Shelter Medicine Research Articles

Predicting Dysfunctional Human–Dog Dyads

ABSTRACT Human–dog dyads represent a mutually beneficial partner- ship with a 16,000-year-old history. However, when this relationship becomes dysfunctional the consequences for the human, dog, and society at large can be severe. Canine members of dysfunctional dyads often display problem behaviors, such as aggression, and are frequently allowed to roam, becoming a public health concern. The cause of this dysfunction is multifactorial and includes human and canine personality factors as well as husbandry choices. By using our knowledge of these factors, there is a possibility of early identification of such pairings so that they can be corrected or even prevented. This study evaluated the factors that can contribute to the existence of dysfunctional human–dog dyads. Dog owners were asked to fill out questionnaires regarding their dog (general characteristics and the Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire) and themselves (general characteristics, education, family make-up, husbandry choices, and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised). A total of 255 responses were obtained and differences between the two dyad types were found in hus- bandry choices and in both human and dog personalities. Using these factors, logistic regression was performed, and two models were obtained that could allow for the early identification of dysfunctional dyads. These models could be used to develop targeted educational programs, to better match dogs to new owners within the context of shelter medicine and help better tailor patient care in a clinical context.

Development of International Learning Outcomes for Shelter Medicine in Veterinary Education: A Delphi Approach.

Shelter medicine is a veterinary discipline of growing importance. Formally accepted as a clinical specialty in the US in 2014, the practice of shelter medicine worldwide is expanding. As a topic in veterinary pre-registration (undergraduate) education, it is frequently used as an opportunity to teach primary care skills, but increasingly recognized as a subject worthy of teaching in its own right. The aim of this study was to use a Delphi consensus methodology to identify learning outcomes relevant to shelter medicine education. Shelter medicine educators worldwide in a variety of settings, including universities, non-governmental organizations and shelters were invited to participate. Participants were initially invited to share shelter medicine teaching materials. These were synthesized and formatted into Learning Outcomes (LOs) based on Bloom's taxonomy and organized into five subject-specific domains. Participants were then asked to develop and evaluate the identified LOs in two rounds of online surveys. Consensus was determined at > 80% of panelists selecting "agree" or "strongly agree" in response to the statement "please indicate whether you would advise that it should be included in a shelter medicine education program" for each LO. In the second survey, where re-wording of accepted LOs was suggested, preference was determined at > 50% agreement. Through this method, 102 agreed LOs have been identified and refined. These LOs, as well as those which did not reach consensus, are presented here. These are intended for use by shelter medicine educators worldwide, to enable and encourage the further development of this important veterinary discipline.

Publications

Editor of the recently published BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Shelter Medicine, Jenny Stavisky, considers the application of principles and practices of shelter medicine to general veterinary medicine in light of the current coronavirus pandemic.

Determinants of Salary for Veterinarians Employed in the Field of Shelter Medicine in the United States

Despite recent growth in the field of shelter medicine, there is a paucity of wage data available. Understanding determinants of salary is helpful for new graduates deciding on a career path as well as employees and employers with regard to budgeting, professional development, and negotiations. An anonymous online survey was distributed via commercial survey platform to shelter veterinarians. Salary was analyzed using multiple linear regression, Kruskall-Wallis equality-of-populations rank-test, and Conover-Iman pairwise comparison. Of the 219 unique respondents, 197 worked as shelter veterinarians, with 157 full-time and 40 part-time. Fifteen respondents worked in academia, and 7 respondents worked in shelter leadership. Full-time shelter veterinarians had a median income of $92,000 [$78,000-110,000], which is the same as the median salary reported for all veterinarians by the AVMA in 2018. Salary depended on years of shelter experience (P = .004), supervision of other veterinarians (P = .015), region (Southwest, P = .010, Mideast, P = .010, and Far West, P = .002) and size of the metropolitan area (>1 million, P = .001 and <250,000, P = .011). Part-time veterinarians had a median income of $60,000 [$44,000-84,000]. The only variable predictive of salary was hours worked, with part-time veterinarians paid a median of $48 [36-66] per hour. Academic veterinarians had a median income of $108,000 [90,000-120,000]. For academics, title (assistant professor, P <.0001 and professor, P = .001), PhD (P = .010), and master's (P= .001) predicted salary. Veterinarians working in leadership positions had a median income of $120,000 [110,000-198,000], and no variable was significant. Veterinarians employed in academia and leadership had a higher salary than veterinarians employed in the shelter. There are predictors of salary for shelter medicine veterinarians, which will help both potential employers and employees, determine reasonable salaries when budgeting, negotiating, or planning personal development.

