Anesthetic and analgesic techniques used for cats undergoing ovariohysterectomies in general practice in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To better document anesthetic and analgesic protocols used by veterinarians in general practice within the United States (US) when performing elective ovariohysterectomy in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. POPULATION: Veterinary practitioners in the US who are members of the Veterinary Information Network Inc. (VIN). METHODS: An online anonymous survey was distributed to VIN members. The survey included questions pertaining to preanesthetic evaluation, premedication, induction, monitoring and maintenance protocols, and postoperative analgesia and sedation protocols when performing ovariohysterectomy in cats. RESULTS: A total of 1324 veterinarians completed the survey. Respondents (number; %) reported performing preanesthetic laboratory tests [packed cell volume (256; 19.3%), complete blood cell count (893; 67.4%) and biochemistry panels (1101; 83.2%)] and preanesthetic examinations (1186; 89.6%) on the morning of surgery. The most frequently administered drugs for premedication were dexmedetomidine (353; 26.7%) and buprenorphine (424; 32.0%). The most frequently administered induction agent was propofol (451; 61.3%), and isoflurane (668; 50.4%) was the most common agent for maintenance of anesthesia. The majority of respondents reported placing intravenous catheters (885; 66.8%), administering crystalloid fluids (689; 52.0%) and providing heat support (1142; 86.3%). Participants reported using perioperative and postoperative analgesia including opioids (791; 59.7%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; 697; 52.6%) and NSAIDs dispensed for home use (665; 50.2%). Cats were commonly released home on the day of surgery (1150; 86.9%), and most participants reported contacting owners for follow-up within 1-2 days (989; 74.7%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Anesthetic protocols and management techniques for routine feline ovariohysterectomy differ widely among US veterinarians who are VIN members, and results from this study may be of use to evaluate anesthetic practices from this population of veterinarians.

Anesthetic and analgesic techniques used for dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomies in general practice in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To acquire information about anesthesia and analgesia protocols used by United States (US) veterinarians in primary care practices when performing routine ovariohysterectomy in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. POPULATION: Primary care veterinarians in the US. METHODS: An online anonymous survey, originally created in New Zealand, was modified with permission and made available to Veterinary Information Network (VIN) members. The survey asked questions about performing ovariohysterectomy in healthy adolescent dogs in the categories of preanesthetic evaluation, premedication and induction protocols, maintenance protocols and monitoring equipment, and postoperative analgesic and sedation protocols and pain assessments. RESULTS: A total of 1213 US veterinarians completed the survey. Respondents (n; %) reported performing preoperative laboratory tests [packed cell volume (135; 11%), complete blood cell count (889; 73%) and biochemistry panels (1057; 87%)] and preanesthetic examinations on the morning of surgery (1083; 90%). The most commonly administered drugs for premedication were acepromazine (512; 42%), hydromorphone (475; 39%) or butorphanol (463; 38%), with propofol (637; 67%) for induction of anesthesia and isoflurane (882; 73%) for maintenance of anesthesia. Most veterinarians reported placing intravenous catheters (945; 78%), administering electrolyte solutions (747; 67%) and providing heat support (1160; 96%). Perioperative and postoperative analgesia included local anesthetics (545; 45%), opioids (844; 70%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (953; 79%); NSAIDs were dispensed for home use (985; 81%). Dogs were most frequently discharged on the day of surgery (1068; 88%) and the owners were contacted (914; 75%) for follow-up within 1-2 days. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Anesthetic management for routine ovariohysterectomy in dogs varies among US veterinary VIN members. Information from this study is useful for all veterinarians for comparison with their practice management and for teachers of veterinary anesthesia to continue to emphasize options for analgesia.

Canine Caregivers: Paradoxical Challenges and Rewards.

