{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T06:13:29Z","timestamp":1788416009627,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788393600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"\n Introduction<\/jats:title>\n Environmental stressors in animal shelters may lead to development of excessive arousal, posing risks to adoptability and behavioral euthanasia. Recommendations regarding excessive arousal in shelter dogs include providing pharmaceuticals and enrichment.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n \n A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the influence of enrichment and pharmaceutical interventions on shelter dogs (\n N<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f50) displaying excessive arousal from a municipal animal shelter in Texas, United States. Data were collected during 1\u202fweek of baseline conditions (days 1\u20137) and 1\u202fweek of treatment (days 8\u201314). Dogs were randomly assigned to a treatment group: (1) baseline (5-min walk, 2x\/day), (2) calm enrichment (15-min walks 2x\/day,15-min human-animal interaction), (3) active enrichment (15-min play 2x\/day, 15-min human-animal interaction), (4) pharmaceutical (20\u202fmg\/kg gabapentin, 6\u202fmg\/kg trazodone, 5-min walk 2x\/day), and (5) pharmaceutical and calm enrichment (20\u202fmg\/kg gabapentin, 6\u202fmg\/kg trazodone, 15-min walk 2x\/day, 15-min human-animal interaction). Arousal scores (0\u202f=\u202fno arousal, 4\u202f=\u202fextreme arousal) and ease of transition out of kennel scores (0\u202f=\u202fno difficulty, 4\u202f=\u202fextreme difficulty) were assigned. Behaviors were assessed before, during, and after enrichment provision. All assessments occurred on days 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n During post-enrichment, the baseline group had higher arousal scores compared to active enrichment (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.041), pharmaceutical (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.001), and pharmaceutical and calm enrichment (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f&lt;\u202f0.001) groups. Arousal scores were lower day 10 (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f&lt;\u202f0.001) and day 14 (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.003; vs. day 1). The pharmaceutical and calm enrichment group exhibited had less lip licking (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.004), panting (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.032), vocalizations (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.003), and jumping (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f&lt;\u202f0.001) compared to all treatments. The pharmaceutical group (vs. baseline) had less jumping (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f&lt;\u202f0.001) and more body shaking (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.003). Post-enrichment (vs. pre-enrichment) observations had less paw lifting (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f&lt;\u202f0.001), yawning (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.011), vocalizations (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f&lt;\u202f0.001), and more lip licking (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f&lt;\u202f0.001), environmental scanning (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.002) and panting (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.002). Dogs in kennels near exits had less paw lifting (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.013) compared to dogs housed in between high arousal dogs. Longer stays were associated with more alert behavior (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.001) and less environmental scanning (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.04), lip licking (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.013), and vocalizing (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.029).\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Discussion<\/jats:title>\n Results suggest enrichment and pharmaceutical interventions may reduce excessive arousal in shelter dogs and can be used to inform shelter intervention protocols aimed at promoting welfare and adoptability.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1931203","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T05:22:35Z","timestamp":1788412955000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Combined enrichment and pharmaceutical intervention reduces excessive arousal in shelter dogs in a randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Alissa","family":"Cisneros","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University","place":["Lubbock, TX, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kristina","family":"O\u2019Hanley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University","place":["Lubbock, TX, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carly M.","family":"Moody","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis","place":["Davis, CA, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anastasia C.","family":"Stellato","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University","place":["Lubbock, TX, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","volume-title":"2025 annual analysis","year":"2026"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-1591(96)01132-X","article-title":"Noise in dog kennelling: is barking a welfare problem for dogs?","volume":"52","author":"Sales","year":"1997","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1016\/S0031-9384(98)00289-3","article-title":"Chronic stress in dogs subjected to social and spatial restriction. I. Behavioral responses","volume":"66","author":"Beerda","year":"1999","journal-title":"Physiol Behav"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"537","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physbeh.2005.12.001","article-title":"Human interaction and cortisol: can human contact reduce stress for shelter dogs?","volume":"87","author":"Coppola","year":"2006","journal-title":"Physiol Behav"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"703","DOI":"10.1007\/s10071-017-1092-8","article-title":"Investigating emotional contagion in dogs (Canis familiaris) to emotional sounds of humans and conspecifics","volume":"20","author":"Huber","year":"2017","journal-title":"Anim Cogn"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.12834\/VetIt.2013.492.231.241","article-title":"Behavioural and physiological responses of shelter dogs to long-term confinement","volume":"49","author":"Dalla