Animal Owners Research Articles

Understanding the Experiences of Elderly Bereaved Men and the Bond With Their Pets.

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the bereaved Older males' experiences with the interaction and ownership of a companion animal after the death of their partner. The primary researcher recruited 13 participants via a criterion-based purposeful sampling method to assure the quality of the information collected. Results revealed six themes: (a) bonds with their pets grew stronger and closer after the loss of their wife; (b) men were able to express their grief to their pets; (c) companion animals helped the men psychologically during grief; (d) pets were influential during times when the wife's presence would have been valuable; (e) companion animals helped men with loneliness and social connection; and (f) companion animals helped men find a new normal by providing a purpose and routine during bereavement. The pets proved to be a source of support for these widowed men.

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

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. 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). 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. 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.

Cannabis, Cannabidiol Oils and Tetrahydrocannabinol-What Do Veterinarians Need to Know?

Simple SummaryAs cannabis-derived products have become more available for human medical and recreational use, veterinarians are seeing more cases of cannabis toxicosis in pets. In addition, animal owners have increasing interest in giving these products to their pets. These clients understandably are asking, “Are these products legal, safe, and effective for treating medical conditions in animals?”. This review considers the different types of cannabis and cannabis-derived products, historical examples of use in animals, the industry, the existing framework of legislation and regulations for use in humans and animals as medicines and/or supplements, veterinary clinical use of these products, toxicosis, and recommendations and warnings around their veterinary use.As cannabis-derived products have become more available, veterinarians are seeing more cases of toxicosis. In addition, animal owners are having an increasing interest in using these products for their pets. This review looks at the situation in Europe and North America, the different types of cannabis and cannabis-derived products with historical examples of use in animals, and the cannabis industry. The existing regulatory framework for use in humans and animals as medicines and/or supplements was examined. Finally, a review of the clinical indications for which medicinal cannabis is authorised, a discussion of toxicosis, and recommendations and warnings around medical cannabis use are presented.

Parasites of Horses, Donkeys and Mules in Turkey

Significant numbers of parasites such as protozoa, helminths and arthropods infest equids. Various investigations have been conducted in Turkey to detect these parasites. In this review, all parasites reported in horses, donkeys and mules have been listed. A total of 62, 52 and 21 helminths were recorded in horses, donkeys and mules, respectively. As protozoan parasites, 13 species were detected both in horses and donkeys, and 3 in mules. With regard to arthropods, 40, 23 and 6 species were detected in horses, donkeys and mules, respectively. In the recent years, various molecular diagnostic methods have been developed and especially applied to the protozoan research area. Classical diagnostic methods were incapable of detecting certain protozoan parasites. Such protozoan parasites can be detected at the nucleic acid level with these new techniques. During the last quadranscentennial, a reduction has been recorded in the total number of equids in Turkey, whereby the breeding of sport horses is becoming an important issue. Thus, this review summarises the published research papers in Turkey in order to raise awareness among the animal owners and veterinarians in terms of the prevention of potential hazards resulting from parasitic infections/infestations in equids.

Dog Tethering in Slovakia: Legal, Ethical and Behavioral Aspects and Dog Welfare Implications.

Simple SummaryOn the basis of legislative provisions and the behavioral needs of dogs, the authors describe the potential consequences and negative impacts of the long-term tethering of dogs. Dogs should be kept under conditions that allow them, with respect to their size, temperament, stage of their development, and degree of adaptation, to maintain good health and meet their physiological, ethological, and social needs. Despite the adoption of new legislative provisions, this issue has not yet been resolved and we are still coming across various cases involving cruelty to animals of various character and intensity. The current situation can be changed by adopting legislative regulations that explicitly define the responsibilities of owners/keepers including a ban on the tethering of dogs in order to prevent potential circumvention of the legislative rules.Long-term tethering of dogs, or their keeping under unsuitable conditions can result in issues related to changes in their behavior as they may not satisfy their basic needs of life. These needs are discussed in this paper, along with cases when dogs unnecessarily have to endure cruelty and pain. The unavoidable tethering of a dog must not cause trauma and must be arranged in a way that it guarantees physical comfort. Failure to meet the basic needs of an animal may result in manifestation of fear and subsequent aggressiveness. Owners of animals are responsible for their life and health, and their obligations include eliminating the possibility of them hurting themselves or other beings. The relevant adopted legislative provisions should provide protection to animals and be enforceable, which currently appears rather difficult. Controlling and observation of the legislative provisions related to the tethering of dogs raises some difficulties for animal protection inspectors. It is necessary to focus on the specificities of keeping conditions of various dog breeds and on their individual features. Based on research and the relevant Slovak legislative provisions, this paper discusses various views on the practice of tethering dogs from the point of view of public safety and the ethical consequences of permanent dog tethering. Data on dog tethering in Slovakia were evaluated based on a survey and Slovak legal rules governing this issue were analyzed along with various views of public safety and the ethical consequences of permanent dog tethering.