Companion dogs are increasingly popular, 38.4% of households in the United States include at least one dog. There are numerous benefits to sharing one's home with a dog, but because they age more rapidly than people and have shorter lifespans, acquiring a dog often includes caring for it during its senior years. Caring for an elderly dog can be physically and emotionally challenging, yet the impact on guardians' lives when caring for an aging dog has received minimal scientific attention. This study was designed to better understand dog guardians' experiences and perceptions related to caring for their aging dog. Utilizing an exploratory mixed methods design, this study asked dog guardians to complete an online anonymous survey. From a total of 284 participants, we found that the impact on guardians when caring for an aging dog appears to share many similarities with caregivers of human family members. Our quantitative and qualitative results suggest that, for many guardians, caring for an aging dog is a complex dynamic with both positive and negative factors that offers an opportunity to deepen the human-animal bond and create positive, rewarding experiences and memories.

American and Canadian veterinarians' perceptions on dog and cat core vaccination rates and the impact of the human medicine anti-vaxx movement on veterinary medicine.

An electronic survey was distributed to assess American and Canadian veterinarians' perceptions on dog and cat vaccination rates. The top veterinarian concerns for vaccinating a healthy adult dog were anaphylaxis, soreness at the injection site, and lethargy; for cats, these concerns included vaccine-associated sarcoma, lethargy, and soreness at injection site. Veterinarians reported that the most common concerns mentioned by reluctant or resistant clients to vaccinating their dogs or cats were beliefs that vaccinations are costly and unnecessary or may lead to chronic or severe illness. There was a positive correlation between an organized anti-vaxx movement against mandatory vaccination for children in their community and the number of vaccine resistant or concerned clients. That the number of resistant clients was associated with the presence of an organized anti-vaxx movement implies that the human anti-vaxx movement is impacting pet owners' views on companion animal vaccinations.

Perceptions des vétérinaires américains et canadiens sur les taux de vaccination de base des chiens et des chats et impact du mouvement anti-vaxx en médecine humaine sur la médecine vétérinaire. Un sondage électronique a été distribué pour évaluer les perceptions des vétérinaires américains et canadiens sur les taux de vaccination des chiens et des chats. Les principales préoccupations des vétérinaires pour la vaccination d'un chien adulte en bonne santé étaient l'anaphylaxie, la douleur au site d'injection et la léthargie; pour les chats, ces préoccupations comprenaient le sarcome associé au vaccin, la léthargie et la douleur au site d'injection. Les vétérinaires ont signalé que les préoccupations les plus courantes mentionnées par les clients réticents ou résistants à la vaccination de leurs chiens ou chats étaient la croyance que les vaccinations sont coûteuses et inutiles ou peuvent entraîner une maladie chronique ou grave. Il y avait une corrélation positive entre un mouvement anti-vaxx organisé contre la vaccination obligatoire des enfants de leur communauté et le nombre de clients inquiets ou résistants à la vaccination. Le fait que le nombre de clients résistants soit corrélé à la présence d'un mouvement anti-vaxx organisé suggère que le mouvement anti-vaxx en médicine humaine a un impact sur l'opinion des propriétaires d'animaux de compagnie sur la vaccination des animaux de compagnie.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Veterinary Technicians and Occupational Burnout.

Burnout and compassion fatigue are common conditions affecting health care providers. Unique occupational conditions in veterinary medicine make technicians especially susceptible to burnout. A total of 1,642 practicing veterinary technicians completed an anonymous online survey comprised of demographic questions, and two tools to assess burnout: the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) and the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI). Over half of participants (862/1479, 58.3%) had EE scores over the 3.0 threshold for burnout. On the PFI, the total score for the 10 burnout questions was x = 1.54 (SD = 0.75), which is above the 1.33 cutoff for burnout. The mean score of 2.26 (SD = 0.81) on the professional fulfillment scale is also indicative of burnout. The relationship between enabling resources and scores on each MBI-GS scale was analyzed. Schedule control was the most significant predictor of lower EE scores. The perception of adding value to the practice was associated with lower scores on the CY scale and higher scores on the PE scale. Given the correlation between burnout and environmental factors, veterinary practices are encouraged to explore non-monetary mechanisms for enhancing job satisfaction. This includes giving technicians greater control over their schedules, recognizing their contributions to the team, and providing opportunities for professional development. From a morale standpoint, destigmatizing the dirty work done by technicians can also help combat burnout among veterinary technicians.

