Survey Of Veterinarians Research Articles

Survey of veterinarians who use pentobarbital for euthanasia suggests knowledge gaps regarding animal disposal.

To assess (1) veterinarians' knowledge and practices regarding disposal of euthanized animals, (2) the extent to which veterinarians communicate with their clients about potential risks of rendering pentobarbital-euthanized animals, and (3) the extent to which veterinarians communicate potential relay toxicosis and environmental risks of pentobarbital-euthanized animals to clients. A stratified random sample of AVMA members. Over a 3-week period in early 2021, 16,831 of the AVMA's 99,500 members were surveyed, with 2,093 responses (a 12% response rate). Respondents were assigned to 1 of 3 categories on the basis of their answers: veterinarians euthanizing only food-producing species, veterinarians euthanizing only non-food-producing species, and veterinarians euthanizing both food-producing and non-food-producing species (ie, veterinarians euthanizing mixed species). Veterinarians responding to this survey appeared to be aware of the major methods of animal disposal, and about 89% reported communicating the method of euthanasia with clients to help ensure appropriate animal disposal. However, the need for additional education on local, state, and federal laws and rendering, as well as on risks of relay toxicosis including wildlife predation and environmental impacts, was reported. Survey results identified gaps in veterinarians' knowledge regarding animal disposal following pentobarbital euthanasia. Further education on this topic may be beneficial, particularly for early- and midcareer veterinarians who euthanize non-food-producing species and for veterinarians who euthanize mixed species in urban and suburban communities.

Using qualitative methods to explore farmers' antimicrobial use decisions through a more detailed lens.

Veterinary RecordVolume 192, Issue 12 p. 479-480 Research comment Using qualitative methods to explore farmers' antimicrobial use decisions through a more detailed lens Lucy Coyne, Corresponding Author Lucy Coyne [email protected] National Office for Animal Health, Stevenage, UKSearch for more papers by this author Lucy Coyne, Corresponding Author Lucy Coyne [email protected] National Office for Animal Health, Stevenage, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: 16 June 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3192Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. References 1Shallcross LJ, Davies SC. Antibiotic overuse: a key driver of antimicrobial resistance. Br J Gen Pract 2014; 64: 604– 5 2Xie T, Liu W, Anderson BD, et al. A system dynamics approach to understanding the One Health concept. PLoS One 2017; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184430 3 HM Government. Tackling antimicrobial resistance 2019–2024: the UK's five-year national action plan. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1070263/UK_AMR_5_year_national_action_plan.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 4 Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. Targets task force report 2020. http://ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/RUMA-REPORT-021220.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 5 Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. Antibiotic use in cattle: dairy trend data and usage by beef farm type 2015–2019. https://ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Antibiotic-Use-in-Cattle-Report.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 6 Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. RUMA targets task force 2: two years on. https://www.ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/RUMA-TTF-Report-2022-FINAL-FINAL.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 7Jorritsma R, Van der Heide A, Van Geijlswijk IM. Survey of veterinarians in the Netherlands on antimicrobial use for surgical prophylaxis in dairy practice. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104: 9106– 14 8Padda H, Wemette M, Safi AG, et al. New York State dairy veterinarians' perceptions of antibiotic use and resistance: a qualitative interview study. Prev Vet Med 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105428 9Pate LA, Milne CE, McMorran R, et al. Factors influencing Scottish dairy farmers' antibiotic use. Vet Rec 2023; doi: 10.1002/vetr.2997 10Hamilton W, Bosworth G, Ruto E. Entrepreneurial younger farmers and the ‘young farmer problem’ in England. Agric For 2015; 62: 61– 9 11Morris W, Henley A, Dowell D. Farm diversification, entrepreneurship and technology adoption: analysis of upland farmers in Wales. J Rural Stud 2017; 53: 132– 43 12Thelwall M, Nevill T. Is research with qualitative data more prevalent and impactful now? Interviews, case studies, focus groups and ethnographies. Libr Inf Sci Res 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.lisr.2021.101094 13Christley R, Perkins E. Researching hard-to-reach areas of knowledge: qualitative research in veterinary science. Equine Vet J 2010; 42: 285– 6 14Reschovsky JD, Rich EC, Lake TK. Factors contributing to variations in physicians' use of evidence at the point of care: a conceptual model. J Gen Intern Med 2015; 30(Suppl 3): S555– 61 Volume192, Issue1217 June–1 July 2023Pages 479-480 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Cross-sectional survey of barriers and opportunities for engaging backyard poultry producers and veterinarians in addressing poultry health

