Flemish equine veterinarians' perceptions on the use of and client communication about complementary and alternative veterinary medicine.

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) is increasingly popular in horses. As CAVM usage could have risks, client-veterinarian communication about CAVM is crucial. OBJECTIVES: Evaluating equine veterinarians' attitude towards CAVM, their CAVM usage and veterinarian-client communication about CAVM. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHOD: A telephone survey was conducted among equine veterinarians providing ambulatory care on a daily or weekly basis. The first section of the survey included questions about the veterinarians' attitude towards CAVM and their CAVM usage. The second section focused on veterinary-client communication about CAVM. RESULTS: When herbs are included as CAVM modality, 83% of the participants applied CAVM. Nighty-eight percent had already communicated with horse owners about CAVM and 81% agreed to be open to talk about CAVM. However, 95% agreed that sometimes CAVM usage takes place without disclosure to the veterinarian. The majority of participants communicated about CAVM on a weekly (40%) or daily (22%) basis, most often in person during consultations (99%) or via phone (32%). The median percentage of conversations about CAVM initiated by the owner was 50% (range 50%-80%). When the veterinarian initiated the conversation, this was usually by mentioning it as a treatment option, mostly in addition to conventional treatments. Some participants directly asked about CAVM use in the information-gathering phase. MAIN LIMITATIONS: A convenience sample was used due to lack of data on the number of equine veterinarians in Flanders. Potential favourability bias with higher participation of veterinarians interested in CAVM. CONCLUSION: Equine veterinarians generally had a positive attitude towards CAVM use, although this depended on the specific modality. Veterinarian-client communication about CAVM occurs frequently in ambulatory care. An open dialogue with horse owners about CAVM is important to provide information about CAVM and thus enable them to make informed decisions concerning CAVM usage, together with their veterinarian.

INTRODUCTION/CONTEXTE: La médecine complémentaire et alternative (CAVM) est de plus en plus populaire chez les équins. Comme l'utilisation de la CAVM peut entrainer des risques, la communication entre le vétérinaire et le client à propros de la CAVM est cruciale. OBJECTIFS: Évaluer l'attitude des vétérinaires équins par rapport à la CAVM, leur utilisation de la CAVM et leur communication aux clients en lien avec la CAVM. TYPE D'ÉTUDE: Étude transversale. MÉTHODES: Un sondage téléphonique des vétérinaires équins fournissant un service ambulatoire journalier ou hebdomadaire a été fait. La première partie du sondage incluait l'attitude des vétérinaires vis­à­vis la CAVM et leur usage de la CAVM. La seconde partie se concentrait sur la communication vétérinaire­client à propos de la CAVM. RÉSULTATS: Lorsque les herbes étaient incluses en tant que modalités de la CAVM, 83% des participants appliquaient la CAVM. Quatre­vingt­dix­huit pourcents avaient déjà parlé de la CAVM avec des propriétaires de chevaux et 81% étaient ouvert à l'idée d'en parler à leur client. Par contre, 95% étaient d'accord pour dire que la CAVM est parfois utilisée sans le mentionner au client. La majorité des participants parlaient de la CAVM sur une base hebdomadaire (40%) ou journalière (22%), le plus souvent durant les rendez­vous (99%) ou par téléphone (32%). Le pourcentage médian de conversations initiées par les propriétaires, à propos de la CAVM était de 50% (étendu 50­80%). Lorsque le vétérinaire initiait la conversation à ce sujet, c'était le plus souvent en mentionnant la CAVM comme option de traitement, plus particulièrement comme étant un ajout aux traitements conventionnels. Certains participants ont demandé de l'information directement à propos de la CAVM durant la phase de récolte de l'information. LIMITES PRINCIPALES: Un échantillon de convenance a été utilisé en raison du manque de données par rapport au nombre de vétérinaires équins dans les Flandres. Biais favorable possible en cas de participation plus élevée des vétérinaires intéressés par la CAVM. CONCLUSIONS: Les vétérinaires équins ont généralement une attitude positive par rapport à la CAVM, parfois dépendant spécifiquement de la modalité de traitement. Les communications vétérinaire­client à propos de la CAVM se produisent très fréquemment en pratique ambulatoire. Un discours ouvert avec les propriétaires de chevaux à propos de la CAVM est important afin de fournir de l'information sur la CAVM et de ce fait, leur permettre de faire une décision éclairée en ce qui à trait à l'utilisation de la CAVM, en accord avec leur vétérinaire.