Novel transdisciplinary methodology for cross-sectional analysis of snakebite epidemiology at national scale.

Worldwide, it is estimated that snakes bite 4.5-5.4 million people annually, 2.7 million of which are envenomed, and 81,000-138,000 die. The World Health Organization reported these estimates and recognized the scarcity of large-scale, community-based, epidemiological data. In this context, we developed the "Snake-Byte" project that aims at (i) quantifying and mapping the impact of snakebite on human and animal health, and on livelihoods, (ii) developing predictive models for medical, ecological and economic indicators, and (iii) analyzing geographic accessibility to healthcare. This paper exclusively describes the methodology we developed to collect large-scale primary data on snakebite in humans and animals in two hyper-endemic countries, Cameroon and Nepal. We compared available methods on snakebite epidemiology and on multi-cluster survey development. Then, in line with those findings, we developed an original study methodology based on a multi-cluster random survey, enhanced by geospatial, One Health, and health economics components. Using a minimum hypothesized snakebite national incidence of 100/100,000/year and optimizing design effect, confidence level, and non-response margin, we calculated a sample of 61,000 people per country. This represented 11,700 households in Cameroon and 13,800 in Nepal. The random selection with probability proportional to size generated 250 clusters from all Cameroonian regions and all Nepalese Terai districts. Our household selection methodology combined spatial randomization and selection via high-resolution satellite images. After ethical approval in Switerland (CCER), Nepal (BPKIHS), and Cameroon (CNERSH), and informed written consent, our e-questionnaires included geolocated baseline demographic and socio-economic characteristics, snakebite clinical features and outcomes, healthcare expenditure, animal ownership, animal outcomes, snake identification, and service accessibility. This novel transdisciplinary survey methodology was subsequently used to collect countrywide snakebite envenoming data in Nepal and Cameroon. District-level incidence data should help health authorities to channel antivenom and healthcare allocation. This methodology, or parts thereof, could be easily adapted to other countries and to other Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Designing of Western Blot Technique for Glanders Diagnosing in Iran

Burkholderia mallei is the etiologic agent of glanders. It is difficult to diagnose this zoonotic disease in its early stages. Some methods such as the complement fixation test (CFT) cause some problems for veterinary authorities and financial losses to animal owners due to false-positive results. The mallein test requires appropriate laboratory equipment and skilled personnel. To quickly and accurately diagnose the disease, especially in areas where animals cannot be kept, new methods (such as the Western blot test [WBT]) should be used to identify the disease. This study designed and optimized the Western blot (immunoblot) test using sera from 84 glanderous equids, and the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA and CFT were compared with the WBT. ELISA tests are based on B. mallei antigens whereas a purified lipopolysaccharide-containing B. mallei antigen is used in the WBT. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were estimated using the cut-off values recommended by the test developers. The WBT and ELISA were significantly more specific than the CFT. The ELISA based on B. mallei antigens was significantly less sensitive than the CFT. Given their comparable sensitivities and specificities, the CFT (95.7%, 98.5%), the WBT (95%, 100%) and the ELISA (85%, 100%) should be further developed. The CFT is still the prescribed technique for serological investigation of equids for trade purposes to certify individual animals without glanders. Therefore, more efforts should be made to further improve and optimize the WBT and ELISA tests.

Legal implications of euthanasia without owner consent

A veterinary surgeon and registered veterinary nurse must act in accordance with an animal owner's wishes and should respect their confidentiality. This can cause conflict as animal welfare should also be considered as a priority. Contradictory messages from legislation and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses are confusing, however, guidance from these suggests that animal welfare overrides all. To practice clinical governance, veterinary teams should discuss ethical scenarios to prepare all staff for prioritising animal welfare while considering the views of the owner.