Motivations and expectations for using cannabis products to treat pain in humans and dogs: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Social media and academic literature suggest that more people are using cannabis to treat their own or their dog's chronic pain. This study identifies the reasons people use cannabis products to treat their own pain or their dog's pain and explores whether these products have fulfilled their expectations. METHODS: An anonymous, online survey was used to collect quantitative and qualitative self-report data on respondents' perceptions, motivations and expectations about their or their dog's chronic pain and cannabis use. The analyses are based on U.S. adults who reported using cannabis products to treat their own (N = 313) or their dog's (N = 204) chronic pain. Quantitative responses from the two groups were compared using Chi-Square tests and qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Human patients and dog owners reported similar motivations for using cannabis products to treat chronic pain, with the more popular reasons being that cannabis products are natural, are preferred over conventional medication, are believed to be the best treatment or good treatment option for pain. Similar proportions of human patients and dog owners reported that the use of cannabis products fulfilled their expectations (86% vs. 82% respectively, χ2 (1, 200) = .59, p = .32). The qualitative data revealed that their expectations were met by reducing pain, increasing relaxation, and improving sleep, coping, functionality and overall well being. Additionally, the qualitative data suggests that cannabis products offer a return to normalcy and a restored sense of self to human and dog patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that people choose cannabis products because they are natural and a possible solution to managing chronic pain when conventional medicines have not been effective. Most people report that their expectations regarding pain management are fulfilled by these products. More accurate assessments are vital, however, for understanding both the objective biomedical and subjective socioemotional benefits of cannabis products for effective pain management for human and dog patients. In addition, objective factual information regarding cannabis products for effective pain management in humans and dogs is needed. It is recommended that both physicians and veterinarians work towards feeling more comfortable proactively broaching the subject of cannabis use with additional training and education.

Veterinary Behavior: Assessment of Veterinarians' Training, Experience, and Comfort Level with Cases.

Studies of US animal shelters consistently indicate that behavior is often a major reason for relinquishment and, thereby, euthanasia of millions of dogs and cats annually. Even though this is an area in which veterinarians can intervene to support the human-animal bond, prior research has documented that they frequently do not bring the topic up during appointments. This study explored veterinarians' training in animal behavior and behavioral medicine, along with their level of comfort in treating common behavioral problems. An online survey of practicing veterinarians (N = 1,085) found that only 42.8% felt they'd received a significant amount of training in this field during veterinary school, but the majority reported participating in continuing education sessions about behavior. Almost all respondents reported seeing patients with behavioral issues (99.6%), even when the initial appointment was made for other reasons. Participants felt most comfortable discussing inappropriate elimination and begging for food but were least comfortable treating issues involving aggression. Most veterinarians treat their own behavior cases, using a combination of behavior modification techniques and medication. Only 22.1% refer cases needing behavioral therapy to a specialist. Given the prevalence of behavioral problems in companion animals and the potential for early veterinary intervention to play a significant role in animal health, it is important for veterinary schools to include this topic in their curricula. At present, 73% of schools require a course in animal behavior. The release of the new Competency-Based Veterinary Education framework is anticipated to support a greater teaching emphasis in this area.

Small Animal Veterinarians' Perceptions, Experiences, and Views of Common Dog Breeds, Dog Aggression, and Breed-Specific Laws in the United States.