Balancing generalism and specialism: what can the vet profession learn from human medicine?

Cleodie Swire and Honoria Brown argue that the current trends of promoting generalism in human medicine to provide holistic care to patients should prompt the veterinary profession to do the same and create a rewarding career pathway for GP vets.

Changes in diet and supplement use in dogs with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Many dog owners alter their dog's nutritional regimen after a diagnosis of cancer. There are limited data as to specific changes made and reasons behind these changes. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To collect updated and detailed data on changes made by owners to their dog's diet and supplements after a cancer diagnosis. ANIMALS: Responses were collected from a survey of dog owners who brought their dogs to the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital's Oncology Service for the first time after a cancer diagnosis. Dogs with recurrence or presenting for a second type of cancer were excluded. METHODS: Eligible owners were surveyed between December 2020 and March 2022. The survey contained 62 questions regarding diet, supplement use, and treats, and how these were altered after a cancer diagnosis. Responses were matched to medical record data. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-eight surveys were retained for analysis, including 120 respondents that completed the survey. In response to a cancer diagnosis, 54.8% (95% CI; 45.7%-63.8%) of owners altered diets or supplements or both. The most common informational resource for dog diets was veterinarians (53.9%). Usage of home-prepared foods significantly increased after a cancer diagnosis (P = .03). There was no significant difference in commercial diet usage before or after a diagnosis (P = .25). Joint support products were the most common supplements given both before (37.4%) and after (35.0%) diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Many dog owners alter their dog's nutritional intake after a cancer diagnosis. These owners should be provided information relating to commonly observed alterations, including home-prepared foods and supplements.

Family Quality of Life: pet owners and veterinarians working together to reach the best outcomes.

Friction can occur between veterinarians and their clients when they are not aligned on the goals of care for a pet and what constitutes the best outcome of a case. Veterinarians frequently concentrate on providing the diagnostic and treatment protocol that is perceived to result in the best medical outcome for their patient. Pet owners frequently consider a myriad of factors relating to the pet as well as how different diagnostic and treatment recommendations will affect individual family members and the family as a whole in both concrete and subjective terms. This misalignment can lead to veterinarians experiencing moral distress and families feeling guilt and shame about their pet's care decisions. In this paper we examine the interdependencies of families and their pets and the factors that pet owners may consider in making care decisions. These factors, adapted from the concept of Family Quality of Life as used in the human health field, can be divided into three domains including pet-centric factors, family-centric factors, and external factors. By better understanding that there are a multitude of considerations that influence owners' care decisions and communicating with owners in a nonjudgmental manner, veterinarians can more holistically support families, decrease their own moral distress, and arrive at diagnostic and treatment plans that represent the overall best approach for the family and the patient.

Antibiotic prescription patterns and non-clinical factors influencing antibiotic use by Ecuadorian veterinarians working on cattle and poultry farms: A cross-sectional study.

Understanding antibiotic prescription patterns and non-clinical factors influencing antibiotic use is essential for implementing strategies to promote appropriate antibiotic use. There is, however, limited research exploring these issues with Ecuadorian veterinarians. Therefore, a questionnaire was developed and applied cross-sectionally to veterinarians (n = 173) from two professional organizations to explore the antibiotic prescription patterns and non-clinical factors (e.g., attitudes and perceptions) influencing antibiotic use, and to identify strategies to reduce antibiotic use. The response rate was 78.4%. Responses were compared between veterinarians working mainly on cattle and poultry farms using Mann-Whitney U tests. The most important attitudes, beliefs and perceptions towards antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic use were identified with the Relative Importance Index (RII). Veterinarians showed high awareness of AMR and its implications for public health, as well as the necessity of reducing antibiotic use. However, some veterinarians appear to underestimate the potential contribution of veterinary antibiotic use on AMR in humans. Veterinarians self-reported high prescription (> 20%) of antibiotics for cattle and poultry that are critically important for human medicine, such as 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, polymyxins and quinolones. Further, antibiotic therapy was not tailored to disease type. Cattle and poultry veterinarians perceived similar barriers to increasing antibiotic stewardship including: poor biosecurity measures, animal confinement, low feed quality, farmers' behaviors (such as stopping antibiotic treatment, storing antibiotics on farms, buying antibiotics in veterinary supply stores), and sales agents' roles as non-professional prescribers of antibiotics. Overall, veterinarians were broadly supportive (>90%) of most strategies to promote appropriate antibiotic use. They saw more merit in improving biosecurity of farms and implementing educational programs for farmers and veterinarians. This study provides insight into the complexity of antibiotic use on Ecuadorian farms and the need for holistic strategies in a One Health context, to achieve antibiotic stewardship.