Socialisation: is it the ‘be all and end all’ of creating resilience in companion animals?

A lack of socialisation is often referred to as a predisposing factor for the problem behaviours that companion animal owners report in their cats and dogs. Yet, many of the kittens and puppies that found new homes during 2020 will have experienced limitations in, or disruptions to, their opportunities for socialisation as a result of the complexities of the ‘normal’ environment both inside and outside their homes. This article examines the terms ‘socialisation’ and ‘socialise’ that are often used interchangeably when discussing the social competencies of companion animals. In addition, it considers the likely outcome of limited opportunities for comprehensive socialisation for the kittens and puppies of 2020, and whether such shortcomings in early development may be overcome.

The Influence of Human-Animal Interactions on Mental and Physical Health during the First COVID-19 Lockdown Phase in the U.K.: A Qualitative Exploration.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents an opportunity to explore the role of animals as sources of emotional and physical support during a period when most of the population is experiencing social and environmental challenges. We investigated how companion animal owners perceived the influence of human–animal interaction on their physical and mental health during the first COVID-19 lockdown phase in the U.K., and what concerns they had regarding their animals at this time. We also explored the impact of participants’ interaction with non-companion animals during this phase. A cross-sectional online survey of U.K. residents aged over 18 was conducted between April and June 2020. The final item of the survey invited open-ended free-text responses, allowing participants to describe any experiences and/or perceptions of their human–animal relationships during the COVID-19 lockdown phase. A qualitative thematic analysis of responses was undertaken. Four main themes related to the following aspects of human–animal interactions during the COVID-19 lockdown phase were identified: the positive impact of animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., amelioration of wellbeing and mental health), concerns relating to animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., concerns over animals carrying the COVID-19 virus), grief and loss of an animal during the COVID-19 lockdown and the impact of engaging with non-companion animals during the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings complement and extend previous insights into the impact of human–animal interaction with both companion and non-companion animals. They also highlight the challenges of caring for an animal during the lockdown phase and indicate the need to consider the development of further targeted support strategies, such as “day care” for the companion animals of key workers in this context.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH ANXIETY, PERCEIVED STRESS AND SATISFACTION OF PET OWNERS

Introduction: The aim of the study is to see if and in what way pets influence certain aspects of their owners˴ lives. Methodology: A number of 856 participants filled in the online form, out of which 586 have at least one pet. Results: The results show that there are significant differences between the two groups. Animal owners are less anxious about their health, have a lower perceived stress level and higher life satisfaction than non-owners. Conclusion: Given the results obtained, pets positively influence the life of the owner. This link should be studied in more detail in future research.

Milking It for All It\u2019s Worth: Unpalatable Practices, Dairy Cows and Veterinary Work?

Viewing animals as a disposable resource is by no means novel, but does milking the cow for all its worth now represent a previously unimaginable level of exploitation? New technology has intensified milk production fourfold over the last 50 years, rendering the cow vulnerable to various and frequent clinical interventions deemed necessary to meet the demands for dairy products. A major question is whether or not the veterinary code of practice fits, or is in ethical tension, with the administration of ‘efficient’ techniques, such as artificial insemination, to enhance reproduction levels among cattle? Vets perform these interventions and their ‘success’ is measured by the maximisation of milk production, requiring perpetually pregnant cows. Our empirical research on 33 farm vets explores how their professional ethical code promising to protect the welfare of the animal ‘above all else’, is increasingly in conflict with, and subordinate to, the financial demands of clients. Since vets cannot stand outside of the productive power–knowledge relations that have intensified the consumption of animal bodily parts and secretions, we argue that a process of adiaphorization’ (Bauman and Lyon, Liquid surveillance, Polity Press, Cambridge, 2013, p. 8) occurs, whereby humans become morally indifferent to cruel practices deemed necessary to our consumerist ways of life. However, this indifference reflects and reinforces a taken-for-granted anthropocentrism among vets, animal owners and the population generally. We suggest that posthumanist ideas may offer new insights for the study of human–animal relations in organisations that transcend the coercive and negative impact of discourses that deny any alternative to prevailing farm/veterinary practices. Our study has major implications in relation to climate warming and zoonotic diseases, both partly derived from our unethical relationship to animals, that are increasingly threatening our, and their, lives.