Surveys of Salary, Benefits, and Job Responsibilities for Veterinarians Employed in the Field of Shelter Medicine in the United States Conducted in 2011 and 2018

According to American Veterinary Medical Association statistics, veterinarians employed in the not-for-profit sector account for the smallest group by type of employment. However, this group has experienced the greatest amount of change, with an increase of 52% between 2008 and 2013 and 55% between 2013 and 2018. Despite this growth, there has been a paucity of information regarding the salary, benefits, hours, and job duties that come with a career in shelter medicine. An initial survey of shelter medicine salary, benefits, hours, and job duties was conducted in 2011, and a similar survey conducted in 2018. All responses were anonymous. Results from 2018 were compared to 2011 using 2 sample test of proportions (counts) or Mann-Whitney (Wilcoxon rank sum) test (medians). A total of 207 conforming responses were received in 2011, and 219 in 2018. Median salary for all full-time veterinarians in the field of shelter medicine was $75,000 (interquartile range [IQR], 65,000-85,000) in 2011 and $94,500 (IQR, 80,000-110,000) in 2018. Part-time shelter employed veterinarians in 2011 worked a median of 20 hours (IQR 7-28) for an hourly rate of $41 (IQR, 29-56) while they worked a median of 26 hours (IQR, 15-32) for an hourly rate of $48 (IQR, 36-66) in 2018. There was an increase in the provision of all categories of benefits and an increase in veterinarians employed in academia and leadership. Demographics were similar, with the exception of increases in the number of boarded specialists and veterinarians who had completed a residency. Veterinarians reporting that shelter medicine had been offered in their curriculum increased by 44%. Budgets for shelters were reported to be higher, while animal intake and daily count of animals in care was lower. Comparison between surveys of shelter medicine veterinarians in 2011 and 2018 showed a consistent increase in salary, benefits and resources. There were indicators that the field of shelter medicine has matured as a discipline, particularly with regard to the availability of shelter medicine education and increased number of boarded specialists.

Improving Shelter Welfare with Online Training Focused on the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines

Shelter care of animals and shelter medicine are both a growing field with expectations of improved welfare for shelter animals. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) published The Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters in 2010. The ASV Guidelines outline minimum care expectations for shelters, using a ‘must,’ ‘should,’ and ‘ideal’ ranking. Frequently shelters have limited resources, staff with a variety of training or experience, and often only consulting veterinarians – or even no veterinary coverage in certain locations. The ASV Guidelines are open access, freely available, and provide a roadmap for skills expectations. We performed comprehensive training searches to determine how available training could be crafted to meet or exceed the ASV Guidelines. The search for internet training resources was moderately successful. While useful resources were discovered, many others known to be available by the authors were not included in the search results. This article reviews our search methodology, reporting what was found and identifying certain ‘missed’ training activities. We then outline a basic online training program which could address each major topic identified in the ASV Guidelines and offer encouragement for shelter managers seeking to enhance local training experiences.

Alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase and glycation inhibitory activity of Moringa oleifera extracts

Moringa oleifera is a source of food, shelter and traditional medicine for many people in developing countries. It is an exceptional source of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, lipids, carotenoids, flavonoids, sterols and phenolics. Owing to its diverse nutritional and phytochemical composition, it is widely consumed and used in therapeutics. In this study, the aqueous, methanol, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of M. oleifera seeds, leaves and roots were assessed for in vitro α-amylase, α-glucosidase and glucose-induced bovine serum albumin glycation inhibition. Findings indicate that methanol and hexane leaves extracts demonstrated highest α-amylase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 8.217 and 9.397 mg/ml respectively), though the activities were lower than that of acarbose (IC50 = 0.036 mg/ml). In contrast, hexane root extract exhibited optimal α-glucosidase inhibition and antiglycation effect (IC50 = 0.382 and 0.772 mg/ml, respectively). The extract activity was higher than that of acarbose (IC50 = 0.884 mg/ml), but lesser than rutin (IC50 = 0.199 mg/ml); which were the control for α-glucosidase inhibition and antiglycation studies respectively. In conclusion, suggesting its potentials in regulating postprandial blood glucose, and attenuating the production/accumulation of advanced glycation end product. Thus, M. oleifera extracts exhibited promising antidiabetic activity.

Shelter Medicine

Rachel Dean, Maggie Roberts and Jenny Stavisky, editors of the new BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Shelter Medicine, offer a useful insight into this latest addition to the BSAVA Manual series.

Evaluation on Shelter Medicine and Stray Animal Shelters in Turkey

Evaluation on Shelter Medicine and Stray Animal Shelters in Turkey

Collecting Forest Resources as Livelihood Strategies in Kampung Tambirat, Sarawak

A livelihood is a means of making a living, securing necessities of life such as water, shelter medicine and clothing. For communities dependent on forest resources for livelihoods, sustainability of forests are important. In Kampung Tambirat this study aims to find the income generated from forest resources particularly Nypah palm forests, the measures of conservation, challenges and type of assistance required so that the villagers engagement in the activities will flourish in the future and benefit the younger generations. It is found that there are no conservation measures for Nypah forests and seasonal floods further increases the difficulty for the villagers to sustain their livelihood activities.Keywords: Forest resources, livelihood strategies, Nypah forests, Sarawak, sustainability

Exploring the Effects of Participation in a Shelter Medicine Externship on Student Knowledge and Self-Confidence.

With the recognition of shelter medicine as a sub-discipline of veterinary medicine, many veterinary programs are including clinical shelter experiences in their curricula. A concurrent mixed-methods study was designed with the aim to determine the effectiveness of a 4-week clinical shelter medicine program on students' perception of canine and feline surgical proficiency and shelter medicine knowledge as well as gain information on student attitudes toward shelter medicine and interest in pursuing this career path. Year 4 veterinary students at Western University of Health Sciences who were enrolled in a shelter medicine externship from 2014 to 2016 were invited to complete pre- and post-course online surveys. Of the 168 enrolled students, 77.4% were invited to participate, and 114 completed the survey. There was no statistically significant difference in student veterinary career interest before and after completing the externship. There was an overall increase in student rating of their ability to perform six shelter medicine tasks as well as ovariohysterectomy/ovariectomy (OVH/OE) and castration surgeries after completing their externship; all were statistically significant ( p < .001). There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of students who were familiar with the Asilomar Accords and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters after completion of their externship ( p < .001). Students largely supported pediatric spay and neuter, stating it was an effective means of population control. Based on the themes that emerged from the qualitative analysis, it appeared most students had an accurate understanding of the term no-kill.

Clinically Prepared Veterinary Students: Enhancing Veterinary Student Hands-on Experiences and Supporting Hospital Caseload Using Shelter Medicine Program.