Dog aggression directed towards humans is a common and serious behavioral and public health issue. This cross-sectional study was designed to gain insights into U.S. small animal veterinarians' views and experiences with the most common dog breeds in the U.S., dog aggression, and breed-specific legislation. An electronic survey was distributed via email to an online veterinary community, and responses were summarized and compared by means of χ2 and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests. Most respondents were concerned about the risks of dog bite injuries, but the majority were not in favor of banning specific breeds of dogs in order to enhance public safety. When participants rated the perceived bite risk associated with popular dog breeds, Chow Chows were perceived as the highest risk, with pit bull types categorized as a moderate risk. Golden Retrievers were seen as the most appropriate for families with children. Public education about animal behavior was the most frequently endorsed policy intervention to increase public safety. These findings suggest that most veterinarians feel that banning an entire dog breed is not an effective way to ensure human safety. Instead, most respondents endorsed alternative initiatives, such as public education and stricter leash laws, to reduce the risk of dog bites.

Canadian dog owners' use and perceptions of cannabis products.

The legal market for recreational and medicinal cannabis for human consumption is growing worldwide. At the same time, marketing of cannabis products for use in pets is expanding. Yet, there is little research exploring the effects of cannabis use in veterinary medicine. This study used an anonymous, online survey to assess Canadian pet owners' reasons for purchasing cannabis products for their dogs, and their perceptions regarding efficacy of these treatments. Owners purchased cannabis products for treatment of pain, inflammation, and anxiety in dogs, and perceived these preparations to be equally or more effective than conventional medications. Most owners reported only minimal side effects in their dogs. Despite indicating comfort in discussing canine cannabis administration with their veterinarian, most owners relied on commercial websites for product information. The main reasons for choosing cannabis products were the ability to use as an adjuvant to other therapies, and the perception of it being a natural substance. Given this information, it is incumbent upon veterinarians to appropriately counsel their clients, and also to advocate for evidence-based studies to evaluate the efficacy of cannabis use in non-human species.

Usage du cannabis et perceptions à l'égard de ce produit parmi les propriétaires canadiens de chiens. Le marché légal pour le cannabis récréatif et médicinal pour la consommation humaine affiche une croissance à l'échelle mondiale. La commercialisation des produits de cannabis pour utilisation chez les animaux de compagnie connaît une croissance. Pourtant, peu de travaux de recherche ont exploré les effets de l'usage du cannabis en médecine vétérinaire. Cette étude a mené un sondage en ligne anonyme pour évaluer les raisons des propriétaires canadiens d'animaux de compagnie d'acheter des produits de cannabis pour leurs chiens et leurs perceptions concernant l'efficacité de ces traitements. Les propriétaires ont acheté des produits de cannabis pour le traitement de la douleur, de l'inflammation et de l'anxiété chez les chiens et ils percevaient ces préparations comme étant tout autant ou plus efficaces que les médicaments conventionnels. La plupart des propriétaires ont signalé des effets secondaires minimaux chez leurs chiens. Malgré avoir indiqué de l'aise pour la discussion de l'administration de cannabis à leur chien avec leur vétérinaire, la plupart des propriétaires se fiaient à des sites Web commerciaux pour obtenir de l'information sur les produits. Les principales raisons pour le choix de produits de cannabis étaient la capacité de l'utiliser comme adjuvant pour les autres thérapies et la perception que c'était une substance naturelle. Compte tenu de ces renseignements, il incombe aux vétérinaires de bien conseiller leurs clients et aussi de préconiser des études factuelles pour évaluer l'efficacité de l'usage du cannabis chez des espèces non humaines.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Qualitative study of owner perceptions of chronic pain in their dogs.

OBJECTIVE To understand the experiences of owners of dogs with chronic pain and explore owner perceptions of their pets' pain. DESIGN Observational study. SAMPLE 10 owners of dogs with chronic pain. PROCEDURES Owners were interviewed by means of a semistructured and conversational technique. Interviews were then transcribed and analyzed with standard qualitative methodology to code for major themes. RESULTS Major themes that were identified included changes in owner schedule, effects on owner relationships, and necessary resources when owning a pet with chronic pain. Owners discussed their perceptions of their pets' pain, and several participants referred to empathizing with their pet owing to their own experiences with pain. Owners also suggested ways that veterinarians can support them during the experience of owning a dog with chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE By understanding the impact of chronic pain on dog owners and appreciating how owners perceive pain in their pets, veterinarians may be able to provide better care for patients and clients.

