Private Veterinary Practice Research Articles

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Sally Polson and David Yates work together at the Bolton RSPCA Clinic. They are both graduates from Liverpool University and have common interests in anaesthesia, pre-pubertal neutering and improving patient welfare using tight charity budgets. In this article, they provide supporting evidence that PPN is a safe and humane procedure and one that could be considered more often in private veterinary practice.

Reliability of detecting fundus abnormalities associated with systemic hypertension in cats assessed by veterinarians with and without ophthalmology specialty training.

Systemic hypertension (SHT) causes severe target organ damage (TOD) and blood pressure (BP) measurement should be routine in at-risk populations. Fundoscopy is a tool to corroborate acute clinical relevance of high BP results and to decide on immediate therapy. Not every cat with a high BP result can be examined by an ophthalmologist. The study objective was to determine the reliability of fundoscopy in cats with SHT performed by a veterinarian without ophthalmology specialty training. Cats with suspicion of hypertensive TOD or belonging to an at-risk population for SHT with a first measurement of elevated BP >160 mmHg were enrolled. Indirect ophthalmoscopy was performed by a recent graduate veterinarian followed by a veterinary ophthalmologist. Confirmation of SHT was based on two additional sets of systolic BP measurements >160 mmHg by Doppler sphygmomanometry. Thirty-three cats were included. SHT was confirmed in 27 cats. SHT was detected on routine examinations in 12/27 cats; fundoscopic lesions were observed in 9/12 by the non-trained veterinarian and in 11/12 by an ophthalmologist. Nine of 27 cats were neurological patients; fundoscopic lesions were detected in 4/9 by the non-trained veterinarian and in 7/9 by an ophthalmologist. Six of 27 cats were presented for acute blindness; fundus lesions were detected in all six cats by the non-trained veterinarian and ophthalmologist. SHT was not confirmed and fundoscopic lesions were not detected by either examiner in 6/33 cats. Compared with a veterinary ophthalmologist, reliability of detecting fundus abnormalities by the non-trained veterinarian was 72% (13/18) for cats with, and 100% (6/6) for cats without, vision. Fundus examination by a non-specialty trained veterinarian has reasonably high reliability for the detection of ocular TOD. Private practice veterinarians are encouraged to perform an initial fundic examination in suspected hypertensive cats.

BOVINE HEPATIC FASCIOLOSIS OF OUTRIGHT CONDEMNATION IN THE MAIDUGURI MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

The fasciolosis which warrant outright condemnation of cattle livers has been shown to be 1154 percent of livers of the cattle slaughtered at the Maiduguri Municipal abattoir. The livers condemned outright have been kept to a minimum. Of the actual losses which the disease cause, only 46 percent was manifest to the butchers in condemnation of livers, the other losses (54 percent) in costs due to weight loss are not appreciated because the I losses are not visible. The annual estimated loss due to fasciolosis in Nigeria is between 16.4 to 20.9 million U.S. dollars, but the cost of chemoprophylaxis would be much less. The Central Government is in a position to plan and execute control measure in future using veterinarians in private practice.

A survey of veterinary professionals about their interactions with free-living native animals and the volunteer wildlife rehabilitation sector in New South Wales, Australia

ABSTRACT The views of veterinary professionals were surveyed to inform the New South Wales Government about the extent, cost and nature of services they provide to free-living native animals and their interactions with the volunteer wildlife rehabilitation sector. Our aim was to better understand the challenges faced by veterinarians and veterinary nurses and the veterinary practices they work from. The survey was part of an extensive review of the New South Wales wildlife rehabilitation sector to inform strategic improvements to volunteer standards and service delivery. We found New South Wales private veterinary practices and their staff provide an essential network of support for the rehabilitation of sick and injured free-living native animals. Nearly all responding private veterinary practices provided some type of service pro-bono. The annual value of free services and products was estimated to be $1,038,650. Reported average weekly animal caseload was about five with birds the most frequent patients. Cost of services was the main challenge faced by practices, followed by knowledge and skill of staff. Veterinarians and veterinary nurses considered their formal training to not be very useful in teaching skills relevant to free-living native animals and sought further professional development opportunities in animal assessment, treatment and rehabilitation techniques. Most respondents were satisfied with the standard of care afforded to native animals by volunteers. Complaints focused on delays in native animal pick-ups and communication with practice staff. We make recommendations for improving veterinary capacity and strengthening relationships with the volunteer wildlife rehabilitation sector.