Referral-level medicine is important in the veterinary curriculum, however veterinary students also need a solid base knowledge of clinically relevant, routine surgical and diagnostic skills to be clinically prepared after graduation. Exposure to a referral-only, or primarily referral caseload, does not always provide veterinary students with the routine hands-on experiences and competencies expected by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Australian Veterinary Boards Council, or prospective employers. The aim of this descriptive study was to assess how a shelter medicine program can fill the companion animal caseload gap and create the necessary hands-on experiences considered essential in the veterinary curriculum. Pedagogical frameworks, course curriculum and design, student experiences, and student assessments were described for three core curricular areas (surgery, medical days, population medicine) of the Shelter Medicine Program at Mississippi State University. The shelter surgery experience provided a high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter environment where fourth-year students averaged 65 sterilization surgeries in two weeks and demonstrated a quantifiable decrease in surgical time. The shelter surgery experience added on average 9,000 small animal cases per year to the overall hospital caseload. Shelter medical days, where students provide veterinary care during on-site shelter visits, created opportunities for third-year students to directly interact with shelter animals by performing physical examinations and diagnostic testing, and to gain experience in developing treatment protocols and recommendations for commonly encountered problems. The shelter medical days experience averaged over 700 small animal cases per year and over 1,500 diagnostic procedures. Finally, students participated in 15 onsite shelter consultations where they obtained a working knowledge of biosecurity at a population level, including how to minimize the risk of infectious diseases spreading to healthy populations. Despite several challenges, results from this curricular program assessment support the aim that animal shelters and humane organizations offer opportunities that can be mutually beneficial for both animal organizations and veterinary students. The primary care caseload for the teaching institution was positively impacted, and students were better prepared to meet potential employers’ expectations and fulfill required core competencies in veterinary medical education.

Infectious enteritis in cats

Lisa Morrow and Allison German, contributors to the forthcoming BSAVA Manual of Shelter Medicine: Principles of Health and Welfare in A Multi-animal Environment, discuss how to recognize and manage parvovirus in cats in a shelter environment.

The In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Properties of Moringa oleifera.

Moringa oleifera, a fast-growing deciduous tree that is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, is well known for its abundant uses. The tree is a source of food, shelter, and traditional medicine for many people, especially in developing countries. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the various claims of traditional medicine practitioners that the moringa tree can improve health and treat various diseases. The tree has a high nutritional profile, especially the nutrient rich leaves. Some reports also support the use of parts of the tree to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. These attractive properties have led researchers to look for other novel uses for the moringa tree, especially as a source of anticancer drugs. Researchers have tested extracts from various parts of the moringa tree both in vitro and in vivo on several types of cancers with varying success. This review explores the state of current research on the anticancer properties of M. oleifera.

Opinions of UK Rescue Shelter and Rehoming Center Workers on the Problems Facing Their Industry

ABSTRACTAnimal shelters exist worldwide to care for and rehome unwanted or straying pets. Previous studies have examined why owners breed unwanted animals, or relinquish their pets to shelters. However, the views of shelter workers, who receive and care for these animals, have previously been largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of animal shelter workers on the problems facing their industry. A sampling frame was constructed, consisting of every identified shelter in the UK, and a postal questionnaire sent to each. This included two open questions, soliciting respondents’ views on their biggest problems, and inviting further comments. A total of 661 respondents replied to at least one question. Thematic analysis on the free text content was carried out, and basic and global themes identified. Respondents’ main concerns centered on a mismatch between the continuous demand for their services and their limited resources, which has worsened during the recent financial crisis. Respondents perceived a need for increased public awareness of the commitment involved in keeping a pet, and of controlling breeding by neutering. Points of intervention, such as education programs, were suggested. Coordinating efforts with others, including local authorities, landlords, and housing associations, and a potential role for veterinary professionals working in shelter medicine were all explored by respondents. Rehoming organizations play an important role in the management of pet overpopulation, and the views and beliefs of their workers form an important contribution to the dialogue surrounding this issue. Consideration of these perspectives may suggest alternative routes to address underlying causes and management of pet overpopulation.

In this issue – June 2017

In this issue – June 2017

Students' opinions on welfare and ethics issues for companion animals in Australian and New Zealand veterinary schools.