Aims To assess the current level of engagement between backyard poultry keepers and veterinarians in New Zealand; to understand the opportunities and barriers for improving access to poultry health care; and to gauge the interest of backyard poultry keepers in participating in a voluntary national poultry health information system. Materials and methods Backyard poultry were defined as any bird species kept for non-commercial purposes. Separate cross-sectional surveys were administered to backyard poultry keepers and veterinarians in New Zealand over 12-week periods starting 22 March 2021 and 03 May 2021 respectively. The veterinarian survey was advertised in the monthly update e-mail from the Veterinary Council of New Zealand, while the survey for backyard poultry keepers was advertised on various online platforms that focus on raising backyard poultry. Results for quantitative variables were reported as basic descriptive statistics, while qualitative free-text responses from open-ended questions were explored using thematic analysis. Results A total of 125 backyard poultry keepers and 35 veterinarians completed the survey. Almost half (56/125; 44.8%) of backyard poultry keepers reported that they had never taken their birds to a veterinarian, with common reasons being difficulty finding a veterinarian, cost of treatment, and perceptions that most visits result in the bird being euthanised. The majority (113/125; 90.4%) of backyard poultry keepers reported that a general internet search was their primary source for poultry health advice. However, it remains unclear if owners were satisfied with the advice found online, as many cited that having access to reliable health information would be an incentive for registering with a poultry health information system. Of the veterinarian responses, 29/35 (82.9%) reported treating an increasing number of poultry in the last 5 years, although many (27/35; 77.1%) suggested they would be hesitant to increase their poultry caseload due to concerns over their lack of knowledge and confidence in poultry medicine; a lack of clinic resources to treat poultry; concerns over the cost-effectiveness of treatments; and a general feeling of helplessness when treating poultry, with most consultations being for end-stage disease and euthanasia. Conclusion The results of this study highlight opportunities for increased engagement between backyard poultry keepers and veterinarians, including making available accurate poultry health information and providing veterinarians with improved training in poultry medicine. The results also support the development of a poultry health information system in New Zealand to further enhance health and welfare in backyard poultry populations.

Welfare worries: a preliminary, cross-sectional study of general practice, small animal veterinarians perceptions and management of canine and feline behaviour problems.

Behavioural disease is one of the leading reasons for euthanasia in shelter dogs and cats. Information acquired via a survey of veterinarians (n=59) was used to understand the way canine and feline behaviour problems are viewed and managed by nonshelter, small animal general practice veterinarians. Participants (20%, n=12) felt that the following diseases were more of a welfare issue than behaviour problems: food sensitivity, osteoarthritis, puppy/kitten farms, skin disease, nutritional disease, parasitic disease, dental disease, obesity, in-breeding, over-population, neoplasia, greyhound racing, hyperthyroidism and renal disease. Behaviour problems in dogs and cats were not ranked in the top four welfare problems by 40% (n=23) of respondents. Behaviour case follow-up was poorer than physical health case follow-up. Respondents (20%, n=12) felt that veterinarians should 'possibly' be able to identify behaviour problems in dogs and cats, and 54% (n=32) felt that this was 'absolutely' their professional responsibility. Twelve percent (n=7) would reschedule behaviour appointments that had been booked in for them. Behaviour was more likely to be seen as a welfare issue by more experienced veterinarians and also, those with shelter experience. Half of respondents felt reluctant to discuss behaviour problems with clients because of deficiencies in behaviour knowledge. Eighty percent (n=47) felt their education equipped them poorly or extremely poorly in dealing with behaviour problems in dogs and cats. Consideration should be given for the inclusion of adequate behavioural medicine content in veterinary medicine curriculum to allow for graduates to possess a basic level of training and competency in this discipline.

