BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM
The effect of music on human moods and health is well-documented, but researchers have been wondering about the effects of music on our animal counterparts. As explained by Dr. Susan O. Wagner at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, sound is made by energy waves that affect he nervous system. Sound is measured in frequencies which can affect the sounds beneficial or adverse effects on the listener. Sound toxicity caused by noise levels at too high of a frequency for an extended period of time have shown to increase the body’s physiologic stress response, reduce production by farm animals, and cause birth defects in laboratory mice. Researchers have long studied the role of sound in animal communication but not much attention has been paid to the potential benefits of specific sounds (music) to animals.
What they have found is that animals do indeed have positive responses to some music. The type of music varies by the species of animal. Dairy cows for instance had more milk let down and came more willingly to the milking parlor when classical music was played. Chickens responded with reduced stress and greater growth rates. Horses had increased appetite when country music was played, but lost their appetite when jazz music was played. Gorillas in zoos tended to prefer nature sounds and cats responded best to animal-like music that mimicked bird chirps and purring sounds. A study of cats under anesthesia documented more stress response to metal music than classical.
Dr. Wagner, researcher and author of Through a Dog’s Ear: Using Sound to Improve the Health and Behavior of Your Canine Companion, found that dogs responded to low tones and slow tempos in a calming manner. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons has been found to be beneficial to calming dogs in veterinary settings.
Dr. Wagner suggests that sound plays a role in displays of anxiety or pain in pets. She suggests that veterinarians encourage owners of such pets to create a sound inventory of their home. This process allows the client to become more perceptive of problematic noises and will pinpoint potential stressors. Playing calming music for 30-60 minutes a day at home can help generally nervous pets in a process similar to human meditation.
Some sources of pet playlists can be found at the following sites: icalmpet, Wholetones for Pets, Dog Gone Calm, The Rescue Animal MP3 Project, and Vitamin String Quartet.