To determine what veterinary students in Australia and New Zealand consider important competences in companion animal welfare and ethics (AWE) required on their first day of practice, and to explore how their priorities relate to gender and stage of study. Undergraduate students at all veterinary schools in Australia and New Zealand were sent an online survey. A subset of questions required participants to rank the importance of preselected AWE topics pertaining to companion animals. Data were analysed to determine differences in the way students of different gender or academic stage prioritised each of these AWE topics. Of 3220 currently enrolled students, 851 participated in the survey: 79% were female, 17% male, 4% unspecified. Ranking of the AWE topics, from highest to lowest importance, was: neutering, companion animal husbandry, euthanasia, behaviour and training, animal breeding, over-servicing in relation to animal needs and cosmetic surgery. Female students consistently ranked competency in AWE issues surrounding neutering more highly than male students (P = 0.006). Students in senior years of study ranked the importance of competency in animal abuse/hoarding (P = 0.048), shelter medicine (P = 0.012) and animal breeding (P = 0.002) less highly than those in junior years. Australasian veterinary students placed more importance on competency in AWE issues associated with clinical practice (such as neutering and euthanasia) than on professional behaviours (such as over-servicing and animal breeding). However, we consider that emphasis should still be placed on developing graduate competency in the latter categories to reflect growing societal concerns about companion animal over-supply and inappropriate professional conduct.

Shelter medicine: a new especialty

Shelter Medicine is a new branch in Veterinary Medicine which aims to improve the health and welfare of animals that do not have a home and live at risk. The specialty was created in the United States of America (USA) with this denomination, and intended the population control of dogs and cats through sterilization, reintegration and socialization of abandoned animals, handling feral cats and control of common diseases in shelters. In this sense, Shelter Medicine proposes a solution to the rampant increase in the non domiciled animals population and, hence, the spread of zoonotic diseases. In addition, to improve the quality of life of those animals, by reducing the euthanasia procedures, damage to property and assault cases

A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Changing Student Confidence in an Online Shelter Medicine Course.

Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine offers comprehensive training in shelter medicine to veterinary students based on a set of core job skills identified by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. In 2012, this program began teaching online distance education courses to students and practicing veterinarians worldwide who sought additional training in this newly recognized specialty area. Distance learning is a novel educational strategy in veterinary medicine; most instruction at veterinary medical schools is classroom based. No previous studies have shown whether online courses can prepare veterinarians to practice shelter medicine. In this study, we investigated how an online, graduate-level course titled "Shelter Animal Physical Health" changed student self-reported confidence. First, we compared pre-course confidence regarding eight specific shelter medical practice scenarios to post-course confidence through statistical analysis. Quantitative analysis showed a significant (p<.001) increase in self-reported confidence for all eight scenarios. Next, we used open coding to identify themes within reflection papers that students were asked to write during the course and used those findings to corroborate or refute the quantitative results. Qualitative analysis of students' reflection papers identified six themes: confidence, communication, population management, outbreak management, medical care, and application. The results of this study show that distance education can be an effective method of preparing veterinarians and veterinary students to practice shelter medicine.

Evaluation of dermoscopy in the diagnosis of naturally occurring dermatophytosis in cats

A rapid, accurate screening test for dermatophytosis in cats is desirable in clinical and shelter medicine. In human dermatology, dermoscopy is used to identify dermatophyte-infected hairs by their characteristic comma hair appearance. Similar "comma-like" hairs have been observed in infected cats. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of dermoscopy for the diagnosis of naturally occurring dermatophytosis compared to fungal culture. A total of 67 cats were enrolled. This was a descriptive field study. All cats were evaluated by dermoscopy and fungal culture. Dermoscopy was performed with a hand held nonpolarized light dermoscope. Three dermatophyte pathogens were isolated via fungal cultures in 36 cats: Microsporum canis (n = 31), Microsporum gypseum (n = 3) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (n = 2). Dermoscopy was positive in 21 of 36 cats with culture-confirmed dermatophytosis. Dermoscopy may be a useful point-of care-test to identify infected hairs to sample for dermatophyte cultures, but a definitive diagnosis for dermatophytosis should be based on clinical signs and the results of multiple diagnostic tests.