Relative perceptions of prevalence, impact and importance of photosensitisation in Australian livestock: A survey of veterinarians, livestock traders and livestock producers.

AimsTo investigate the relative differences in the perceptions and awareness of outbreaks of photosensitisation in Australian livestock stakeholders, including veterinarians, livestock traders and producers.MethodsA questionnaire was developed and circulated to livestock veterinarians, producers and traders in Australia via email addresses obtained from public access sources. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate participants' awareness and perception of health, welfare, and production issues associated with outbreaks of photosensitisation and towards the incidence and importance of photosensitisation in livestock.ResultsOne hundred and twenty‐eight online responses were received in total. Nearly half of the respondents (49.0%) indicated they would encounter 1–3 outbreaks annually. The majority of veterinarian and livestock producers stated that outbreaks of photosensitisation were common and economically important, with cattle and sheep being equally considered as susceptible species to this condition, and secondary (hepatogeneous) photosensitisation is the most common type.ConclusionThis survey confirms the anecdotal evidence that photosensitisation in livestock in Australia is commonly encountered by veterinarians and livestock producers. However, there is no industry‐wide common acceptance of the issue, broader opinions should be canvassed when considering impacts on stakeholders regarding photosensitisation outbreaks in livestock in Australia or abroad in the future.

Prevalence and characteristics of cannabis-induced toxicoses in pets: Results from a survey of veterinarians in North America.

Cannabis legalization in North America has coincided with an increase in reports of cannabis-induced toxicosis in pets, but the magnitude of this problem, as well as outcomes of these incidents remain unknown. Therefore, we examined the frequency, diagnostic criteria, clinical signs, and prognoses of cannabis toxicoses in pets in North America. We conducted an online survey between January, 2021 and April, 2021 targeting veterinarians practicing in Canada and the United States (US). Out of the 251 study participants, 191 practiced in Canada. Cannabis toxicosis was most commonly reported in dogs (n = 226 veterinarians), and the number of toxicosis cases increased significantly in Canada (p<0.0001) and the US (p = 0.002) after October, 2018. Frequently reported clinical signs of cannabis toxicosis included: urinary incontinence (n = 195), disorientation (n = 182), ataxia (n = 178), lethargy (n = 150), hyperesthesia (n = 134), and bradycardia (n = 112). Edibles were most commonly suspected to be the cause of toxicosis (n = 116). The most common route of exposure was ingestion (n = 135), while the most cited reason was ingestion while unattended (n = 135). Cannabis toxicosis was mostly diagnosed using supportive clinical signs (n = 229), the most common treatment was outpatient monitoring (n = 182), and pets were most often treated as out-patients (n = 103). The legalization of cannabis use in Canada and the US is likely an important factor associated with the increased cannabis toxicosis cases in pets; however, the legal status may also increase reporting. The medicinal use of cannabis by pet-owners for pets may also contribute to a portion of the reported toxicoses. Most pets that experienced cannabis toxicosis recovered completely, suggesting that most cannabis toxicoses do not result in long-term ill effects. Even though some deaths (n = 16) were reported in association with cannabis toxicosis, the presence of confounders such as toxins, and underlying conditions cannot be ruled out, emphasizing the need for rigorous controlled laboratory studies to investigate this important issue.

