Attitudes Of Veterinarians Research Articles

Unlocking perspectives on surgical sterilization in dogs and cats: A comprehensive study among Thai veterinary professionals

Gaining insights into the opinions and attitudes of veterinarians is essential for enhancing the sterilization rate, given their influential role in guiding pet owners. This study investigated the attitudes and practices of Thai veterinarians concerning surgical sterilization in dogs and cats. The survey was conducted from August 2022 to December 2022 and distributed through online and on-site questionnaires across all regions of Thailand. Seven hundred twenty-four veterinarians participated. A strong inclination toward sterilization for population control with a notable preference for female animals was revealed. The factors related to the necessity of sterilization in the opinion of Thai veterinarians were gender, age of veterinarians, and animal sex (P<0.05). Male veterinarians tended to assign less importance to sterilization, especially for male dogs (OR = 0.824), compared to their female counterparts. Older veterinarians tended to prioritize sterilization less than younger ones (OR = 0.985). Regarding animal’s sex, a preference for sterilizing females over males in both dogs and cats (OR = 0.291) was observed. Encouraging sterilization should be promoted equally among veterinarians of both genders, with particular emphasis on older male veterinary practitioners. Most veterinarians recommended sterilization between 4 and 6 months for female cats and 7–10 months for male cats, male dogs and female dogs. Overall, mean agreement scores for prepubertal gonadectomy were significantly higher (P<0.05) for female dogs and cats, and the only significant factor associated with these scores was the animal's sex. Veterinarians expressed more disagreement with prepubertal sterilization in males compared to females, with an OR of 0.33. There were some concerns in prepubertal sterilization such as growth and development problems, anesthesia risks, and urinary tract disorders. These insights observed in Thailand hold potential implications for other countries facing similar challenges in effectively managing pet overpopulation.

Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves

Both male and female calves that are not required in the dairy herd sometimes receive inadequate care on dairy farms. Veterinarians work with farmers to improve animal care, and farmers often view veterinarians as trusted advisors; however, little is known about the attitudes of veterinarians on surplus calves. This study investigated the perspectives of Canadian cattle veterinarians on the care and management of surplus calves, as well as how they view their role in improving care. We conducted 10 focus groups with a total of 45 veterinarians from 8 provinces across Canada. Recorded audio files were transcribed, anonymized, and coded using thematic analysis. We found that veterinarians approached surplus calf management issues from a wide lens, with 2 major themes emerging: (1) problematic aspects of surplus calf management, including colostrum management, transportation, and euthanasia, and suggested management and structural solutions, including ways to improve the economic value of these calves, and (2) the veterinarian's role in advising dairy farmers on the care of surplus calves, including on technical issues, and more broadly working with farmers to better address public concerns. We conclude that veterinarians are concerned about the care of surplus calves on dairy farms and believe that they have an important role in developing solutions together with their farmer clientele.

An Observational Survey Study on the Use of Locoregional Anaesthesia in Non-Conventional Species: Current Practice and Potential Future Developments.