Surveying dog owners' use and understanding of, and communication with veterinarians about, complementary and alternative veterinary medicine.

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) seems to be gaining acceptance by pet owners. Client-veterinarian communication about CAVM is important to explore client perceptions and facilitate open exchange of ideas between owners and veterinarians. METHODS: This study includes an online, cross-sectional survey of dog owners to evaluate CAVM use and client-veterinarian communication about CAVM. Based on the extended theory of planned behaviour, factors influencing the intention to use CAVM were evaluated. RESULTS: Past CAVM use was reported by 45.3% clients based on 1000 valid surveys. The attitude towards CAVM was generally positive. Perceived knowledge about CAVM positively predicted perceived behavioural control and attitude towards CAVM. Both were the strongest predictors of future CAVM use. Around 45.7% of clients had already talked to their veterinarian about CAVM. This conversation was mainly initiated by the owner (66.3%). Owners expected the veterinarian to have knowledge about CAVM (91.5%) and offer referral (71.5%). LIMITATIONS: The limitation is difficulty in classifying and defining CAVM modalities. CONCLUSIONS: Owners' perceived behavioural control and attitude towards CAVM predict CAVM use. Failure to engage in a conversation about CAVM hampers clients to partner with veterinarians to discuss the treatment approach and maximise patient outcome. The veterinarian plays an essential role in providing objective accurate information about CAVM.

Feasibility and efficacy of an online compassion-focused imagery intervention for veterinarian self-reassurance, self-criticism and perfectionism.

BACKGROUND: Veterinarians report high levels of psychological distress and self-criticism. However, there is minimal research investigating psychological interventions for veterinarians. Evidence suggests that compassion-focused therapy is effective at reducing distress in those with high self-criticism. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a 2-week online compassionate imagery intervention for veterinarians. METHODS: A one-group repeated measures design was used with 128 veterinarians. Participants completed measures of perfectionism, self-criticism, self-reassurance and fears of compassion four times, at 2-week intervals (at baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention and 2-week follow-up). Participants answered written questions about their intervention experience post-intervention. RESULTS: Content analysis of the qualitative data found the intervention to be acceptable and beneficial to participants. Overall, study attrition was 50.8%, which is reasonable for a low-cost intervention. Minimal differences were found between participants who dropped out compared to those who completed the intervention. Perfectionism, work-related rumination and self-criticism were significantly reduced post-intervention, and these effects were maintained at follow-up. Resilience and self-reassurance remained unchanged. Fears of compassion reduced over the baseline period and pre-post intervention, questioning the validity of the measure. CONCLUSION: Overall, in the context COVID-19, the intervention showed impressive feasibility and preliminary effectiveness. Randomised control trials are recommended as the next step for research to establish the intervention's effectiveness.

[Opinion among veterinarians on equine Lyme disease - results of a questionnaire study]. / Tierärztliches Meinungsbild zur Equinen Lyme-Borreliose ­ Ergebnisse einer Fragebogenstudie.

AIM: Recording equine veterinarians opinion on equine Lyme disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey was conducted to get a general impression of the opinion of German equine vets on the topic of equine Lyme Borreliosis. The main focus of this questionnaire study was set on the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of the horse vets. RESULTS: Overall almost half of the veterinarians (48 %) detected only rarely or never serological antibodies against Bb , 47 %found occasionally and 5 % frequently Borrelia antibodies within their clientel.Concerning the existence of clinical LB in horses, 51 % of the veterinarians reported clinical cases, 43 % thought it might be possible but have not seen cases themselves and 6 % categorically ruled out the existence.On average, further diagnostic measures for LB diseases were initiated 15 ± 9 times per year and 1.4 ± 1.0 cases of equine LB diseases were diagnosed per year. In the majority of 68 % of the cases, the veterinarians chose serological tests as diagnostic measures, followed by a combination of serological tests and Antigen detection tests (27 %) and only 5 % of the veterinarians were using Antigen detection tests exclusively. Blood and skin biopsies were submitted most frequently for direct Antigendetection. The treatment of horses with positive laboratory results indicating Lyme disease and clinical symptoms assessed as suitable was carried out by 93 % of the veterinarians with antibiotics and 7% with homeopathy. Doxycycline (68 %) was used most frequently. The antibiotic treatment was applied over a period of 3 (31 %) to 4 (63 %) weeks.Regarding the question of a possible vaccination, 39 % of veterinarians do not offer vaccination against Lyme borreliosis, 20 % have not yet used it, but do not categorically reject it, and 41 % regularly carry out vaccinations against Lyme borreliosis. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The opinion on the clinical relevance of Equine Lyme Borreliosis among german equine veterinarians vary considerably. Uniform diagnostic guidelines and, possibly, recommendations for therapy would serve to counteract the existing uncertainty concerning this disease within the equine veterinary community.