Antimicrobial use on Australian dairy cattle farms – A survey of veterinarians

AimsThe aims of this study were to determine antimicrobial prescription patterns and the factors affecting antimicrobial selection amongst Australian dairy veterinarians. MethodsA structured questionnaire was administered to Australian dairy cattle veterinarians using the Qualtrics online survey platform. Questions focused on their (1) demographics; (2) opinions surrounding antimicrobial use, resistance, and stewardship; (3) decision-making drivers of both prescription and selection of commonly prescribed antimicrobials; (4) awareness on the guidelines for antimicrobial usage and sources of information concerning antimicrobials. Key resultsA total of 135 responses (14.1% response rate) from all eight dairying regions in Australia were received. The attitudes, perceptions, and concerns of dairy veterinarians towards antimicrobials indicated a high agreement regarding label indications (96%), consequences of off-label prescription (95%), and the presence of an antimicrobial resistance (AMR) risk (73%), when prescribing antibiotics. A four-dimensional categorical principal components analysis (CATPCA) model indicated most of the variation in opinion was due to AMR risk, trade-offs, prescription concerns and active substance concerns. The first active substance most dairy veterinarians chose for a scenario involving mastitis and dry cow therapy (DCT) treatment was cloxacillin. Decision-making drivers for antimicrobial choice when providing advice regarding the supply of antimicrobials for mastitis and DCT treatment were predominately clinical factors; however, diagnostics were rarely used in determining antimicrobial choice due to cost of implementation, diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity), and benefit issues. Non-clinical decision-making drivers included the perception of practicality for Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) prescription guidelines, opinions surrounding AMR risk and prescription concerns, consideration of Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (EAGAR) scores, number of years worked with dairy farms, and the number of dairy farms they regularly consult for. When available at the practice, prescription policies were considered to impact on animal welfare outcomes and on the probability of AMR emergence. The major information sources influencing decision making on antimicrobial prescription for the Australian dairy veterinarians were clinical experience (93%) and product labels (81%). ConclusionsAustralian dairy veterinarians are generally aware of the risk of resistance to antimicrobials and the need for stewardship, with clinical factors having the most impact on antimicrobial prescription. However, non-clinical factors incorporating awareness of guidelines and their attitudes on antimicrobial resistance risk and prescription concerns impact on the choice and prescription of antimicrobials. ImplicationsThe development of prescription policy and guidelines, alongside effective communicative extension programs to increase veterinarian uptake, provides an avenue to mitigate AMR risk in Australian dairy cattle.

A survey of veterinarians' practices, recommendations and perceptions associated with the prevention of tetanus in horses in Australia.

Identify veterinarians' practices, recommendations and perceptions when preventing tetanus in horses in Australia. Graduated members of Equine Veterinarians Australia participated in an online survey about the prevention of tetanus in horses in Australia. Of 77 respondents (response rate ~ 8%), 50 (65%) reported that they had attended collectively 145-152 cases of tetanus in horses in Australia (1.1 cases of tetanus observed/10 veterinarian-years since qualification). The estimated case fatality rate (CFR) was at least 79%. Puncture wounds were most frequently suspected as the entry point (32%; n=47). Five respondents (7%) reported cases of localised tetanus. Three respondents reported generalised tetanus within 2 weeks of tetanus antitoxin (TAT) administration. Respondents did not report any cases of tetanus in horses which had been vaccinated according to manufacturer's recommendations. All respondents recommended vaccination, but over 50% (N=45) stated 'lack of veterinary recommendation' as often or sometimes a reason why clients did not vaccinate horses. Opinions varied on the use of TAT for peri-exposure prophylaxis; 67% of respondents dosed TAT independent of body weight, with the rest dosing according to body weight. Cases of Theiler's disease related to the use of TAT were not reported in Australia by respondents. The caseload of equine tetanus appears relatively low among equine veterinarians in Australia. Consistent with the literature, estimated CFR was high. Respondents' recommendations and perceptions about tetanus vaccination were generally consistent but varied regarding TAT usage. Evidence for TAT usage is limited and we recommend studies of TAT efficacy in horses.