Simple SummaryLocoregional anaesthesia is a useful tool to improve perioperative analgesia, and its use continues to progressively increase in both small animal pets and human patients. However, whether and how locoregional anaesthesia is being used in non-conventional animal species is largely unknown. This study was designed to answer these questions, as well as to identify specific research areas on this topic that would be useful to increase the use of locoregional anaesthesia in non-domestic species. This study revealed that locoregional anaesthesia is still relatively underutilised in non-conventional animal species, although there is a tendency to utilise specific blocks routinely, especially in rabbits and rodents, which have become popular as pets. Reluctance to perform locoregional anaesthesia was reported to be due to a lack of species-specific information on effective and toxic doses of local anaesthetics and a paucity of blocks that are specifically developed for non-conventional species. It is concluded that novel studies that focus on species-specific, applied pharmacology of local anaesthetics and block techniques—particularly dental blocks for rabbits and rodents and blocks for the wings of birds—could promote more widespread use of locoregional anaesthetic techniques in non-conventional animal species.The objectives of this study were to investigate the current attitudes of veterinarians towards the use of locoregional anaesthesia in non-conventional animal species and to identify areas for future useful research on this topic. A questionnaire was circulated online. A total of 417 veterinarians, including American and European specialists/specialists-in-training in both zoological medicine and anaesthesia/analgesia (ACZM/ECZM and ACVAA/ECVAA), participated in the study. Fifty-nine percent of respondents performed locoregional anaesthesia in rabbits, with intratesticular injections and local infiltration being the most commonly-reported techniques. ACZM/ECZM specialists reportedly performed dental blocks in rabbits more frequently than ACVAA/ECVAA specialists (p = 0.030). Forty percent of respondents performed locoregional anaesthesia in rodents, with intratesticular injections, topical/splash blocks and local infiltration being the most commonly reported techniques. The proportions of respondents who reportedly used locoregional anaesthesia in ferrets, birds and reptiles were 37.9%, 34.5% and 31.2%, respectively. The use of Tuohy (p < 0.001) and spinal needles (p < 0.001), as well as of ultrasonography (p = 0.009) and nerve-stimulators (p < 0.001), was more common among ACVAA/ECVAA compared to ACZM/ECZM specialists. Major topic areas for future research were identified as dental block techniques for rabbits and rodents and blocks for the wings of birds.

Animal abuse and interpersonal violence from the perspective of veterinarians from Paraíba State, Brazil

This study aimed to obtain information about the knowledge and attitudes of veterinarians in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, regarding the care of abused animals, the profile of possible aggressors, and their perceptions of the relationship between animal maltreatment and interpersonal violence. For this purpose, an online survey containing 21 questions was made available to veterinarians registered in the Regional Veterinary Medicine Council of Paraíba (CRMV - PB). The chi-square test with a 5% significance level (p &lt; 0.05) was used for statistical analysis. According to the interviewees, 70.7% (53/75) of the abuse victims were small animals. Negligence (68% [51/75]) and the absence of medical care (68% [51/75]) were the most evident forms of abuse. Furthermore, 82.7% (62/75) of them believed in the relationship between animal maltreatment and interpersonal violence. In addition, 90.7% (68/75) of the interviewees responded that they have not experienced technical difficulty in identifying maltreatment. However, 48% (36/75) stated to not know the animal abuse law, 90.7% (68/75) did not report the aggressors, and 81.3% (61/75) stated that the absence of measures by the competent public bodies makes it harder to report the abuse. This study concluded that these professionals will, at some point in their clinical routine, encounter situations of animal maltreatment and human violence, as they are in a privileged position to identify such acts. However, they need more normative knowledge about animal abuse crimes.

Attitudes and practices of veterinarians in Australia to acute pain management in cats.

ObjectivesUp-to-date information on the current practices and attitudes of veterinarians in Australia to acute pain management in cats was sought in 2017–2018 in the first nationwide survey in over 20 years.MethodsAn online survey was created, consisting of 54 questions in four sections, with 18 feline-specific questions. Veterinarians throughout Australia were invited to participate in the survey through advertisements in the veterinary press, electronic and regular mail, and through in-clinic visits and promotional materials.ResultsA total of 614 veterinarians completed the survey, with 513 (83.6%) completing the feline-specific section. The demographics of the respondents of this survey were an accurate representation of the registered veterinarians in Australia at the time. Multiple different opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were widely available in practices to manage pain, with analgesic efficacy reported as the primary factor influencing drug selection. Opioids were most commonly used in the preoperative period and NSAIDs were most commonly used postoperatively. Despite the wide availability in clinic (>99%), only 55% of respondents reported regularly using local anaesthetic techniques in cats. Pain assessment of hospitalised patients was primarily performed by veterinarians (91.1%); however, 84.7% of respondents did not routinely use a validated pain scale.Conclusions and relevanceVeterinary practitioners in Australia are adequately equipped with analgesic medication to treat pain in their patients. In the management of acute pain in cats, they frequently use a multimodal approach and practice a variety of analgesic protocols. Based on the results of this survey, potential areas for improvement in feline pain management include an increase in duration of postoperative analgesia and more routine use of validated pain scales, performed by nurses and veterinarians alike, to assess individual analgesic needs.