Villa","year":"2013","journal-title":"Vet Ital"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physbeh.2006.07.012","article-title":"Behavioural and physiological responses of dogs entering re-homing kennels","volume":"89","author":"Hiby","year":"2006","journal-title":"Physiol Behav"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2013.05.001","article-title":"Cross-sectional study comparing behavioural, cognitive and physiological indicators of welfare between short- and long-term kennelled domestic dogs","volume":"147","author":"Titulaer","year":"2013","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1037\/0735-7036.110.1.103","article-title":"Behavioral and glucocorticoid responses of adult domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) to companionship and social separation","volume":"110","author":"Tuber","year":"1996","journal-title":"J Comp Psychol"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780198848981.001.0001","volume-title":"The Science of Animal Welfare: Understanding What Animals Want","author":"Dawkins","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2008.09.035","article-title":"Evaluation of young and adult dogs' reactivity","volume":"4","author":"Sforzini","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Vet Behav"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.46867\/ijcp.2011.24.02.03","article-title":"Development and validation of a psychometric tool for assessing impulsivity in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)","volume":"24","author":"Wright","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int J Comp Psychol"},{"key":"ref13","first-page":"297","volume-title":"Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff","author":"Reid","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"465","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13030465","article-title":"Emotional arousal impacts physical health in dogs: a review of factors influencing arousal, with exemplary case and framework","volume":"13","author":"Tooley","year":"2023","journal-title":"Animals (Basel)"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1079\/9781786393401.0257","volume-title":"Mental Health and Well-Being in Animals","author":"Cussen","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2014.04.007","article-title":"Adopter-dog interactions at the shelter: behavioral and contextual predictors of adoption","volume":"157","author":"Protopopova","year":"2014","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-1591(00)00100-3","article-title":"The influence of environmental change on the behaviour of sheltered dogs","volume":"68","author":"Wells","year":"2000","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1017\/s0962728600024891","article-title":"The influence of length of time in a rescue shelter on the behaviour of kennelled dogs","volume":"11","author":"Wells","year":"2002","journal-title":"Anim Welf"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"194","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11010194","article-title":"Characteristics and welfare of long-term shelter dogs","volume":"11","author":"Raudies","year":"2021","journal-title":"Animals (Basel)"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1634970","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2025.1634970","article-title":"Handling techniques and risk factors reported by veterinary professionals during dog examinations: a cross-sectional survey across Canada and the United States","volume":"12","author":"Nakonechny","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327604jaws0704_3","article-title":"The bond that never developed: adoption and relinquishment of dogs in a rescue shelter","volume":"7","author":"Mondelli","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Appl Anim Welf Sci"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1317","DOI":"10.1007\/s10071-015-0901-1","article-title":"Increasing arousal enhances inhibitory control in calm but not excitable dogs","volume":"18","author":"Bray","year":"2015","journal-title":"Anim Cogn"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1658857","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2025.1658857","article-title":"PTSD assistance dogs: concerns for animal well-being, rights, and justice","volume":"12","author":"Kiiroja","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref24","first-page":"774","volume-title":"Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff","author":"Bennett","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119421313","volume-title":"Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff","author":"Weiss","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref26","volume-title":"Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat","author":"Landsberg","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-1591(98)00179-8","article-title":"Influence of male and female petters on plasma cortisol and behaviour: can human interaction reduce the stress of dogs in a public animal shelter?","volume":"61","author":"Hennessy","year":"1998","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2008.10.005","article-title":"Effects of an enhanced human interaction program on shelter dogs' behaviour analysed using a novel nonparametric test","volume":"116","author":"Normando","year":"2009","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2016.11.002","article-title":"Factors determining the effects of human interaction on the cortisol levels of shelter dogs","volume":"186","author":"Willen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physbeh.2012.12.002","article-title":"Human interaction moderates plasma cortisol and behavioral responses of dogs to shelter housing","volume":"109","author":"Shiverdecker","year":"2013","journal-title":"Physiol Behav"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2018.02.011","article-title":"Can you spare 15 min? The measurable positive impact of a 15-min petting session on shelter dog well-being","volume":"203","author":"McGowan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"388","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.d4757","article-title":"Effects of exercise and human contact on animal welfare in a dog shelter","volume":"169","author":"Menor-Campos","year":"2011","journal-title":"Vet Rec"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.7120\/09627286.28.3.353","article-title":"Application of a welfare assessment tool (shelter quality protocol) in 64 Italian long-term dogs' shelters: welfare hazard analysis","volume":"28","author":"Arena","year":"2019","journal-title":"Anim