Molecular diversity of Alphacoronavirus 1 in dogs and cats in Colombia

Alphacoronavirus 1 (subgenus Tegacovirus, genus Alphacoronavirus, family Coronaviridae), which encompasses transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), feline coronavirus (FCoV) and canine coronavirus (CCoV), is an important pathogen that can cause severe gastroenteritis and is distributed worldwide. CCoV has two different genotypes: CCoV type I, which has a high identity with FCoV-I, and CCoV type II, which is divided into two subtypes, CCoV IIa (pantropic) and CCoV IIb, which is related to FCoV-II and has been involved in multiple recombination events. Between 2014 and 2018, 43 fecal samples from puppies and young dogs under 1 year of age with hemorrhagic enteritis and from 5 cats under 2 years of age with ascites or thoracic effusion were collected by a private veterinary practice in Bogotá, Colombia. A screening for Coronavirus via RT-PCR (nsp12) and PCR amplification of Canine protoparvovirus (VP1) revealed 27.1% (13/49) and 72.9% (35/49) positive samples, respectively. Positive samples for coronavirus were tested for M, N, S and the sequences grouped in the FCoV, CCoV-I and CCoV-IIb clusters that were distant from the pantropic type (IIa). The N gene formed two clusters, one exclusively with samples from this study in subtype II and another with strains in subtype I. For gene S (subtype I), the samples clustered with the Brazilian samples, while samples positive for S subtype IIb grouped into a cluster distinct from the other reference sequences. The prevalence of coronaviruses identified in this study is within the range reported by different countries worldwide.

Prognostic value of serum total thyroxine concentration at admission to an intensive care unit for critically ill dogs.

To determine whether serum total thyroxine (TT4) concentration at admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) was associated with mortality rate and duration of hospitalization for critically ill dogs. 166 client-owned dogs that were hospitalized in the ICU of a private veterinary practice from January 2013 through December 2016 and for which serum TT4 concentration had been measured at admission. Medical records were reviewed to collect data regarding patient signalment, concurrent illnesses, medications, reason for hospitalization, outcome (death, euthanasia, or survival to hospital discharge), duration of hospitalization, and initial serum TT4 concentration. Mean age of the 166 dogs was 8.6 years (range, 1 to 16 years). Overall mortality rate was 15.7%, with 26 dogs failing to survive to hospital discharge. Of these 26 dogs, 7 died and 19 were euthanized. No significant association was identified between serum TT4 concentration at admission and survival to discharge (yes or no) or duration of hospitalization. Age was significantly associated with survival to discharge, with older dogs less likely to survive than younger dogs. Duration of hospitalization was also associated with survival to discharge, with longer hospital stays associated with a lower likelihood of survival to discharge. Findings suggested that serum TT4 concentration at admission to an ICU had no prognostic value in this population of critically ill dogs.

Citizens' juries give verdict on whether private practice veterinarians should attend unvaccinated Hendra virus suspect horses.

