the placebo effect in companion animals

1-hour webinar from the Chronic Pain Symposium 2025, presented by Dr. Margaret Gruen.
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1 hour cpd

12 months' access
to the recording

what's included...

  • 1-hour Presentation
  • Downloadable Lecture Notes
  • Multiple-choice Quiz
  • CPD Certificate

presentation overview

The placebo effect, widely recognized in human medicine, refers to the beneficial response that a patient experiences from a treatment that has no active therapeutic ingredients. This phenomenon has sparked growing interest in veterinary medicine, particularly in companion animals, where the psychological and physiological mechanisms behind placebo responses remain a topic of research. In companion animals, the placebo effect presents unique challenges. While animals cannot consciously interpret or expect treatment effects like humans, there is mounting evidence that certain placebo responses may occur through mechanisms such as owner expectation, animal-owner bond, and environmental factors. In this lecture, we will discuss the placebo effect, the underlying mechanisms that influence this effect, and the validation and use of scales and instruments designed to mitigate the impact of the placebo effect in veterinary clinical trials.

meet the presenter

dr. margaret gruen

Following her DVM, Dr. Gruen completed an internship and residency in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine at North Carolina State University, with board-certification from the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. She completed a PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences at NC State focused on assessment of pain in cats with degenerative joint disease, followed by a post-doc at Duke University and the Duke Canine Cognition Center.

She is currently an Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine, University Faculty Scholar, and Co-Director of the Feline Health Center at NC State. Her work focuses on human-animal interaction, including understanding effects of chronic pain on behavior and cognition.
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DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB

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