Changing Veterinary Attitudes towards Delivering Biosecurity Advice to Beef Farmers.

Simple SummaryBiosecurity advice is an important way veterinarians can help farmers to reduce disease burdens on their farms. Many different factors are at play when delivering this advice, one being veterinary competence and their communication skills. This study looked at the private veterinary practitioners’ perceptions of their own competence to deliver biosecurity advice as part of a longitudinal biosecurity project spanning two years. Their responses were collected in the form of a telephone questionnaire. The results showed that as the project progressed the private veterinary practitioners felt more comfortable, better capable, and more consistent in giving their advice. In addition, they felt the uptake of their advice by the famers had improved throughout the study period. The mean average time spent delivering biosecurity advice increased and dropped subsequently, suggesting an initially more thorough process, and later a more efficient process. The results suggest development of the participating veterinarians following the conscious-competence learning model, showing a need to improve the knowledge and training of future generations of vets in the area of biosecurity with an increased focus on the importance of the veterinarian-farmer relationship in particular.Biosecurity advice is an important way veterinarians can help farmers to reduce disease burdens on their farms. Many different factors are at play when delivering this advice, one being veterinary competence and their communication skills. This study looked at the private veterinary practitioners’ perceptions of their own competence to deliver biosecurity advice as part of a longitudinal biosecurity project. Their responses were collected in the form of a telephone questionnaire. The results showed significant increases in private veterinary practitioners’ responses to comfort (p = 0.022), capability (p = 0.002), and consistency (p = 0.006) as well as an increase of uptake of advice (p = 0.015) as the project progressed. The mean time spent delivering biosecurity advice increased and dropped subsequently, suggesting an initially more thorough and later on a more efficient process. The overall perceptions of the veterinarians of the study were also assessed. The results suggest development of the participating veterinarians following the conscious-competence learning model showing a need to improve the knowledge and training of future generations of private veterinary practitioners in the area of biosecurity with, in particular, an increased focus on the importance of the veterinarian–farmer relationship.

Antibiotic prescription practices and attitudes towards the use of antimicrobials among veterinarians in the City of Tshwane, South Africa.

BackgroundUnderstanding the prescription practices and attitudes of veterinarians towards antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is crucial in guiding efforts to curb AMR. This study investigated prescription practices and attitudes towards AMR among veterinarians in the City of Tshwane, South Africa.MethodsOut of the 83 veterinarians invited to participate in the study, 54 signed the consent form and completed the questionnaire. Percentages and 95% confidence intervals of all categorical variables were computed. A multinomial logistic model was used to identify predictors of the veterinarians’ view towards antimicrobial use.ResultsThe majority (88%) of respondents indicated that improper use of antimicrobials contributed to selection for AMR. Veterinarians relied on clinical signs and symptoms (88%, 48/54) to decide whether to prescribe antimicrobials or not. However, the choice of antimicrobials depended on the cost of antibiotics (77.2%), route of administration (81.5%), and risk of potential adverse reactions (79.6%; 43/54). Many (61.5%) veterinarians were of the view that often antimicrobials are appropriately prescribed and 88.7% agreed that improper use of antimicrobials contributed to selection for antimicrobial resistant organisms. Compared to females, males were significantly more likely (Relative Risk Ratio (RRR) = 9.0; P = 0.0069) to agree rather than to “neither agree nor disagree” that their colleagues over-prescribed antimicrobials.ConclusionsThe decisions to prescribe antimicrobials by the veterinarians depended on clinical presentation of the patient, while the choice of antimicrobial depended on cost, route of administration, and risk of potential adverse reactions. Most veterinarians were of the view that antimicrobials were prescribed judiciously.

Farmer and veterinarian attitudes towards the risk of zoonotic Mycobacterium bovis infection in Northern Ireland

Based on a qualitative social science research methodology using semi-structured interviews, this paper examines the attitudes of farmers and veterinarians in Northern Ireland around the risk of acquiring tuberculosis caused...