Llama and Alpaca Management in Germany-Results of an Online Survey among Owners on Farm Structure, Health Problems and Self-Reflection.

Simple SummaryThe keeping of llamas and alpacas is becoming increasingly attractive, resulting in veterinarians being consulted to an increasing extent about the treatment of individual animals or herd care and management. At present, there is little information on the maintenance practices for South American camelids in Germany and on the level of knowledge of animal owners. To gain an overview of the number of animals kept, the farming methods and management practices in alpaca and llama populations, as well as to obtain information on common population problems, a survey was conducted among owners of South American camelids. The findings can help prepare veterinarians for herd visits and serve as a basis for the discussion of current problems in South American camelid husbandry.An online survey of llama and alpaca owners was used to collect data on the population, husbandry, feeding, management measures and health problems. A total of 255 questionnaires were evaluated. In total, 55.1% of the owners had started keeping South American camelids within the last six years. The majority managed small farms with fewer than 15 animals (66.4% of 250 farms). More than half of the participants stated that they kept the camelids as hobby animals (64.3%), although they used them for wool production (55.7%) and/or for breeding (51.8%). Vaccination and deworming were carried out on more than 80% of the farms. The most common diseases occurring on the farms were endo- and ectoparasites. A total of 55.3% of the owners estimated their own knowledge of South American camelids as good, 14.5% as very good. In contrast, more than half of the owners agreed little or not at all with the statement that veterinarians generally have sufficient knowledge about South American camelids. Further research is needed to include veterinarians’ perspectives and thus optimise animal husbandry.

КОНТАМИНАЦИЯ ПОЧВЫ ЯЙЦАМИ ТОКСОКАР В ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНОМ АДМИНИСТРАТИВНОМ ОКРУГЕ Г. МОСКВЫ

The article presents the results of the study of soils of socially significant objects (territories of preschool children's institutions, institutions of general secondary education, individual households, parks, squares, playgrounds and areas for walking dogs, etc.) in the Southern Administrative District of Moscow for contamination with eggs of toxocar. Seeding rate in preschool children's institutions amounted to 9%, general secondary education institutions – 18,1, construction sites – 50, playgrounds – 51, parks and squares – 75 and dog walking sites – 100%. On average, 51,4% of positive samples were detected in the district. To prevent infection with toxocariasis among people, it is advisable to strengthen the complex of sanitary and epidemiological and anti-epizootic measures aimed at controlling the number of stray dogs and cats, regular examination and deworming of domestic animals, determining places for walking dogs, increasing sanitary and educational work among the population, especially among parents and owners of animals.

Quality standards and guidelines for test validation for infectious diseases in veterinary laboratories.

The World Organisation for Animal Health Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, Chapter 1.1.1. summarises the most relevant governance and managerial aspects of veterinary testing laboratories, and Chapter 1.1.5. introduces quality management. Both chapters are based on the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission standard, ISO/IEC 17025:2005 'General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories'. This paper provides an update of standards and regulatory bodies relevant for accreditation of quality management systems (QMS), with a focus on ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for testing and calibration laboratories. Important issues and considerations that a laboratory should address in the design and maintenance of its QMS are highlighted and examples provided, in particular aspects of test validation and verification, including measurement uncertainty (MU). A QMS aims to address all aspects of the laboratory operation, including staff, organisational structure, processes, and procedures. Accreditation of a diagnostic laboratory requires three notable components: (a) independent or third-party assessment; (b) suitably validated tests performed by proficient laboratory operators in an adequately equipped laboratory; and (c) ongoing internal and external quality control. Together, these components ensure a test outcome is the result of a standardised process and structured peer review, and demonstrate both competency and ability to produce technically valid diagnostic results that will meet the needs of customers - veterinarians, animal owners, regulators, organisations and industry - as well as the needs of decision-makers involved in animal health and surveillance programmes.

Detection and therapeutic management of contagious ecthyma (ORF) in a kid

A kid of age two and a half months was presented to Veterinary Clinical Complex (VCC), of Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana with history of skin lesions on fore head and nasal planum, along with alopecia and pruritis since one month. On physical examination, the lesion was observed to be dry and scabby in appearance. History from the animal owner revealed more number of similar cases of skin lesions in same age group of kids, suspecting it to be contagious. Skin scabs on molecular investigation revealed an Orf infection to the kid. The PCR product of 594bp size was generated. The kid was treated with broad spectrum antibiotic along with symptomatic and supportive treatment till complete clinical recovery. The animal owner was briefed about the zoonotic implications of the disease and was advised to take proper hygienic measures while handling the kids.

