Farm animal careers and perception of 'fit' in undergraduate veterinary students: A mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Recruitment and retention of farm veterinarians have been the focus of recent research. Previous work suggests that a feeling of 'fit' is important for students to consider a farm career. The aim of this study was to identify whether students feel that they 'fit' in farm practice and reasons for their answer. METHODS: An online survey was distributed to students at all British and Irish veterinary schools. A mixed methods approach was considered, with thematic analysis on free text answers and regression analysis on demographic variables. RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified six themes: career opportunities, nature of farm veterinary work, relationships and interactions, individual experiences, expectations and perceptions, and no perceived barriers. Females, marginalised ethnic groups and those from an urban/suburban background were all identified as having significantly (p < 0.05) less agreement with the statement 'I feel able to pursue a career in farm practice'. LIMITATIONS: Survey limitations include those with a clear bias being likely to respond. However, alignment of the qualitative and quantitative results increased confidence in the findings of this mixed methods approach. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that biases that exist within wider society do have an influence on veterinary undergraduates' intentions to pursue a farm animal career. This is vital to consider both at a university level and when considering students' experiences on placements. Urgent action is required to improve inclusivity in the farm animal veterinary sector.

Online procurement of pet supplies and willingness to pay for veterinary telemedicine.

Changing consumer shopping behaviors, and specifically the shift towards online procurement of goods and services, have altered the retail landscape of nearly all goods, including pet products and services. Whilst it is known and commonly discussed that less retail business for products and medications is being conducted in clinics than in the past, it is not well documented where that commerce is now taking place, and by what customer segments. For cats, dogs, and other pets, specialty food and food in general was purchased by a high percentage of respondents at the physical store. Sixteen-percent of dog owners, 17 % of cat owners and 14 % of other animal owners purchased prescription food at the veterinarian. Ten percent of dog owners, 10 % of cat owners, and 9 % of other animal owners purchased prescription food from the physical store. A high percentage of cat and dog owners purchased flea and tick preventative, heartworm preventative and prescription medications at the veterinarian, followed by the physical store. Using a choice experiment, both dog and cat owners were willing-to-pay a statistically significant positive amount for having their veterinarian, or a veterinarian in their community (who was not their veterinarian) on the veterinary telemedicine call or video when compared to a veterinarian from outside the community. In relation to the willingness to pay (WTP) for a telemedicine veterinary consultation with a veterinarian outside of the pet owners' community, dog owners were willing to pay $38.04 more for a telemedicine veterinary consultation with their regular veterinarian, and $13.38 more for a telemedicine veterinary consultation with a veterinarian in the dog owners' community. Cat owners had a WTP of $38.12 per call or visit for having their veterinarian as the consultant which was statistically higher than their WTP for a veterinarian in their community, $12.74 when compared to a veterinarian outside their community. When comparing the mean price adjusted WTP between cat and dog owners, there were not any statistically significant differences found. Quantifying pet owner willingness to pay for commonly discussed attributes of telemedicine, such as whether a local veterinarian is consulted (versus a veterinarian from outside the community), facilitates veterinary practice management decision making as practices adjust product and service offerings to meet the changing consumer demand of pet owners in today's marketplace.

Una crítica a la profesión veterinaria desde una perspectiva antiespecista / A critique of the veterinary profession from an antispeciesist viewpoint

La idea de que la profesión veterinaria tiene entre sus funciones el cuidado de los animales junto con la salvaguarda de sus derechos, pese a encontrarse difundida entre algunas personas, está totalmente desinformada. La profesión veterinaria se dirige básicamente a controlar el modo en el que los animales no humanos son usados y tratados, de manera que la salud y otros intereses de los seres humanos se vean protegidos. Solo se presta una cierta atención al llamado "bienestar animal", pero de una manera que no toma realmente en cuenta los intereses de los animales. Este artículo defiende que, si asumimos un punto de vista contrario al especismo, es necesario un enfoque distinto para la medicina veterinaria, que ponga los intereses de los animales no humanos en el centro y que, conforme a eso, promueva una investigación para el desarrollo de métodos de diagnóstico y terapéuticos que beneficien a estos (AU)

The idea that the veterinary profession has among its aims caring for nonhuman animals along with safeguarding their rights, although shared by a number of people, is totally uninformed. Veterinary profession is basically aimed at controlling the way in which nonhuman animals are used or treated, so human health and other interests are protected. Only some concern for what has been called "animal welfare" is considered, but in a way that does not really take animals’ interests seriously. If we accept an antispeciesist viewpoint, a different approach for veterinary medicine is needed. Such an approach should be focused on animal interests and promote the research for diagnosis and therapeutic methods that benefit them (AU)

Doenças de asininos e muares no semiárido brasileiro / Diseases of donkeys and mules in the Brazilian semiarid

The diseases of donkeys and mules in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil were evaluated in a retrospective study of 200 donkeys and 58 mules, in the Veterinary Hospital of Federal University of Campina Grande, from January 2002 to December 2012. Data records of these animals as identification, anamnesis, clinical examination, treatment protocol, and outcome of cases were collected. The affected systems in order of frequency of cases were: integument, 88 cases; musculoskeletal, 78; digestive, 36; nervous, 23; reproductive, 15; and respiratory, 6. Eight animals were examined before orquiectomy; three animals had inconclusive diagnosis and one animal suffered a bee attack. The main diseases diagnosed in donkeys were traumatic wounds (32/200), fractures (27/200) and colic (14/200). In mules the main diagnoses were colic (8/58) and traumatic wounds (6/58). Fractures were the main motivation for performing euthanasia (22/200 donkeys and 3/58 mules). It is concluded that most diagnosed diseases are associated with mistreatment or lack of attention to the animals and should be prevented through awareness and education campaigns of owners and handlers.