Veterinarians' experiences with near misses and adverse events.

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of medical errors (specifically, near misses [NMs] and adverse events [AEs]) and their personal and professional impact on veterinarians. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE Members of the Veterinary Information Network (n = 46,481). PROCEDURES An electronic survey regarding veterinarians' experiences with NMs and AEs was distributed via email to an online veterinary community between September 24 and October 21, 2015. Responses were summarized and compared between genders by means of the χ2 test. RESULTS 606 veterinarians completed the survey (1.3% response rate). Overall, 447 (73.8%) respondents reported involvement in ≥ 1 NM (n = 389 [64.2%]) or AE (179 [29.5%]). The NMs had a short-term (≤ 1 week) adverse impact on professional life for 68.0% (261/384) of respondents and longer-term negative impact for 36.4% (140/385). The impact on respondents' personal lives was similar (63.6% [245/385] and 33.5% [129/385], respectively). For AEs, these numbers were 84.1% (148/176), 56.2% (99/177), 77.8% (137/176), and 50.6% (89/175), respectively. Both NMs and AEs were more likely to negatively impact female veterinarians than male veterinarians. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE These findings suggested that many veterinarians experience emotional distress after a medical error. Support should be provided to mitigate this adverse impact on the wellbeing of veterinarians and, potentially, their future patients.

Use of Short Animal-Themed Videos to Enhance Veterinary Students' Mood, Attention, and Understanding of Pharmacology Lectures.

Professional DVM training is inherently stressful and challenging for students. This study evaluated a simple intervention-short breaks during a veterinary pharmacology lecture course in the form of funny/cute animal videos (Mood Induction Procedures, or MIP)-to assess for potential impact on students' mood, interest in material, and perceived understanding of material. Ten YouTube video clips showing cats or dogs were selected to influence students' affective states. The videos were shown in a required pharmacology class offered during the fall semester of the second year of the DVM program at a large, land-grant institution in the western US. The student cohort consisted of 133 students (20 males, 113 females). Twenty days of the course were randomly chosen for the study and ranged from weeks 2 to 13 of the semester. Sessions in which the videos were played were alternated with sessions in which no video was played, for a total of 10 video days and 10 control days. There were significant differences in all three post-class assessment measures between the experimental (video) days and the control days. Results suggest that showing short cute animal videos in the middle of class positively affected students' mood, interest in material, and self-reported understanding of material. While the results of this study are limited to one student cohort at one institution, the ease of implementation of the technique and relatively low stakes support incorporation of the MIP technique across a variety of basic and clinical science courses.

Survey of attitudes toward and experiences with animal abuse encounters in a convenience sample of US veterinarians.

OBJECTIVE To survey practicing veterinarians regarding their perceptions of and experiences with cases of suspected or confirmed animal abuse and related state laws. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. POPULATION Members of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN; n = 34,144) who were in veterinary practice at the time of the survey. PROCEDURES A survey was designed and distributed online to all VIN members from January 26 to February 28, 2015. Responses were compiled, and binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors that influenced decisions or perceptions regarding animal abuse encounters and related legislation. RESULTS 1,209 completed surveys were received (3.5% response rate); 1,155 (95.5%) surveys were submitted by currently practicing veterinarians. One thousand five (87.0%) practicing veterinarians reported having encountered at least 1 case of animal abuse while in practice; 561 (55.8%) of these veterinarians indicated that they had reported at least 1 case. The most common reasons selected for reporting abuse were to protect the animal, ethical beliefs, and to protect other animals in the household. The most common reasons selected for not reporting the abuse were uncertainty that the animal had been abused, belief that client education would be better, and belief that the injury or illness was accidental versus intentional. Most respondents were unaware of the current status of laws in their state regarding animal abuse reporting. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested a need for state and national veterinary and humane-law enforcement organizations to increase communication and education efforts on recognition and reporting by veterinarians of animal abuse and the related laws.