Hendra virus (HeV) is endemic in Australian flying foxes, posing a threat to equine and human health. Equine vaccination remains the most effective risk mitigation strategy. Many horses remain unvaccinated - even in higher-risk regions. Debate surrounding the vaccine's use is characterised by conflicting perspectives, misunderstanding and mistrust. Private veterinary practitioners are critical to early identification of public health risk through recognition, sampling and management of suspect-equine-HeV-cases. However, managing such cases can be burdensome, with some veterinarians opting not to attend unvaccinated horses or to abandon equine practice because of risk posed by HeV disease and liability. Ascertain the perspectives of informed citizens on what obligations (if any) private veterinarians have to attend unvaccinated horses with HeV or HeV-like disease. Three citizens' juries were tasked with considering approaches to managing HeV risk in Australia, including (reported here) roles and obligations of private veterinarians in responding to HeV-suspect-cases. Jurors acknowledged that HeV management posed an important challenge for private veterinarians. A clear majority (27 of 31 jurors) voted that veterinarians should not be obliged to attend unvaccinated horses. All recognised that greater support for veterinarians should be a priority. When informed of HeV risks and strategies for control and management, citizens appreciated the need to support veterinarians performing this critical 'One Health' role for public benefit. The current governance framework within which zoonotic disease recognition and response operates limits the contingency and scope for increasing support and efficacy of these important veterinary public health practices.

The Cat Desexing Policies and Activities of Private Veterinary Practices in Queensland.

Simple SummaryThe Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) shelters around Australia take in hundreds of unwanted adult cats and kittens each year. Widespread desexing (or sterilizing) of cats before they have a chance to become pregnant would reduce numbers of kittens born, and hence, would be expected to reduce numbers of cats entering shelters. Veterinarians have an important role to play in promoting desexing of cats before they reach puberty, and this paper reports on a survey conducted to describe Queensland veterinary practice policies and activities. We ascertained ages that veterinarians recommended for desexing of cats, ages at which desexing actually occurs, what veterinary practices are doing to promote desexing, and what the respondents see as the barriers to desexing before puberty.Cats are prolific breeders, and if most cats were desexed prior to puberty, numbers of unwanted cats and kittens, and hence numbers entering shelters, would be expected to decline. Although traditionally in Australia it has been reported that 90% of veterinary clients’ cats are desexed, there are still hundreds of cats and kittens that end up unwanted and in shelter care annually. In this study, we surveyed Queensland veterinary practices to describe ages that veterinarians are recommending cats should be desexed at, ages at which desexing actually occurs, what veterinary practices are doing to promote desexing of cats, and what veterinarians see as the barriers to desexing of cats before puberty. A questionnaire was developed and sent to all veterinary practices in Queensland. The response rate was 50%. Almost 45% of respondents recommended desexing at the traditional age of 6 months, which is later than puberty in most cats; for more than 56% of practices, the actual average age at which desexing occurred was at least 6 months; and in a substantial proportion of practices, when desexed, high percentages of cats had already had litters. Most practices took steps to encourage their clients to have their cats desexed, and most thought these steps were effective. The results from this study suggest that although veterinarians generally agree that cats should be desexed prior to having their first litter, recommended and actual desexing ages are commonly too late to ensure this is achieved. Better understanding is required about both the likely impact of more veterinary practices recommending and conducting desexing before puberty on numbers of unwanted cats and numbers surrendered to shelters, and the drivers of age at which cats are desexed. This could inform strategies to reduce numbers of unwanted cats.

Food with Specialized Dietary Fiber Sources Improves Clinical Outcomes in Adult Cats with Constipation or Diarrhea