Application of veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine in small animal medicine-A survey among German veterinary practitioners.

BACKGROUND: The international use of and interest in veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine are increasing. There are diverse modes of treatment, and owners seem to be well informed. However, there is a lack of data that describes the state of naturopathic or complementary veterinary medicine in Germany. This study aims to address the issue by mapping the currently used treatment modalities, indications, existing qualifications, and information pathways. In order to map the ongoing controversy, this study records the advantages and disadvantages of these medicines as experienced by veterinarians. Demographic influences are investigated to describe distributional impacts on using veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine. METHODS: A standardised questionnaire was used for the cross-sectional survey. It was distributed throughout Germany in a written and digital format from September 2016 to January 2018. Because of the open nature of data collection, the return rate of questionnaires could not be calculated. To establish a feasible timeframe, active data collection stopped when the previously calculated limit of 1061 questionnaires was reached. With the included incoming questionnaires of that day a total of 1087 questionnaires were collected. Completely blank questionnaires and those where participants did not meet the inclusion criteria (were not included, leaving 870 out of 1087 questionnaires to be evaluated. A literature review and the first test run of the questionnaire identified the following treatment modalities: homoeopathy, phytotherapy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), biophysical treatments, manual treatments, Bach Flower Remedies, neural therapy, homotoxicology, organotherapy, and hirudotherapy which were included in the questionnaire. Categorical items were processed using descriptive statistics in absolute and relative numbers based on the population of completed answers provided for each item. Multiple choices were possible. Metric data were not normally distributed (Shapiro Wilk Test); hence the median, minimum, and maximum were used for description. The impact of demographic data on the implementation of veterinary naturopathy and complementary techniques was calculated using the Mann-Whitney-U-Test for metric data and the exact Fisher-Test for categorical data. RESULTS: Overall 85.4% (n = 679 of total 795 non-blank data sets) of all the questionnaire participants used naturopathy and complementary medicine. The treatments most commonly used were complex homoeopathy (70.4%, n = 478), phytotherapy (60.2%, n = 409), classic homoeopathy (44.3%, n = 301) and biophysical treatments (40.1%, n = 272). The most common indications were orthopedic (n = 1798), geriatric (n = 1428) and metabolic diseases (n = 1124). Over the last five years, owner demand for naturopathy and complementary treatments was rated as growing by 57.9% of respondents (n = 457 of total 789). Veterinarians most commonly used scientific journals and publications as sources for information about naturopathic and complementary contents (60.8%, n = 479 of total 788). These were followed by advanced training acknowledged by the ATF (Academy for Veterinary Continuing Education, an organisation that certifies independent veterinary continuing education in Germany) (48.6%, n = 383). The current information about naturopathy and complementary medicine was rated as adequate or nearly adequate by a plurality (39.5%, n = 308) of the respondents of this question. Further, 27.7% (n = 216) of participants chose the option that they were not confident to answer this question and 91 answers were left blank. The most commonly named advantages in using veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine were the expansion of treatment modalities (73.5%, n = 566 of total 770), customer satisfaction (70.8%, n = 545) and lower side effects (63.2%, n = 487). The ambiguity of studies, as well as the unclear evidence of mode of action and effectiveness (62.1%, n = 483) and high expectations of owners (50.5%, n = 393) were the disadvantages mentioned most frequently. Classic homoeopathy, in particular, has been named in this context (78.4%, n = 333 of total 425). Age, gender, and type of employment showed a statistically significant impact on the use of naturopathy and complementary medicine by veterinarians (p < 0.001). The university of final graduation showed a weaker but still statistically significant impact (p = 0.027). Users of veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine tended to be older, female, self-employed and a higher percentage of them completed their studies at the University of Berlin. The working environment (rural or urban space) showed no statistical impact on the veterinary naturopathy or complementary medicine profession. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to provide German data on the actual use of naturopathy and complementary medicine in small animal science. Despite a potential bias due to voluntary participation, it shows a large number of applications for various indications. Homoeopathy was mentioned most frequently as the treatment option with the most potential disadvantages. However, it is also the most frequently used treatment option in this study. The presented study, despite its restrictions, supports the need for a discussion about evidence, official regulations, and the need for acknowledged qualifications because of the widespread application of veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine. More data regarding the effectiveness and the mode of action is needed to enable veterinarians to provide evidence-based advice to pet owners.