Feline onychectomy: Current practices and perceptions of veterinarians in Ontario, Canada.

The objective of the study was to determine the proportion of practitioners from Ontario, Canada who perform onychectomy, identify the techniques utilized, and obtain practitioners views on the procedure. An anonymous survey was distributed to Ontario Veterinary Medical Association members. Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare responses of opinion questions related to declawing between respondents who indicated they perform declawing procedures and those who do not. Of 500 respondents, 75.8% reported performing onychectomy, with 60.1% of those reporting performing the procedure less than monthly and 73.3% only performing the procedure after recommending alternatives. Statistically significant differences were found between those who do and those who do not perform onychectomy for perception of procedural pain, concept of mutilation, perception of procedural necessity for behavior modification or prevention of euthanasia, and support of province-wide procedural bans.

Onychectomie féline : pratiques et perceptions actuelles des vétérinaires en Ontario, Canada. L'objectif de l'étude consistait à déterminer la proportion de praticiens en Ontario, au Canada, qui réalisent l'onychectomie, d'identifier les techniques utilisées et d'obtenir le point de vue des praticiens sur l'intervention. Un sondage anonyme a été distribué aux membres de l'Ontario Veterinary Medical Association. Des tests U de Mann-Whitney ont été utilisés pour comparer les réponses aux questions d'opinion portant sur le dégriffage entre les répondants qui avaient indiqué qu'ils réalisaient des interventions de dégriffage et ceux qui n'en effectuaient pas. Parmi les 500 répondants, 75,8 % ont déclaré qu'ils réalisaient l'onychectomie : 60,1 % ont déclaré la réaliser moins d'une fois par mois et 73,3 % ont dit l'effectuer après avoir recommandé des solutions de remplacement. Des différences statistiquement significatives ont été constatées entre ceux qui réalisaient l'onychectomie et ceux qui ne la réalisaient pas, au niveau de la perception de la douleur associée à l'intervention, du concept de mutilation, de la nécessité de l'intervention pour la modification du comportement ou la prévention de l'euthanasie et de l'appui d'une interdiction à l'échelle de province.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Survey of practices and perceptions regarding feline onychectomy among private practitioners.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the proportion of veterinarians working with feline patients in private practices who do or do not perform onychectomy and assess attitudes regarding and practices related to onychectomy in a large population of veterinary practitioners. DESIGN Anonymous online survey. SAMPLE 3,441 veterinarians. PROCEDURES An online survey was provided to members of the Veterinary Information Network from June 18, 2014, through July 9, 2014. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions for applicable response types were calculated, and Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to compare responses to onychectomy-related opinion questions between respondents who indicated they did or did not perform the procedure. Not all respondents answered every question. RESULTS 2,503 of 3,441 (72.7%) survey respondents reported performing onychectomy, and 827 (24.0%) indicated they did not; 1,534 of 2,498 (61.4%) performing the procedure reported a frequency of < 1 onychectomy/month. Most (2,256/3,023 [74.6%]) respondents who performed onychectomy indicated that they recommended nonsurgical alternatives. Surgical techniques and approaches to analgesia varied, with use of a scalpel only (1,046/1,722 [60.7%]) and perioperative administration of injectable opioids (1,933/2,482 [77.9%]) most commonly reported. Responses to opinion questions in regard to the degree of pain associated with onychectomy and recovery; whether declawing is a form of mutilation, is necessary in some cats for behavioral reasons, or is a necessary alternative to euthanasia in some cats; and whether state organizations should support a legislative ban on onychectomy differed significantly between respondents who did and did not perform the procedure. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Onychectomy is a controversial topic, and this was reflected in survey results. In this sample, most veterinarians performing the procedure reported that they did so infrequently, and most offered nonsurgical alternatives to the procedure.