Changes in gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome composition and metabolism have been identified in many patients with gastrointestinal diseases, and the GI microbiome may play an important role in promoting and maintaining GI health. This study evaluated the efficacy of a fiber‐supplemented Control Food (CF) and a therapeutic food (TF) with specialized plant fibers known to contain antioxidant and polyphenol compounds in cats with constipation or diarrhea. A prospective clinical study was conducted with 44 adult cats, recruited from private veterinary practices across the United States. Cats exhibiting clinical signs of diarrhea or constipation were enrolled in the study. Cats were excluded from this study if they were under 1 year of age, had systemic disease including kidney disease (IRIS stage 3 or greater), had a Body Fat Index less than 20, were unwilling or unable to exclusively consume the study food, had megacolon or were otherwise unlikely to benefit from a fiber supplemented food, chronically used colonic motility drugs, or were currently receiving oral antibiotics or probiotics and were unwilling to discontinue. Enrolled cats were randomized to one of two complete and balanced dry therapeutic foods (25 CF, 19 TF). Fiber sources included CF: cracked pearled barley, ground whole grain corn, dried beet pulp, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) & psyllium seed husk; TF: ground whole grain corn, ground pecan shells, cracked pearled barley, whole grain oats, dried beet pulp, pea fiber, flaxseed, dried citrus pulp, pumpkin, pressed cranberries, FOS & psyllium seed husk. Veterinarians performed physical examinations, evaluated clinical signs of constipation or diarrhea and rated the cat’s response to the study food at days 2, 3, 4, and 28 using a defined scale (Negative Response, Non‐Response, Positive Response, and Complete Response). This study was reviewed & approved by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. Veterinarian evaluations were analyzed using a Cochran‐Mantel‐Haenszel test with modified ridit scores. Results significant at p<0.05 are reported. The proportion of cats receiving CF rated by the veterinarian as Positive or Complete Response vs. study start was 36% at day 2, 48% at day 3, 60% at day 4, and 69% at day 28 (p=NS); the proportion of cats receiving TF rated by the veterinarian as Positive or Complete Response vs. study start was 42% at day 2, 63% at day 3, 65% at day 4, and 100% at day 28 (p<0.01). TF rapidly and effectively resolved veterinarian‐assessed clinical outcomes in cats with constipation or diarrhea. Fiber sources rich in antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory compounds were more effective than traditional fiber sources in improving clinical response in cats with diarrhea or constipation.Support or Funding InformationThis study was funded by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.

Explaining earnings variation of bovine veterinarians in private practice

Bovine veterinarians are needed to protect food animal protein supplies, prevent losses due to disease, and protect public health: society needs these services. It is also important that economic incentives exist for, and are understood by, practitioners that serve the food animal industry. Surveys of American Association of Bovine Practitioners members were examined to explain variation in bovine veterinary earnings in private practice. We estimate the systematic variation in earnings due to practitioner characteristics. Results communicate expected earnings levels and variation across bovine veterinarians in private practice based on observable individual attributes and characteristics. These results communicate, in context of the survey questions, what the market for bovine veterinary services values. Bovine veterinarians are compensated more for specializing in a species within the food animal industries and owning their practice. The volume of animals seen is important, and bovine veterinarians should look to practice in areas with large concentrations of animals. Numbers of clients attained are not important, whereas numbers of animals serviced are. Further, gaining experience is more important than additional education or certifications beyond the doctor of veterinary medicine degree. However, there remains a large unexplainable variation in earnings models. This unexplained variation is likely due to unobserved and unmeasured ability/effort effects within each individual and it is thought, but not tested, that higher quality veterinarians earn more. Future salary surveys need to attempt to measure these deep human capital attributes.

Reversal of sustained ventricular tachycardia with magnesium but not with lidocaine in a dog during the perianaesthetic period

A one-and-a-half-year-old, male neutered Pyrenean mountain dog was presented with bleeding after orchiectomy at a private veterinary practice. Drops of blood were emerging from the surgical site. Clinical evaluation evidenced...

