Salivary cortisol has been increasingly used as a measure of stress response in studies of
welfare, reaction to stress and human–animal interactions in dogs and other species. While
it can be a very useful measure, there are a number of saliva collection issues made evident
through studies in the human and animal fields which have not been investigated in the
canine species. Collection materials and the volume of saliva that is collected; the use of
salivary stimulants; and the effect of food contamination can all dramatically impact cortisol …