As doenças de asininos e muares na região semiárida do nordeste do Brasil foram avaliadas em um estudo retrospectivo dos 258 atendimentos realizados no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande no período de janeiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2012. Dos prontuários desses animais foram coletados dados referentes a identificação, anamnese, exame clínico, diagnóstico, protocolo de tratamento e evolução dos casos. Durante o período analisado foram atendidos 200 asininos e 58 muares. Os sistemas afetados foram os seguintes em ordem de frequência: tegumentar, 88 casos; musculoesquelético, 78; digestivo, 36; nervoso, 23; reprodutor, 15; e respiratório, 6. Oito animais foram atendidos para avaliação pré-cirúrgica e encaminhados para orquiectomia; três animais tiveram diagnóstico inconclusivo e um animal sofreu acidente por picada de abelha. As principais enfermidades diagnosticadas nos asininos foram feridas traumáticas (33/200), fraturas (27/200) e cólica (14/200). Para os muares os principais diagnósticos foram cólica (8/58) e feridas traumáticas (6/58). Em ambas as espécies as fraturas foram a principal causa para realização de eutanásia (22/200 asininos e 3/58 muares). Conclui-se que a maioria das doenças diagnosticadas estão associadas com maus tratos ou falta de atenção com os animais e devem ser prevenidas mediante campanhas de conscientização e educação dos proprietários e tratadores, esclarecendo sobre a importância das melhorias do manejo e do bem-estar dos animais.

Evaluation of risk and protective factors for work-related bite injuries to veterinary technicians certified in Minnesota.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk and protective factors for work-related bite injuries among veterinary technicians certified in Minnesota. DESIGN: Nested case-control study. SAMPLE: 868 certified veterinary technicians (CVTs). PROCEDURES: A questionnaire was mailed to CVTs who previously participated in a survey regarding work-related injuries and did (cases; 301 surveys sent) or did not (controls; 567) report qualifying work-related animal bite injuries in the preceding 12 months. Descriptive statistics were summarized. Demographic and work-related variables for the month preceding the bite injury (for cases) or a randomly selected month (controls) were assessed with univariate analysis (489 CVTs) and multivariate analysis of a subset of 337 CVTs who worked in small or mixed mostly small animal facilities. RESULTS: Responses were received from 176 case and 313 control CVTs. For the subset of 337 CVTs, risk of bite injury was higher for those < 25 years of age (OR, 3.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.84 to 7.94) than for those ≥ 35 years of age, for those who had worked < 5 years (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.63 to 6.45) versus ≥ 10 years in any veterinary facility, and for those who handled ≥ 5 species/d (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.06 to 3.74) versus < 3 species/d. Risk was lower for CVTs who handled < 10 versus ≥ 20 animals/d (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.71). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Several work-related factors were associated with the risk of work-related bite injury to CVTs. These findings may serve as a basis for development of intervention efforts and future research regarding work-related injuries among veterinary staff.

What is a feral cat?: Variation in definitions may be associated with different management strategies.

STUDY RATIONALE: The definition of a true feral cat is an area of much contention, with many variations used worldwide. In this study, opinions were gathered from feral cat rescue workers and veterinary surgeons working in the United Kingdom to identify a practical definition of a feral cat, suitable for use in the field, education and research. PROTOCOL: A mixed methods approach, using questionnaires and focus groups, was used to collect data from feral cat workers and veterinary surgeons. FINDINGS: Conflicts in opinion on the implications of taming feral cats exist. The rescue workers typically felt that most cats could be tamed, whereas the veterinary surgeons felt this was generally inappropriate, except in the case of young kittens. A consistent definition of feral cats would enable better communication regarding the welfare and management of these animals, and would be useful for further research and education of the public. PROPOSED DEFINITION: A feral cat is proposed by this study to be a cat that is unapproachable in its free-roaming environment and is capable of surviving with or without direct human intervention, and may additionally show fearful or defensive behaviour on human contact.

Use of and satisfaction of pet owners with a clinical behavior service in a companion animal specialty referral practice.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether availability of a veterinary behavior service aids in the recruitment of clients to a referral practice who may not have chosen to visit a referral practice otherwise and to assess the priorities and satisfaction of first-time clients. DESIGN: Prospective survey study. SAMPLE: 87 questionnaires completed by pet owners. PROCEDURES: Owners of dogs and cats visiting the Behavior Medicine Clinic, a veterinary behavior service, at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center for the first time were asked to participate in a 10-question survey at the end of their initial appointment. RESULTS: 59 of 87 (68%) new clients had never visited the Veterinary Medical Center for any other specialty service; in addition, 56 of 87 (64%) had never taken a pet to any specialty practice prior to their appointment with the Behavior Medicine Clinic. Seventy-four of 85 (87%) clients reported that they were likely to bring their pet to another specialty service on the basis of their experience with the Behavior Medicine Clinic. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: On the basis of the survey findings, availability of veterinary behavior services may result in recruitment of first-time clients to a referral center. Clients' experience with a veterinary behavior service may increase their likelihood of visiting other specialty practices within the same hospital, potentially increasing revenue for the entire practice.