The problems of formation market veterinary services

The problems of formation of the market of veterinary services and application of the basic elements of marketing are considered. It is shown that transformation of main branches of agriculture on a market basis is combined with the initial stages of formation market of veterinary services. The factors that constrain these processes are analyzed. The main ones are difficult financial and economic situation of animals owners, the priority development of especially large entities that independently carry out all veterinary operations, the tendency of reducing the number of animals among potential customers of veterinary services. A significant influence of development of private enterprise in the field of veterinary services has a public veterinary service, which has largely monopolized the market for veterinary services. Having a well-established material base, knowledge and reputation of its specialists, in addition to measures related to controlling functions, the public service provides paid veterinary services. This complicates the efforts of private entities to develop private veterinary practices. The benefits of public service are compounded by the lack of risk of business activity. The provision of paid services is combined with public funding. The analysis of the factors of formation market demand for veterinary services, the main of which are the number and dynamics of animals owned by households, agricultural enterprises and other economic entities, the financial and economic situation of the owners of animals, their purchasing power, losses and losses of the animals owners due to the inadequate veterinary services, veterinary status of livestock breeding for infectious and invasive diseases, incidence of non-communicable diseases, opportunities for exp RTU products, the availability and accessibility of veterinary services in the market, the implementation of measures to stimulate demand for veterinary services and so on. A comparative analyze of behavior potential customers of veterinary services related to different market segments is made. The decision to order services to agricultural enterprises is made by the specialists of the enterprise, who are professionally trained, competent, as a rule, have agricultural education. This solution is characterized by a high degree of formalization that is not specific to individual animal owners. The expected trends in the development of the veterinary services market are analyzed. It is shown that the intensification of international integration processes and the elimination of non-tariff technical barriers to trade in agricultural and food products creates opportunities for increased exports of products. The latter is possible subject to proper veterinary care and the provision of a sanitary guarantee on this basis. This will encourage animal owners to order veterinary services, thus expanding the market capacity for these services.

PSI-25 development of local Kansas E. coli UTI antibiograms to improve antimicrobial stewardship in companion animal medicine

Abstract Urinary tract infections are common in dogs, but rare in cats. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of urine isolates is required to determine optimal antimicrobial therapy, but empirical antimicrobial guidelines are needed while culture is pending or if testing is declined. Antibiograms are summaries of local susceptibility trends that assist clinicians in selecting empirical antimicrobial therapy. Antibiograms were developed from E. coli feline (N = 138) and canine (N = 640) urinary isolates submitted by the KSU Veterinary Health Center and private veterinary practices from 2013–2017. Results showed a high prevalence of resistance among feline isolates to amoxicillin-clavulanate (99.3%, S ≤ 0.25) and ampicillin (99.3%, S ≤ 0.25), but lower prevalence among canine isolates (amoxicillin/clavulanate 7.7% S ≤ 8), ampicillin 46.7%, S ≤ 8). Resistance to other antimicrobials was uncommon, with no antimicrobial agents demonstrating resistance above 6% in feline isolates, or above 14% in canine isolates. Canine isolates from private veterinary practices had increased resistance as compared with KSU isolates to orbifloxacin (9.5% vs 0.1%) and pradofloxaxin (9.4% vs 0.1%). Application of different breakpoints and differences in antibiotic exposures may explain the disparity of Beta-Lactam resistance between cats and dogs. Different use patterns between hospitals may explain the disparity between fluoroquinolone resistance. These findings emphasize the need for definitive urine culture and susceptibility testing in pets with UTIs, so that appropriate and effective antimicrobial therapy can be prescribed. Veterinary clinicians in Kansas can use these antibiogram results in addition to following stewardship guidelines to maximize successful UTI therapy for veterinary patients and minimize development of antimicrobial resistance for the One Health community.

Increasing vet and sheep flock interactions in dairy practice

Sheep medicine has traditionally been a low priority for cattle-dominated practice, as it is commonly thought that there is minimal financial opportunities in this sector. The perception has been that...

Evidence-based paradigm shifts in veterinary behavioral medicine.

There is now a large body of research in veterinary behavioral medicine that is clinically relevant and could enrich patients' and practitioners' lives. Too often, however, this research is published in journals that may not be readily available to veterinarians in private practice. Four important topics in the area of veterinary behavioral medicine for which belief has not kept pace with the published data are the unmet need for behavioral medicine in veterinary practice, the veterinary experience as a contributor to fear and distress in dogs and cats, social signaling in dogs and the ongoing "dominance" debate, and punishment as an intervention to change behavior. The present article seeks to provide a critical overview of recent research that is shifting existing paradigms on these topics and should alter the way veterinarians observe and care for patients.

Tracking Veterinary Students Who Aspire to Careers in Science.