Researching Applicants Online in the Veterinary Program Admissions Process: Perceptions, Practices, and Implications for Curricular Change.

As the use of social media websites continues to grow among adults 18-34 years old, it is necessary to examine the consequences of online disclosure to the veterinary admissions processes and to consider the effects on the professional integrity of veterinary schools and on the e-professionalism of DVM graduates. Prior research has shown that employers, across all fields, routinely use information from social media sites to make hiring decisions. In veterinary medicine, a little over one-third of private practitioners reported using online information in the selection of new associates. However, professional academic programs appear to use online information less frequently in the selection processes. The current study examines the behaviors and attitudes of veterinary medical admissions committees toward the use of applicants' online information and profiles in their recruitment and selection process. An online survey was distributed to Associate Deans for Academic Affairs at all AAVMC-affiliated schools of veterinary medicine. A total of 21 schools completed the survey. The results showed that most veterinary schools do not currently use online research in their admissions process; however, most admissions committee members feel that using online social networking information to investigate applicants is an acceptable use of technology. Previous research has suggested that the majority of veterinary student applicants view this as an invasion of their privacy. Given this discordance, future educational efforts should focus on helping veterinary students determine what type of information is appropriate for posting online and how to use privacy settings to control their sharing behaviors.

Recruitment and Hiring Strategies of Private Practitioners and Implications for Practice Management Training of Veterinary Students.

Hiring new employees is one of the most important and difficult decisions all veterinary practice managers and owners face. In an effort to improve hiring decisions, many employers are choosing to screen potential employees more thoroughly through the use of interviews, background checks, personality assessments, and online research including social and professional networking websites. The current study reports results from an anonymous online survey created to evaluate practicing veterinarians' attitudes and practices related to the use of recruitment and hiring tools. Results suggest that, compared to those in other professions, veterinarians underutilize these evaluative tools. The profession could benefit from more opportunities for both practitioners and veterinary students to learn how to utilize a broader range of hiring and recruitment techniques. One area of particular and growing concern is the use of Internet social media for evaluation of potential employees. Despite the fairly low number of participants who indicated they currently research applicants online, a significant number plan to implement this practice in the future. Many students are unaware of how their online postings can affect their future job possibilities and career. It is therefore important to designate time within continuing education programs and professional veterinary curricula to educate these populations about hiring and recruitment tool options and about how to manage their personal Internet interactions (especially social media) to enhance and maintain their professional image (e-professionalism).

Corporate influence and conflicts of interest: assessment of veterinary medical curricular changes and student perceptions.

The ethics document of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges provides guiding principles for veterinary schools to develop conflict of interest policies. These policies regulate faculty and student interactions with industry, potentially reducing the influence companies have on students' perceptions and future prescribing practices. This paper examines the implementation of a conflict of interest policy and related instructional activities at one veterinary college in the US. To inform policy and curricular development, survey data were collected regarding veterinary students' attitudes toward pharmaceutical marketing, including their perceptions of their own susceptibility to bias in therapeutic decisions. Responses from this group of students later served as control data for assessing the effectiveness of educational programs in the content area. A conflict of interest policy was then implemented and presented to subsequent classes of entering students. Classroom instruction and relevant readings were provided on ethics, ethical decision making, corporate influences, and the issue of corporate influence in medical student training. Within seven days of completing a learning program on conflict of interest issues, another cohort of veterinary students (the treatment group) were administered the same survey that had been administered to the control group. When compared with the control group who received no instruction, survey results for the treatment group showed moderate shifts in opinion, with more students questioning the practice of industry-sponsored events and use of corporate funds to reduce tuition. However, many veterinary students in the treatment group still reported they would not be personally influenced by corporate gifts.