Expectations and experiences of practising veterinarians throughout an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction programme.

AIMS: To explore practising veterinarians' expectations of an 8-week mindfulness training programme, their perceived barriers to participating in the programme, their experiences of the programme and the extent to which they continued to engage in mindfulness practices following training. METHODS: Participants were 10 companion animal veterinarians practising in Auckland, New Zealand. All took part in an 8-week mindfulness-based training programme. A longitudinal qualitative design was used: data were collected by structured interviews prior to the programme, upon completion of the programme and 3 months after completion. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes, or patterns, within the data. RESULTS: Before commencing the programme, participants generally thought mindfulness training would provide some benefits for wellbeing but were otherwise not clear on what to expect. The main concerns about taking part were time constraints and apprehensions about potentially having to share personal information, and consequently how they might be perceived by other participants. On completion of the training programme, the opportunity to share experiences within the group with the support of a trained facilitator was reported as the most valuable aspect of the programme, rather than the mindfulness practices themselves. At the 3-month follow-up, participants reported they had learnt some useful techniques for managing stressful thoughts and situations, but despite the perceived benefits, few were still practicing mindfulness techniques. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Training in mindfulness practices may have some value for helping practicing veterinarians manage their wellbeing, but it is not a complete solution in itself. Participants reported that the greatest benefits came from facilitated peer support.

Desenvolvimento de organogel injetável subcutâneo de Pluronic®-F127 e lecitina de soja (OPL) contendo meloxicam para uso veterinário / Development of a veterinary organogel formulation containing soy lecithin, Pluronic® F-127 and meloxicam for the treatment of acute and chronic pain in small animals

O organogel é formado por uma matriz tridimensional composta de filamentos que se auto-organizam em uma rede entrelaçada e que, por seu tipo de estrutura, pode ser utilizado com o objetivo de atuar como um implante que se forma in situ, sendo capaz de se comportar como uma forma farmacêutica de liberação prolongada. Esse trabalho tem, por tanto, o objetivo desse trabalho foi desenvolver, caracterizar, quantificar e traçar perfis de dissolução para formulações de organogel contendo meloxicam como principio ativo. O material está dividido em quatro capítulos, sendo apresentada inicialmente (I) revisão da literatura a respeito da lecitina de origem vegetal, com suas principais fontes de obtenção, como soja, girassol e colza, e também seu uso farmacêutico na obtenção de formulações como organogéis, microemulsões e lipossomas. Os demais capítulos abordam (II) desenvolvimento e otimização de uma formulação de organogel contendo lecitina de soja e Pluronic® F-127 como formadores da matriz tridimensional e meloxicam como principio ativo. (III) Desenvolvimento e validação de um método de quantificação do teor de meloxicam por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). (IV) Desenvolvimento de um método de dissolução para formulações de organogel, que fosse capaz de ser utilizado na caracterização do perfil de dissolução de diferentes formulações. Com os resultados obtidos, foi possível desenvolver formulações de organogel contendo lecitina de soja, Pluronic® F-127 e meloxicam, assim como um método analítico validado para as analises de teor. Por fim, foram obtidos também os perfis de dissolução de duas formulações mais promissoras

Organogels are formed by a three-dimensional matrix composed of filaments that selforganize in an interlaced network and that, due to its type of structure, can be used with the objective of acting as an implant that forms in situ, being able to behave as an extendedrelease dosage form. This work has, therefore, the objective of this work was to develop, characterize, quantify and trace dissolution profiles for organogel formulations containing meloxicam as active ingredient. The material is divided into four chapters, initially presented (I) review of the literature on lecithin of plant origin, with its main sources of production, such as soybean, sunflower and rapeseed, and also its pharmaceutical use in obtaining formulations such as organogels , microemulsions and liposomes. The remaining chapters address (II) development and optimization of an organogel formulation containing soy lecithin and Pluronic® F-127 as three-dimensional matrix formers and meloxicam as an active ingredient. (III) Development and validation of a method for quantification of meloxicam content by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). (IV) Development of a dissolution method for organogel formulations, capable of being used to characterize the dissolution profile of different formulations. With the results obtained, it was possible to develop organogel formulations containing soy lecithin, Pluronic® F-127 and meloxicam, as well as a validated analytical method for content analysis. Finally, the dissolution profiles of two more promising formulations were also obtained

Should we be discouraging use of 'anticancer' supplements in dogs and cats with cancer?

