Dogs’ Preference for White Coat versus No White Coat When Offered a Food Reward in the Exam Room

Abstract

The wearing of a white lab coat during a visit to the veterinarian is common practice in veterinary medicine to avoid cross contamination or the spread of diseases in a clinical setting. “White Coat Effect” in both human and animal medicine has been of research interest. This study sought to explore if the visual of a white coat does in fact play a role in eliciting avoidance in dogs measured by preference for a veterinarian wearing a white coat versus one not wearing it. We investigated whether dogs would choose to retrieve a food reward from the veterinarian not wearing a white coat more often. We predicted that dogs would approach the veterinarian not wearing a coat first, would avoid approaching the veterinarian with the white coat, and would spend more time around the veterinarian not wearing the coat. A modified conditioned place preference paradigm was used to design this study. Two veterinarians were in a room, one wearing a white coat and one not wearing it, with a dog and the dog’s owner. Data was recorded for how many times the dog approached each of the veterinarians, and how much time it spent in proximity of the individuals in the room. Dogs showed preference for the veterinarian not wearing a white coat and spent more time between the owner and the veterinarian not wearing a coat. This study gives insight on how veterinarians can decrease stress during a vet visit. The white coat appears to be a stressor making the visit to the vet more challenging to the canine patient. Veterinarians and staff shall provide a comfortable setting for patients so that they can properly assess and treat them, while decreasing fear of the vet visit.