Raising Animals to Die for Profit: How Corporate America is Changing Human Animal Relationships in Rural America

Corporate ownership of livestock operations for meat and animal by-products has had a dramatic effect on human-animal relationships in rural areas of the United States. This evolution mandates mass production of livestock in large concentrated animal feed organizations (CAFO’s). In contrast, animal breeding for sport, such as hunting which also produces food, has not generated the same adverse effect on these relationships. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with two rural Iowa women, one raising livestock to be sold for meat and by-products; the other raising livestock to be hunted. Ferdinand Tonnies’ social groupings, gesellschaft and gemeinschaft, were used as theoretical concepts applied using inductive analysis. Findings suggest that, with corporate ownership, the human-animal interaction in these two groups are now very different from one another. The meat industry objectifies animals; they are a means to a financial end, a “product.” Hunting, which remains culturally rooted, allows for a closer relationship; the animal is still thought of as a living individual. The world must be fed and as consumers of these products, it is important to understand how corporate ownership of animals is changing the relationship between human and animals while other relationships resulting in animal meat remain steeped in tradition.

The Animal Issue Revisited: Tertium Genus or Subject

The article seeks to reflect on the animal theme. Not only a brief perspective of legal historical evolution, but, in particular, about the legal regime emerging from the 2017 reform of the Portuguese Civil Code. In our opinion, the reform was timid, confusing and disappointing. In large part, the applicable regime turns out to be, in large part, the regime of things, applicable on a subsidiary basis. Furthermore, with regard to the right to property, it no longer applies only to things, admitting ownership of animals. However, respect for animal welfare, namely the guarantee of access to water and food, as well as the guarantee of access to medical and veterinary care, including prophylactic, identification and vaccination measures, coexist poorly with the property itself. On the other hand, with regard to the occupation, perplexities remain. Especially with regard to the content of articles 1318 and 1323 CC. And, of course, with regard to the implications arising from the legal nature of the animal. In fact, it matters to know if we are dealing with a thing, an object, a tertium genus or a subject of rights. On the other hand, apart from the options of the Portuguese legislator, we analyze, very briefly, recent theories, whose common denominator is a clear defense and affirmation of animal rights.

Contamination of Soil and Vegetation with Developmental Forms of Parasites in the Area of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Background:According to the WHO (2019), more than 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with soil-transmitted parasites. Previous research in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) was mainly conducted in the area of the Sarajevo Canton. Therefore, the aim of the research was to explore contamination of soil and vegetation with developmental forms of parasites in the other cantons of FB&H.Methods:Between Apr and Oct 2018, a total of 1,618 soil and vegetation samples were taken from 386 different locations in the 9 cantons of the FB&H.Results:Positive samples were observed, 65/66 (98.48%) municipalities/cities and on 239/386 (61.92%) locations. Out of 1,618 samples taken in total (1,263 soil samples and 355 vegetation samples), 357 (22.06%) were positive, out of which 337 (26.68%) and 20 (5.63%) were soil and plant samples, respectively. In total, the following adult and developmental forms were identified: Taeniidae eggs (7.30%), Toxocara spp. eggs (62.08%), Ancylostomatidae eggs (25.00%), Trichuris spp. eggs (9.55%), Capillaria spp. eggs (3.37%), Toxascaris leonina eggs (1.40%), Nematodes larvae (19.38%), Giardia duodenalis cysts (5.06%), Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts (1.4%), oocysts and cysts of different species of Protozoa (3.93%).Conclusion:The identified developmental forms of parasites pose a permanent threat to human health. It is necessary to carry out measures to reduce the contamination of soil and vegetation in coordination with systematic solutions (legislation), paralelly with contribution of animal owners, veterinarians, physicians, ecologists, parents and all the others involved in this issue.

Evaluation of an OPEN Stewardship generated feedback intervention to improve antibiotic prescribing among primary care veterinarians in Ontario, Canada and Israel: protocol for evaluating usability and an interrupted time-series analysis

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) impacts the health and well-being of animals, affects animal owners both socially and economically, and contributes to AMR at the human and environmental interface. The overuse and/or...