Salivary Glucocorticoid and Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite Concentrations in Pony Mares during Transrectal Palpation of the Reproductive Tract by Veterinary Students

Veterinary schools rely on live animals to assist in teaching veterinary students clinical procedures. The aims of the study were to (a) quantify a potential physiological stress response of teaching mares during veterinary student transrectal palpation of their reproductive tracts utilizing faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) and salivary glucocorticoids (sGC) concentrations; and (b) to determine the relationship between the glucocorticoid concentrations and both the ages and palpation experience of the study animals.

Source: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science - August 3, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Elize van Vollenhoven, Catharina Cornelia Grant, Lizelle Fletcher, Martin Lance Schulman, Patrick Collin Page, Andr é Ganswindt Tags: Original Research Source Type: research