Qualitative Exploration of the Hidden Curriculum in Communicating Dog Breed Stereotypes During Veterinary Clinical Training.

This article investigates how dog breed pain stereotypes are developed and reinforced during veterinary clinical training, particularly through the hidden curriculum—unspoken social and cultural lessons absorbed by students. Through unobtrusive observations of fourth-year veterinary students during clinical rotations at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the study identified three main themes: mixed and conflicting messages about pain identification and management, distinct microcultures within clinical rotations influencing attitudes toward pain, and pervasive use of breed-specific stereotypes by veterinary team members that shaped students' perceptions and treatment decisions. These breed stereotypes, often related to assumed personality traits, influenced how pain was recognized and managed despite lacking alignment with experimental evidence of actual pain sensitivity differences among dog breeds. The findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to clarify pain assessment and reduce reliance on breed stereotypes, thereby improving veterinary pain management practices.