Antonio Giuliano and colleagues argue that 'anticancer' supplements could be harmful and hinder chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, and so their use should be discouraged in cancer patients.

Desire for information and alternative therapies of pet owners is associated with empathy and partnership-building of veterinarians.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between the pet owners' desire for information and preference of alternative therapies and the veterinarians' ability to build partnership and communicate empathically was investigated using quantitative multifactorial analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an online survey, 1270 German pet owners were asked about their experience of veterinary appointments regarding communication and relationship building. Additional questions included the type and number of pets, years of animal husbandry, age, gender and education level. The factors associated with the pet owners' desire for further information and alternative therapies were analysed in two multivariable linear models. A recently published structural equation model consolidated the following as latent factors: veterinarian's empathic communication, veterinarian's partnership building, pet owners' desire for further information and pet owners' desire for alternative therapies (e.g. non-veterinary practitioners). RESULTS: The two veterinarian-related factors of empathic communication and partnership building were positively associated with each other, but negatively associated with the pet owners' desires. Dog owners and participants who owned animals for more than 2 years expressed less desire for further information. The desire for further information decreased with increasing age. The desire for alternative therapies was more among animal owners of more than 2 years and those visiting the same veterinary practice for over 2 years. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Veterinarians' empathic communication and partnership building are key factors that satisfy clients' desires for information and alternative therapies. This comprises communicational skills regarding information sharing, as well as emotional aspects.

Overview of the Current Situation in a Sample of Headshakers and Owner Assessment of Effective Therapeutic Measures Used in Germany.

Equine headshaking syndrome is a problematic behavior that has been described in literature for more than 100 years. The signs of headshaking syndrome appear frequently and violently so that riding the horse can be dangerous. The aim of this research was to gain an overview of the underlying causes of equine headshaking syndrome to identify effective treatment options, reduce the distress of horses and, in a second step, potentially improve therapeutic possibilities for horse owners and veterinarians. Most studies on prevalence originate from Anglo-American countries, so this research was to provide an overview of German horses; therefore, an online survey was designed by experts in the field (researchers and veterinarians) and answered by German horse owners. Questionnaires were pretested by a small group of horse owners (n = 5) and redesigned accordingly. The final questionnaire consisted of 27 questions, which were divided into seven open questions with an associated text field and 20 multiple-choice questions (Supplementary Material 1). For some of the multiple-choice questions, multiple answers were permitted. In total, 163 completed questionnaires were obtained from owners of headshaking horses (ntotal = 163). Gender distribution of the horses resulted in 64.4% geldings, 33.7% mares, and 1.8% stallions. Most horses were German warmbloods (55.4%). The average age was 12.7 years (with a wide range of 5 to 34 years). The vertical movement of the head was the most frequently mentioned symptom in 75.5% of the evaluated horses. In 18.4% of the cases, the horse owners identified stress as the main trigger for headshaking. Furthermore, 18.4% claimed that their horses suffered from additional stereotypical behavior. The percentages do not refer to the same horses here. 11.0% of the participants in this study tried scientifically evaluated therapies such as surgical therapy (1.2%) or medical treatment (9.8%). In addition, 54.0% of the owners utilized a nose cover to reduce the symptoms of the headshaking syndrome. A high percentage of 84.0% used alternative therapies such as physiotherapy (31.9%), change of equipment (22.7%), or change of riding style (29.4%). Overall, this study provides a useful overview of causes and effective therapies.

Veterinary acutherapy in management of musculoskeletal disorders: An eye-opener to the developing countries' veterinarians.