The Cornell Leadership Program for Veterinary Students is an intensive 10-week learning experience intended to guide competitively selected scholars into careers in science and public health. It features independent research, vocational counseling, and student-directed learning modules. Program scholars are encouraged to objectively evaluate graduate training as preparation for careers promoted by the program. Prominence is given to experiential learning through research, participation in program enrichment modules, and inspirational experiences achieved through group meetings and individual interactions with established scientists. Program alumni are monitored to determine how the careers they pursue relate to their earlier-stated ambitions. In addition, subjective assessments are made of the quality of graduate training and its impact on alumni career paths. The influence of mentors, vocational counseling, and inspirational experiences on subsequent training is also subjectively assessed. Information is obtained from students' anonymous responses to questionnaires and recorded interviews. Program alumni are contacted annually to determine their current activities and career aspirations. The Leadership Program encourages program graduates to undertake careers in science and public health, yet an unanticipated number of alumni enter private veterinary practice. A factor relevant to that outcome is that many students destined for practice lack a definitive career plan. Persuading veterinary students to consider careers in research or public service is challenging but worth the effort. Critical to that connection is the need for veterinary students to objectively evaluate graduate training options because the vocations they follow appear to be strongly influenced by the experiences they choose.

Antimicrobial use for selected diseases in cats in Switzerland

BackgroundAntibiotic use in human and veterinary medicine is considered a main driver of antimicrobial resistance. Although guidelines to promote appropriate use of antimicrobials in veterinary patients have been developed, antibiotic overprescription is assumed to be a common problem. The goal of this study was to investigate antimicrobial use in cats in Switzerland with acute upper respiratory tract disease (aURTD), feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) and abscesses, and to assess compliance of prescription with consensus guidelines. A total of 776 cases (aURTD, n = 227; FLUTD, n = 333; abscesses, n = 216) presented to two university hospitals and 14 private veterinary practices in Switzerland during 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical history, diagnostic work-up and antimicrobial prescription (class, dosage, duration) were assessed.ResultsA total of 77% (aURTD), 60% (FLUTD) and 96% (abscesses) of the cases received antibiotic therapy; 13–24% received combination or serial therapy. The cats were treated for a median of 7 (abscesses) and 10 days (aURTD, FLUTD). Treatments with potentiated aminopenicillins (40–64%), third generation cephalosporins (25–28%), aminopenicillins (12–24%) and fluoroquinolones (3–13%) were most common. Prescriptions were judged in complete accordance with consensus guidelines in 22% (aURTD), 24% (FLUTD) and 17% (abscesses) of the cases. Antibiotics were prescribed although not indicated in 34% (aURTD), 14% (FLUTD) and 29% (abscesses) of the cases. The presence of lethargy, anorexia or fever in cats with aURTD, and the detection of bacteriuria in cats with FLUTD were significantly associated with antibiotic therapy. Although diagnostic work-up was significantly more common (aURTD: university hospitals, 58%; private practices, 1%; FLUTD: university hospitals, 92%; private practices, 27%) and the use of critically important antibiotics significantly less common at the university hospitals (aURTD, 10%; FLUTD, 14%) compared to private practices (aURTD, 38%; FLUTD, 54%), the frequency of antibiotic treatment was not different between the university hospitals and private practices.ConclusionsOur results indicate that overprescription of antibiotics in cats in Switzerland is common and accordance with guidelines is poor. The study highlights the need to promote antimicrobial stewardship in small animal medicine.

Pulmonary stenosis in a dog submitted to valvuloplasty

The Congenital heart diseases are characterized by morphological defects in the embryonic development and the most frequent in dogs are: pulmonary and aortic valve stenosis, ventricular septal defect and persistente ductus arteriosus.  They may occur asymptomatically or even evolve to congestive heart failure. The definitive diagnosis is made through the visualization of the alterations in the echocardiogram. In the present report, a French Bulldog, three month old, asymptomatic was presented to a private Veterinary practice in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cardiac auscultation evidenced a systolic heart murmur in tricuspid focus and diastolic murmur in pulmonary focus. To better evaluate the dog  chest radiography, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram were perfomed and  allowed the diagnosis of pulmonary stenosis. The clinical treatment with beta-blocker was installed and the surgical procedure was performed with the ballon valvuloplasty. The aim of this study was to report a case of pulmonary artery stenosis in a puppy, treated clinically and surgically, emphasizing the importance of the physical and complementary cardiological exams.

