cancer Therapy via Faecal Cortisol Metabolite Analysis: A Pilot Study
Stress reactions play an important role in animals’ ability to cope with various situations. Glucocorticoids are measured as a stress parameter, and analysis of their faecal metabolites has proven to be a good method for evaluating long term stress. We hypothesised that dogs suffering from cancer wo...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1809 |
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| author | Christina Ziegerhofer Alexander Tichy Miriam Kleiter Birgitt Wolfesberger Rupert Palme |
| author_facet | Christina Ziegerhofer Alexander Tichy Miriam Kleiter Birgitt Wolfesberger Rupert Palme |
| author_sort | Christina Ziegerhofer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stress reactions play an important role in animals’ ability to cope with various situations. Glucocorticoids are measured as a stress parameter, and analysis of their faecal metabolites has proven to be a good method for evaluating long term stress. We hypothesised that dogs suffering from cancer would have a higher stress level during cancer therapy, which would be reflected in higher levels of faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs). Faeces were collected from 40 dogs receiving radiation or chemotherapy before and during the treatment, and from 53 healthy dogs, who served as a control group. FCMs were extracted and quantified by a cortisol enzyme immunoassay. The results showed that the stress levels were not significantly higher in the cancer patients before therapy compared to those in the control group. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the FCM concentrations of dogs at specific time points during chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Therefore, suspected stress should not be a criterion to exclude animals from cancer treatment. Such a treatment seems ethically justifiable if it is expected to provide benefits and improvement in the quality of life for patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4538545e08a14296ab7a10c2ffc6933a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-4538545e08a14296ab7a10c2ffc6933a2025-08-20T02:24:34ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011512180910.3390/ani15121809Assessment of Stress in Dogs Under Cancer Therapy via Faecal Cortisol Metabolite Analysis: A Pilot StudyChristina Ziegerhofer0Alexander Tichy1Miriam Kleiter2Birgitt Wolfesberger3Rupert Palme4Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaPlatform for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaDepartment for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaDepartment for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaExperimental Endocrinology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaStress reactions play an important role in animals’ ability to cope with various situations. Glucocorticoids are measured as a stress parameter, and analysis of their faecal metabolites has proven to be a good method for evaluating long term stress. We hypothesised that dogs suffering from cancer would have a higher stress level during cancer therapy, which would be reflected in higher levels of faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs). Faeces were collected from 40 dogs receiving radiation or chemotherapy before and during the treatment, and from 53 healthy dogs, who served as a control group. FCMs were extracted and quantified by a cortisol enzyme immunoassay. The results showed that the stress levels were not significantly higher in the cancer patients before therapy compared to those in the control group. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the FCM concentrations of dogs at specific time points during chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Therefore, suspected stress should not be a criterion to exclude animals from cancer treatment. Such a treatment seems ethically justifiable if it is expected to provide benefits and improvement in the quality of life for patients.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1809stresscaninechemotherapyradiation therapyfaecesglucocorticoid metabolites |
| spellingShingle | Christina Ziegerhofer Alexander Tichy Miriam Kleiter Birgitt Wolfesberger Rupert Palme Assessment of Stress in Dogs Under Cancer Therapy via Faecal Cortisol Metabolite Analysis: A Pilot Study Animals stress canine chemotherapy radiation therapy faeces glucocorticoid metabolites |
| title | Assessment of Stress in Dogs Under Cancer Therapy via Faecal Cortisol Metabolite Analysis: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | Assessment of Stress in Dogs Under Cancer Therapy via Faecal Cortisol Metabolite Analysis: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Stress in Dogs Under Cancer Therapy via Faecal Cortisol Metabolite Analysis: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Stress in Dogs Under Cancer Therapy via Faecal Cortisol Metabolite Analysis: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | Assessment of Stress in Dogs Under Cancer Therapy via Faecal Cortisol Metabolite Analysis: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | assessment of stress in dogs under cancer therapy via faecal cortisol metabolite analysis a pilot study |
| topic | stress canine chemotherapy radiation therapy faeces glucocorticoid metabolites |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1809 |
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