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believed that the maintenance of the health status of any individual or animal is by the harmonious flow of Chi (life force) along a pathway known as the meridian. Interruption or blockage of Chi brings about disorders, pain, and diseases. Acutherapy, therefore, aims at correcting the interruption or blockage of the harmonious flow of Chi along the meridian to restore the healthy condition of the body system. This correction could be accomplished by either acupuncture or acupressure, and are both collectively referred to as acutherapy. This form of therapy has been used in both humans and animals for several decades. It is, however, just gaining popularity in the treatment of humans and is still not yet in practice among veterinarians for animal patients in most developing countries like Nigeria. This review, therefore, is aimed at exposing veterinarians from the developing countries to the general application of acutherapy with emphasis on the musculoskeletal system and associated pain where it is most applied. It is highly recommended that the universities, where Veterinary Medicine is studied in developing countries, should endeavor to train their veterinary surgeons in this area and see to how acutherapy can be included in the curriculum.

We will see future disease outbreaks if we don't speak out on the dangers of TCMs.

Ben Sturgeon argues that the rise in unregulated wet markets and traditional Chinese medicine production will potentially lead to further disease outbreaks and loss of important animal populations.

Recommendations on vaccination for Latin American small animal practitioners: a report of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association Vaccination Guidelines Group has produced global guidelines for small companion animal practitioners on best practice in canine and feline vaccination. Recognising that there are unique aspects of veterinary practice in certain geographical regions of the world, the Vaccination Guidelines Group undertook a regional project in Latin America between 2016 and 2019, culminating in the present document. The Vaccination Guidelines Group gathered scientific and demographic data during visits to Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, by discussion with national key opinion leaders, visiting veterinary practices and review of the scientific literature. A questionnaire survey was completed by 1390 veterinarians in five Latin American countries and the Vaccination Guidelines Group delivered continuing education at seven events attended by over 3500 veterinarians. The Vaccination Guidelines Group recognised numerous challenges in Latin America, for example: (1) lack of national oversight of the veterinary profession, (2) extraordinary growth in private veterinary schools of undetermined quality, (3) socioeconomic constraints on client engagement with preventive health care, (4) high regional prevalence of some key infectious diseases (e.g. feline leukaemia virus infection, canine visceral leishmaniosis), (5) almost complete lack of minimal antigen vaccine products as available in other markets, (6) relative lack of vaccine products with extended duration of immunity as available in other markets, (7) availability of vaccine products withdrawn from other markets (e.g. Giardia vaccine) or unique to Latin America (e.g. some Leishmania vaccines), (8) accessibility of vaccines directly by pet owners or breeders such that vaccination is not delivered under veterinary supervision, (9) limited availability of continuing education in veterinary vaccinology and lack of compulsion for continuing professional development and (10) limited peer-reviewed published scientific data on small companion animal infectious diseases (with the exception of leishmaniosis) and lack of support for such academic research. In this document, the Vaccination Guidelines Group summarises the findings of this project and assesses in evidence-based fashion the scientific literature pertaining to companion animal vaccine-preventable diseases in Latin America. The Vaccination Guidelines Group makes some recommendations on undergraduate and postgraduate education and academic research. Recognising that current product availability in Latin America does not permit veterinarians in these countries to vaccinate according to the global World Small Animal Veterinary Association guidelines, the Vaccination Guidelines Group makes a series of "pragmatic" recommendations as to what might be currently achievable, and a series of "aspirational" recommendations as to what might be desirable for the future. The concept of "vaccine husbandry" is addressed via some simple guidelines for the management of vaccine products in the practice. Finally, the Vaccination Guidelines Group emphasises the global trend towards delivery of vaccination as one part of an "annual health check" or "health care plan" that reviews holistically the preventive health care needs of the individual pet animal. Latin American practitioners should transition towards these important new practices that are now well embedded in more developed veterinary markets. The document also includes 70 frequently asked questions and their answers; these were posed to the Vaccination Guidelines Group during our continuing education events and small group discussions and should address many of the issues surrounding delivery of vaccination in the Latin American countries. Spanish and Portuguese translations of this document will be made freely available from the on-line resource pages of the Vaccination Guidelines Group.

Contact urticaria and protein contact dermatitis in the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases in a period of 12 years.