Animal welfare implications of treating wildlife in Australian veterinary practices.

To evaluate the extent, costs, demands and expectations of Australian veterinary practices in the treatment of wildlife, to identify potential risks to animal welfare based on the current situation and to propose recommendations for improvements. A survey was sent to all veterinary practices across Australia identified through the website Yellow Pages®. The survey was designed as a cross-sectional study. Data were collected using an online self-completed questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS 19.0. Of the 902 veterinary practices contacted, 132 (14.6%) completed the questionnaire. Most practices (82%) saw less than 10 wildlife patients per week, with birds and marsupials most commonly admitted. Vehicular trauma, trauma (other) and predation made up the majority (82%) of presentations. However, wildlife cases were only examined immediately upon presentation in 20% of practices, with 74% reporting they only attended to wildlife whenever they had spare time. The majority (90%) of veterinary practices never or rarely received reimbursement for their wildlife work, indicating most is performed pro bono. Several barriers to treatment were highlighted, including time and a lack of knowledge/skills. Private veterinary practices play a more significant role in wildlife treatment than has been previously thought. The effect of perceived barriers on willingness to treat wildlife requires further research. Further investigation into educational resources to aid veterinary assessment of wildlife should also be considered.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of preventive measures used against canine leishmaniasis in southern European countries: Longitudinal retrospective study in 1647 client-owned dogs (2012–2016)

The best preventive strategy for canine leishmaniasis is, to date, unknown. In the last few years, new preventive measures have become available in Europe, including vaccination against leishmaniasis and the use of domperidone. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the different preventive measures available against leishmaniasis in client-owned dogs.A database search of medical records was carried out in 52 private veterinary practices located in endemic areas of canine leishmaniasis in Spain, Italy and Portugal. Healthy seronegative dogs were included in the study. Serology was repeated at least 6 months later, and was used to retrospectively classify dogs into healthy, infected or sick.A total of 1647 dogs were included in the study. The use of preventive measures in this population was widespread. The single most utilized measure was repellents alone in 45.7% of dogs, followed by the combination of repellents and vaccination in 23.0%, repellents and domperidone in 11.3%, vaccination alone in 4.2%, vaccination and domperidone in 2.7%, domperidone alone in 2.3%, and the combination of the three measures in 0.2% of dogs. No preventive measure was applied in 10.7% dogs.The incidence of clinical leishmaniasis in the group with no preventive treatment applied was 12.5%. In the groups where prevention was applied, the reported incidence was the following: 10.1% for the vaccination only group, 4.5% for repellents only group, 4.0% for repellents + vaccination group, and 0.5% for repellents + domperidone group. No dogs in the groups of domperidone, vaccination + domperidone, and combination of the three measures developed clinical leishmaniasis. All preventive measures resulted in a significantly lower incidence of leishmaniasis compared to not applying any measure, except for vaccination alone. The majority of preventive strategies used, with exception of vaccination alone, decreased the incidence of leishmaniasis significantly.Adverse events, mild and self-limiting in most of the cases, were reported in 5.2% of dogs and were significantly more common in dogs following vaccination.In conclusion, this is the first large-scale field study investigating the efficacy and safety of the preventive measures used routinely against leishmaniasis in client-owned dogs. Most preventive strategies used, with exception of vaccination alone, had some benefit over not applying any preventive. In this field study, the use of repellents showed a good degree of protection in dogs living in endemic areas of canine leishmaniasis. Although lower numbers of dogs are included, the use of domperidone appeared to provide additional protection. The role of vaccination and its combination with other preventive strategies needs further study.