Welf"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"581","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10040581","article-title":"Effects of olfactory and auditory enrichment on the behaviour of shelter dogs","volume":"10","author":"Amaya","year":"2020","journal-title":"Animals (Basel)"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1016\/j.beproc.2017.11.013","article-title":"The effects of exercise and calm interactions on in-kennel behavior of shelter dogs","volume":"146","author":"Protopopova","year":"2018","journal-title":"Behav Process"},{"key":"ref36","volume-title":"Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats","author":"Overall","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"876","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.20.10.0547","article-title":"Effects of trazodone on behavioral and physiological signs of stress in dogs during veterinary visits: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial","volume":"260","author":"Kim","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1281","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.249.11.1281","article-title":"Effects of trazodone on behavioral signs of stress in hospitalized dogs","volume":"249","author":"Gilbert-Gregory","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"550","DOI":"10.18849\/ve.v8i2.550","article-title":"The efficacy of trazodone in reducing stress-related behaviours in hospitalised dogs or dogs confined postsurgery","volume":"8","author":"Dillon","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet Evid"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2020.01.001","article-title":"Trazodone as a mediator of transitional stress in a shelter: effects on illness, length of stay, and outcome","volume":"36","author":"Abrams","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Vet Behav"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e453","DOI":"10.1002\/vetr.453","article-title":"Effects of a single oral dose of gabapentin on storm phobia in dogs: a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial","volume":"189","author":"Bleuer-Elsner","year":"2021","journal-title":"Vet Rec"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1031","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.21.03.0167","article-title":"Effects of a single dose of orally administered gabapentin in dogs during a veterinary visit: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study","volume":"260","author":"Stollar","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref43","volume-title":"Position Statement on Behavioral Pharmacology","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref44","first-page":"220","article-title":"Behavior modification and pharmacotherapy for separation anxiety in a 2-year-old pointer cross","volume":"43","author":"Lem","year":"2020","journal-title":"Can Vet J"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.12968\/coan.2021.0032","article-title":"Using psychopharmacology in the treatment of problem behaviours in dogs and cats","volume":"26","author":"Warnes","year":"2021","journal-title":"Companion Anim"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-017-1098-0","article-title":"The use of imepitoin (Pexion\u2122) on fear- and anxiety-related problems in dogs: a case series","volume":"13","author":"McPeake","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMC Vet Res"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1305","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.23.01.0044","article-title":"Daily gabapentin improved behavior modification progress and decreased stress in shelter cats from hoarding environments in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial","volume":"261","author":"Eagan","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.3390\/ani6100059","article-title":"Moving beyond the \u201cfive freedoms\u201d by updating the \u201cfive provisions\u201d and introducing aligned \u201canimal welfare aims\u201d","volume":"6","author":"Mellor","year":"2016","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.56771\/ASVguidelines.2022","article-title":"The guidelines for standards of care in animal shelters: second edition","volume":"1","year":"2022","journal-title":"JSMCAH"},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1902","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.233.12.1902","article-title":"Use of trazodone as an adjunctive agent in the treatment of canine anxiety disorders: 56 cases (1995-2007)","volume":"233","author":"Gruen","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1462","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14101462","article-title":"Effects of gabapentin on the treatment of behavioral disorders in dogs: a retrospective evaluation","volume":"14","author":"Kirby-Madden","year":"2024","journal-title":"Animals (Basel)"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e114319","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0114319","article-title":"In-kennel behavior predicts length of stay in shelter dogs","volume":"9","author":"Protopopova","year":"2014","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref53","volume-title":"Meet your Match\u00ae: Canine-Ality\u2122 and Puppy-Ality\u2122 Manual and Training Guide","author":"Weiss","year":"2007"},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2018.08.005","article-title":"Practical rat tickling: determining an efficient and effective dosage of heterospecific play","volume":"208","author":"LaFollette","year":"2018","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1017\/S0962728600022247","article-title":"Behavioural and hormonal indicators of enduring environmental stress in dogs","volume":"9","author":"Beerda","year":"2000","journal-title":"Anim Welf"},{"key":"ref56","first-page":"115","volume-title":"Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff","author":"Miller","year":"2022"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Veterinary Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1931203\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T05:22:38Z","timestamp":1788412958000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1931203\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"references-count":56,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fvets.2026.1931203"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1931203","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-1769"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-1769","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"article-number":"1931203"}}