Table 1.
Reference indicators to evaluate the state of separation-related behaviors in hospitalized dogs for baseline and final assessments
| Behavioral signs | Four-point scale (score) | Frequency/severity in behavioral signs |
|---|---|---|
| Destructiveness (scratching/digging/chewing) | none (0) | Absence of the sign |
| mild (1) | Showing 1 to 2 times of the sign | |
| moderate (2) | Showing 3 to 5 times of the sign | |
| severe (3) | Consistent destructiveness for escape | |
| Vocalization (whining/barking/howling) | none (0) | Absence of the sign |
| mild (1) | Showing 1 to 2 times of the sign | |
| moderate (2) | Showing 3 to 5 times of the sign | |
| severe (3) | Consistent or compulsive vocalization | |
| Elimination (urination/defecation) | none (0) | Showing normal elimination in the view of the veterinarians |
| mild (1) | Showing slightly increased in the volume or frequency from normal elimination in the view of the veterinarians | |
| moderate (2) | Showing noticeably increased in the volume or frequency from normal elimination in the view of the veterinarians | |
| severe (3) | Showing seriously increased in the volume or frequency from normal elimination in the view of the veterinarians | |
| Vigilance | none (0) | Absence of the sign |
| mild (1) | Showing mild vigilance in the view of the investigators | |
| moderate (2) | Showing noticeable vigilance in the view of the investigators | |
| severe (3) | Showing serious vigilance in the view of the investigators | |
| Excessive licking | none (0) | Absence of the sign |
| mild (1) | Showing 1 to 2 times of the sign | |
| moderate (2) | Showing 3 to 5 times of the sign | |
| severe (3) | Consistent or compulsive licking or grooming | |
| Anorexia | none (0) | Showing normal appetite in the view of the investigators |
| mild (1) | Showing slightly reluctant taking food in the view of the investigators | |
| moderate (2) | Showing noticeably reluctant taking food in the view of the investigators | |
| severe (3) | Completely refusing to take food | |
| Gastrointestinal problems (vomit/diarrhea) | none (0) | Absence of the sign |
| mild (1) | Showing 1 time of the sign | |
| moderate (2) | Showing 2 times of the sign | |
| severe (3) | Showing over 3 times of the sign | |
| Hyper-salivation | none (0) | Absence of the sign |
| mild (1) | Showing slightly increased the sign in the view of the investigators | |
| moderate (2) | Showing noticeably increased the sign in the view of the investigators | |
| severe (3) | Consistently showing the sign in the view of the investigators | |
| Trembling | none (0) | Absence of the sign |
| mild (1) | Showing slightly increased the sign in the view of the investigators | |
| moderate (2) | Showing noticeably increased the sign in the view of the investigators | |
| severe (3) | Consistently showing the sign in the view of the investigators | |
| Pacing | none (0) | Absence of the sign |
| mild (1) | Showing slightly increased the sign in the view of the investigators | |
| moderate (2) | Showing noticeably increased the sign in the view of the investigators | |
| severe (3) | Consistently showing the sign in the view of the investigators |