A Survey of Veterinarian Attitudes Toward Prepubertal Desexing of Dogs and Cats in the Australian Capital Territory.

Prepubertal desexing (neutering) has been a legal requirement for all cats and dogs in the Australian Capital Territory since 2001. All cats have to be desexed by 3 months of age, and all dogs are required to be desexed by 6 months of age. The role of veterinary attitudes and behaviors in the implementation of mandatory prepubertal desexing in the Australian Capital Territory is explored in this paper. An online survey was sent to all veterinarians registered in the Australian Capital Territory via the Veterinary Surgeons Board (VSB). The survey was designed as a cross-sectional study, hosted using the software REDcap® and analyzed using statistical program R®. A response rate of 14.9% (52/350) of registered veterinarians was achieved. Only 10% of respondents (5/52) recommended that clients have their cat desexed at 3 months of age, the legal maximum age for desexing in the jurisdiction. However, 40% of veterinarians (21/52) thought prepubertal desexing was an appropriate management strategy of cats to prevent overpopulation. Just over one-third of all veterinarians who responded (18/52; 35%) were not aware that prepubertal desexing was mandatory in the Australian Capital Territory. We conclude that prepubertal desexing might be poorly supported by veterinarians in the Australian Capital Territory, even though pets are legally required to undergo prepubertal desexing. As a result, veterinarians may unintentionally be limiting access to this procedure. This has wider policy consequences for Australian and overseas jurisdictions which are considering introducing mandatory prepubertal desexing.

Attitudes toward Animals and Their Welfare among Italian Veterinary Students

As members of the public and the veterinary profession are increasingly concerned about animal welfare, there has been an increased scholarly interest in the attitudes of veterinarians and students toward animals, as these may impact human behavior, which ultimately impacts animal welfare. Here we investigated Italian veterinary students’ demographic data and perceptions about nonhuman animal welfare issues that might be predictive of their attitudes. A survey eliciting information about demographics, knowledge, experience, and perceptions regarding different categories of animals, and including the Animal Attitude Scale (AAS), was administered to undergraduate veterinary medicine students in three Italian universities. Data were analyzed using nonparametric tests, and a value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In total, 876 students completed the questionnaire, with females (75.1%) making up a majority of students in all years of the course. Although veterinary students showed pro-animal welfare attitudes (mean score = 64.20 ± 0.24 out of 100), the findings suggested that year of study, gender, and geographical location had a significant impact (p < 0.05). In this study, we found a set of factors that, either individually or combined, help predict a student’s attitude toward animal welfare issues, which will be useful in improving the curriculum strategy in veterinary education in Italy.

Attitudes of veterinarians and veterinary students to recommendations on how to improve dog and cat welfare in veterinary practice

The veterinary profession is an ambassador for the welfare of animals, but the visit to a veterinary practice is in itself stressful for many animals. A multitude of recommendations how to reduce stress during a visit to the veterinarian is available, but they are often not implemented in practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to survey veterinarians and veterinary students regarding their attitudes toward recommendations to improve cat and dog welfare in veterinary practice. We conducted 2 similar online surveys asking veterinarians and veterinary students to rate 20 statements about pet-friendly handling and practice environment and other measures to improve animal welfare on a scale ranging from 1 to 6 regarding their importance for animal welfare and their feasibility in practice. Single items were averaged to overall importance and feasibility scores. These scores and single items were compared between veterinarians and veterinary students using Mann-Whitney U tests. In general, the rating of importance was high and the overall score did not differ between veterinarians (N = 342) and veterinary students (N = 258) after correction for multiple testing (mean ± SD: 5 ± 0.63 vs. 4.93 ± 0.51, P = 0.046). The recommendations rated as most important were “dog ward: possibility to urinate/defecate at least 3 times a day,” “separate cats from dogs during hospitalization,” and “cat ward: provide hiding possibility.” Regarding feasibility, veterinarians had higher overall scores than students (4.82 ± 0.65 vs. 4.62 ± 0.48, P < 0.001). The rating of 9 single items was higher than that of veterinary students (P ≤ 0.001). Higher feasibility ratings in students were only found for the items “Advise owner on how to reduce stress during transport,” “use muzzle training with dogs and advise owner on how to do it,” and “report animal abuse to the authorities.” The items “separate cats from dogs in the waiting room” (3.63 ± 1.54), “exam table: let cats exit carrier on their own” (4.31 ± 1.42), “separate cats from dogs during hospitalization” (4.41 ± 1.67) received the lowest feasibility ratings by veterinarians. In conclusion, the greatest barriers for the implementation of recommendations aiming to increase animal welfare in veterinary practice seem to be related to constructional aspects or perceived time constraints. Furthermore, veterinarians might have experienced low compliance of owners to their advice and might find reporting of suspected abuse cases challenging.