BACKGROUND: Although occupational contact urticaria (CU) and protein contact dermatitis (PCD) are considered frequent among workers with exposure to proteinaceous materials, data on occupations at risk and the main causes of these occupational skin diseases are relatively limited. OBJECTIVES: To report the causative agents and risk occupations for CU and PCD in the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases (FROD). METHODS: We retrieved from the FROD all recognized cases of CU/PCD in the years 2005-2016. RESULTS: With 570 cases, CU and PCD constituted 11% of all recognized cases of occupational skin diseases in the study period. Occupations with the highest incidence of CU/PCD included bakers, chefs and cooks, farmers and farm workers, veterinarians, gardeners, and hairdressers. The most common causative agents were cow dander and flour and grain, followed by natural rubber latex (NRL) and other food. In food-related occupations, wheat and other flours were by far the most common cause of CU/PCD, with 76 cases, whereas fish and other animal-derived food caused 33 and other plant-derived food caused 23 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Apart from the Finnish peculiarity of cow dander allergy, a striking finding was a large share of CU/PCD caused by flours in food handlers as compared to other food.

Internet survey of feeding, dietary supplement, and rehabilitative medical management use in flyball dogs.

A survey was designed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of feeding, dietary supplement use, and rehabilitative management use in flyball dogs. The survey was completed by 394 respondents. There were 12.5% (n = 49/392) and 33.4% (n = 131/392) of owners who fed home-cooked and raw diets, respectively, to their dogs. About 77.7% (n = 306/394) and 56.6% (n = 223/394) of owners used dietary supplement and rehabilitative management, respectively, primarily joint supplements (89.8%, n = 275/306) and chiropractic (73.1%, n = 163/223). Owners were more likely to use supplements (P = 0.0002) and rehabilitative management (P = 0.0001) when their dogs were injured. Dogs with more than one reported injury received rehabilitative management (P < 0.0001) and used supplement (P = 0.0006) more often. Key clinical message: There is considerable demand for non-commercial food, supplements, and rehabilitative management among flyball dog owners, underscoring the importance for veterinarians to understand the motivation of dog owners' decisions as well as the risks and benefits of these practices to ensure optimal outcomes for their patients.

Sondage par internet sur l'alimentation, les suppléments nutritifs et la gestion médicale de réadaptation de chiens pratiquant le flyball. Un sondage a été élaboré afin d'étudier la prévalence et les caractéristiques de l'alimentation, l'utilisation de suppléments nutritifs et la gestion de l'utilisation de la réadaptation chez les chiens pratiquant le flyball, Le sondage fut complété par 394 répondants. Il y avait 12,5 % (n = 49/392) et 33,4 % (n = 131/392) des propriétaires qui nourrissaient leurs chiens avec une alimentation cuite maison et une alimentation crue, respectivement. Environ 77,7 % (n = 306/394) et 56,6 % (n = 223/394) des propriétaires utilisaient des suppléments nutritifs et une gestion de réadaptation, respectivement, principalement des suppléments articulaires (89,8 %, n = 275/306) et de la chiropractie (73,1 %, n = 163/223). Les propriétaires étaient plus enclins à utiliser des suppléments (P = 0,0002) et une gestion de réadaptation (P = 0,0001) lorsque leurs chiens étaient blessés. Les chiens avec plus d'une blessure rapportée ont reçu une gestion de réadaptation (P < 0,0001) et utilisaient des suppléments (P = 0,0006) plus souvent.Message clinique clé:Il y a une demande considérable pour des aliments non-commerciaux, des suppléments et une gestion de la réadaptation chez les propriétaires de chiens pratiquant le flyball, soulignant l'importance pour les vétérinaires de comprendre la motivation des propriétaires de chiens dans leurs décisions aussi bien que les risques et bénéfices de ces pratiques afin d'assurer les meilleurs résultats pour leurs patients.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Low-Level Laser Therapy for Osteoarthritis Treatment in Dogs at Missouri Veterinary Practice.

A qualitative survey was electronically distributed to practicing veterinarians in the state of Missouri to evaluate the frequency of use and economic impact of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs in Missouri. The survey response rate was 10% (89/867). Approximately half (43%) of respondents had LLLT units, of which all used LLLT for OA treatment in dogs. In respondents without LLLT units, 20% referred patients for LLLT OA treatment. Training was most often obtained in-house by a representative of the LLLT unit manufacturer (76%). Treatment dose was largely unknown and chosen by predetermined settings on the LLLT unit (65%). In the majority of patients (84%), no treatment site preparation was performed. An average of four patients with OA were treated per wk with an average cost per treated joint of $28 (range: $15-45). This study provides insight into the current clinical use and estimated annual economic impact ($6.2 million per year) of treating a single OA joint in dogs with LLLT by Missouri veterinarians. The frequency with which LLLT is used in the treatment of OA combined with the variation in training and treatment protocols supports the need for further research regarding the application and efficacy of LLLT in dogs with OA.