Socio-demographic characteristics and economic structures of companion animal clinics in Istanbul established by veterinarians graduated from Istanbul University

Abstract

This study was conducted in Istanbul in order to determine the socio-demographic characteristics and economic situation of the companion animal clinics which are operated by veterinarians graduated from the Istanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In total 199 veterinarians participated at the study and the survey was conducted face to face with clinic only owners. As a result, the average age of the clinicians was 43.8 and the professional experience 18.2 years. Time period between graduation and starting to professional life was 3.6 month. Most of the clinicians had positive insights regarding their graduated faculty and also the profession’s future. The average working hour was determined as 10.4 hours and most of the clinicians stated that they were not able to spare sufficiant time for their private life. In the study it was reported that pet owners’ average annual expenditure was found to be $ 402 for cats and $ 645 for dogs. For a single clinic the average number of veterinarians was determined as 2.4 and technicians was 0.8% as well as total number of employees was 5.1. The average monthly net income of the veterinarians was determined as $ 2796 and the average amount of uncollectible receivables was $ 3783 per clinic. The results of the study points that the companion animal industry in Istanbul should be improved in some conditions such as long working hours, number of qualified veterinarian/technicians and uncollectible receivables. In order to make contribution to this improvement goal, beside the medical traninig in the veterinary curriculum, technical and practical clinic management traninigs should also be echanced.