CattleReview

Introduction: This edition of Cattle Review considers recent publications looking at veterinary attitudes to selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) in the Netherlands, the use of milk antibody tests for Ostertagia ostertagi and genomic testing of dairy heifers in grazed systems.

Farmer and Veterinarian Attitudes towards the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Programme in Spain: What Is Going on in the Field?

The effectiveness of health interventions against bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is influenced by several “non-biological” factors that may hamper bTB detection and control. Although the engagement of stakeholders is a key factor for the eradication programme’s success, social factors have been often ignored in the control programmes of animal diseases, especially in developed countries. In this study, we used a qualitative approach to investigate perceptions, opinions, attitudes, and beliefs of farmers, and veterinarians who may influence the effectiveness of the Spanish bTB eradication programme. The study was carried out in two phases. First, 13 key representatives of different groups involved in the programme were interviewed through exploratory interviews to identify most relevant themes circulating in the population. Interviews focused on strong and weak points of the programme; reasons for failure to achieve eradication; benefits of being disease free; future perspectives, and proposed changes to the programme. Based on these results, a thematic guide was developed and detailed information was gained through face-to-face in-depth interviews conducted on a purposive sample of 39 farmers and veterinarians. Data were analysed following an ethnographic methodology. Main results suggested that the bTB programme is perceived as a law enforcement duty without an adequate motivation of some stakeholders and a general feeling of distrust arose. The complexity of bTB epidemiology combined with gaps in knowledge and weak communication throughout stakeholders contributed to causing disbeliefs, which in turn generated different kinds of guesses and interpretations. Low reliability in the routine skin test for bTB screening was expressed and the level of confidence on test results interpretation was linked with skills and experience of public and private veterinarians in the field. Lack of training for farmers and pressure faced by veterinarians during field activities also emerged. Few benefits of being bTB free were perceived and comparative grievances referred to wildlife and other domestic reservoirs, sector-specific legislation for bullfighting farms, and the absence of specific health legislation for game hunting farms were reported. Understanding reasons for demotivation and scepticism may help institutions to ensure stakeholders’ collaboration and increase the acceptability of control measures leading to an earlier achievement of eradication.

Influence of socio-demographic and experiential factors on the attitudes of Croatian veterinary students towards farm animal welfare

The aim of this study was to examine the factors influencing the attitudes of veterinary students in Croatia toward farm animal welfare. The survey was carried out at the only faculty of veterinary medicine in Croatia and included students from all years of the integrated undergraduate and graduate study programme. The response rate was 91% (n = 505 subjects). According to the socio-demographic and experiential factors observed, females, students in their initial years of study, younger students with urban backgrounds, non-religious/non-spiritual students and vegetarians, and those intending to work with companion animals expressed more concerned attitudes regarding farm animal welfare (all P &amp;lt; 0.05). The type of secondary school completed, family monthly income and previous experience with farm or pet animals had no impact on student attitudes. The results of the study point to a variety of factors influencing veterinary student attitudes towards farm animal welfare. A recognition of these factors can contribute considerably to increasing student awareness of farm animal welfare. These results provide a basis for further research into the factors influencing veterinary attitudes to animal welfare and the complexity of their interactions.

