Felicia Palm

I graduated from the veterinary programme at SLU in 2023 and began my PhD studies the same year. My master thesis explored cat owners' perspectives on weight loss in their overweight cats. Before my PhD studies I also worked as a veterinarian at a small animal clinic.

In addition to veterinary medicine, I have a strong interest in animal behavior and have completed several courses in ethology at Linköping University. I have also taken courses in methods to reduce stress and fear in animals during veterinary visits.

Detecting and assessing pain in dogs can be challenging, especially during veterinary visits when they are often also stressed. Pain and stress are also closely connected and often give rise to similar physiological and behavioral changes. In addition, the experience of pain and stress is highly individual, and it can vary how different individuals express pain and stress.

In my PhD project, we study both dogs and their owners in different situations to better understand how different dogs express pain and stress, how dogs and their owners influence one another, and the role that personality plays in the experience and expression of pain and stress.

You can read more about the research project here (in Swedish).

I primarily teach anatomy to veterinary students, but I'm also involved in other courses. I have also been involved in the supervision of degree projects within the veterinary programme.