CattleReview

Introduction: This edition of Cattle Review considers papers on farmer and veterinary attitudes to disease prevention and medicine prescribing respectively, as well as the antimicrobial resistance risks of feeding waste milk to calves.

The attitude of veterinarians towards transfusion medicine and determination of donor potentials of cats and dogs in Istanbul/Turkey.

The demand for blood products increases day by day due to the developments in animal transfusion medicine. Therefore, new strategies are developed to create adequate sources. It was observed that animal owners who came to our small animal blood bank are generally wary of the voluntary donor program, and both theoretical and practical information about transfusion medicine are requested by the veterinarians. In the present study, the knowledge and perspectives of the veterinarians on animal blood banking and blood transfusion have been surveyed by a questionnaire. The awareness of the veterinarians and the pet owners has been raised by means of meetings and brochures. Additionally the donor potential of the pets, which were brought to the clinics, has been investigated; and the ratios were 52 % and 45 % for the dogs and cats, respectively. The blood typing has been performed for the animals, which are suitable for blood donation, and a “living” blood bank has been developed.

Attitude of Veterinarians Towards ICT Utilization: Professional Perspectives

Attitude of Veterinarians Towards ICT Utilization: Professional Perspectives

Perceptions of responsibility and capability for treating wildlife casualties in UK veterinary practices

Attribution of responsibility for, and management of, wildlife patients can be problematic. National annual caseload estimates range from 30,000–40,000 (Molony and others 2007) to 71,000 (Grogan and Kelly 2013). Veterinary...

Factors influencing antimicrobial prescribing by veterinarians and usage by dairy farmers in New Zealand

AIMS: To determine the factors associated with the selection of antimicrobials by dairy veterinarians, and the attitudes of those veterinarians and dairy farmers to antimicrobial usage and resistance. METHODS: Facilitated focus groups of dairy farmers (n=22) and an anonymous online survey of dairy cattle veterinarians (n=206 respondents) were used to determine prescribing behaviour, factors affecting prescribing of antimicrobials, and the attitudes of veterinarians and farmers to the use of antimicrobials and the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). RESULTS: Amongst the 22 farmers, the most common primary reason for choosing an antimicrobial was veterinary advice (87%) followed by personal experience (68%). Farmers had limited knowledge or concern about the risk of AMR, particularly outside their farm, with only 47% and 26% agreeing or strongly agreeing that use of antimicrobials on their farm would increase the risk of resistance in their herd and in humans, respectively. Prescribing of antimicrobials by veterinarians was predominantly based on diagnosis (168/206; 82%), and response to previous therapy (134/206; 65%), while duration above the minimum inhibitory concentration (43/206; 21%) was also considered important. Non-clinical factors such as withholding period (52/206; 25%) and farmers’ preferences (45/206; 22%) also influenced prescribing. Antimicrobial culture and susceptibility testing was not widely used, with 126/166 (76%) having culture results for less than four of the last 10 clinical mastitis cases for which they prescribed antimicrobials. Attitudes about prescribing and AMR varied with years of practice, gender and employment status. CONCLUSIONS: Veterinarians primarily considered technical reasons when prescribing antimicrobials. However non-technical factors did influence prescribing, in particular client feedback about perceived efficacy and perceptions of cost/benefit. Farmers stated that veterinarians were the most credible source of advice for selection of antimicrobials, but that personal experience on their farm was also important. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Farmers’ perception of efficacy of antimicrobials, based on clinical outcomes, is an important determinant of their preferred choice of product. Hence, where changes in on-farm use patterns are required, clear communication by veterinarians about prudent antimicrobial choice and usage will require initial education around classes of antimicrobials and risk of resistance, as well as information around assessing efficacy of antimicrobial usage. Many veterinarians are in businesses that do not have practice prescribing policies. Such policies would likely lead to more consistent and judicious use of antimicrobials.

Veterinary attitudes towards antimicrobial resistance

IN recent years the EU, in contrast to many other parts of the world, has taken a number of initiatives to reduce the use of antibiotics in farm animals. Antibiotics...