Survey of veterinarians in the Netherlands on antimicrobial use for surgical prophylaxis in dairy practice

There is increased concern about the selection pressure of antimicrobial use (AMU) in humans as well in farm animals resulting in antimicrobial (AM) resistance. The introduction of monitoring of AMU in food-producing animals since 2011 has led to a considerable quantitative reduction of AMU in those animal species in the Netherlands. This survey was conducted to explore the possibilities to improve prudent use of AM in the cattle industry. We sent an online questionnaire to 373 veterinarians and asked which antimicrobial prophylaxis they used for their most recently performed cesarean section (CS) and left displaced abomasum (LDA) correction. With a response rate of 30%, we found that older graduates used more AM for CS than recently graduated veterinarians (odds ratio = 2.4 to 2.7 depending on category), whereas antimicrobial prophylaxis in LDA surgeries was significantly different for the available surgical correction methods. The results indicate that the respondents do not adjust the surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis for different conditions of the patient or the environment; 37 (38%) respondents consider that the risks of contamination are similar for CS and LDA. In CS and all LDA correction methods preoperative prophylaxis was significantly less often applied than postoperative antimicrobial treatments (odds ratio = 0.05 and 0.08, respectively). When preoperative prophylaxis was applied, the choice of (combinations of) the AM and the timing of administration were not adequate at the start of the surgical procedure (88% for CS and 90% for LDA). We conclude that considerable qualitative (timing, choice of antimicrobial, route of administration) and quantitative (limit AMU to indicated procedures) improvement on antimicrobial prophylaxis for CS and LDA is possible by appreciation of the risks of the type of surgery (CS, LDA) and its conditions as well as by selecting classes of AM and timing and routes of administration that result in effective drug concentrations at the start of the procedure.

Torn between responsibility and loyalty: how the veterinarian profession designs antibiotic resistance policies that shake its foundations

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) policies, which aim to redefine how antibiotics are used, reshape the veterinary profession’s relationships in at least two ways. The policies can give state veterinarians greater power over practising veterinarians and thus change the relationship between the profession and the government supposed to regulate it. The policies also call for coordination with other relevant professionals, mainly in the areas of human medicine and food safety, which can limit the veterinary profession’s autonomous decision-making. Based on a survey of veterinarians working at different levels of the administration and their non-veterinary colleagues in Switzerland, it is shown that AMR policies, by strengthening the administration’s planning and supervisory functions, do contribute to increased state control of the veterinary profession. However, this shift is limited because implementing the policies requires negotiating with representatives of the profession.

Cross-sectional survey of surgical techniques used to perform dog and cat spays in New Zealand veterinary practice

ABSTRACTAims: To describe the variation in surgical techniques used by veterinarians to perform routine dog and cat spays in first-opinion veterinary practice in New Zealand, and how these techniques differed with the number of years since the veterinarian graduated.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of veterinarians registered to practice in New Zealand was conducted online between 1 April and 30 May 2018. Respondents were asked their year of graduation and about the procedures, they would use to perform a routine spay of a healthy, 5 kg, young adult, female domestic shorthair cat, and a healthy, 20 kg, young adult, female mixed-breed dog. The number of years since graduation was calculated by subtracting the reported year of graduation from 2018.Results: Overall, 282 respondents provided details about dog spays, and 361 about cat spays, and the median number of years since graduation was 14 (min 0, max 50). Only 54/282 (19.1%) respondents performing dog spays and 43/361 (11.9%) performing cat spays wore a surgical cap, gown, mask, and gloves. For dog spays, 278 (98.6%) respondents used a ventral midline approach and 147 (52.1%) used manual exteriorisation of the uterus. Most used two clamps (168; 59.6%) and used two encircling ligatures (152; 53.9%) for removal of the uterus. For cat spays, 254 (70.4%) respondents used a ventral midline approach and 313 (86.7%) used a spay hook for exteriorising the uterus. Most used two clamps (250; 69.3%) with one encircling ligature (213; 59.0%) for removal of the uterus. Simple interrupted external or intradermal patterns were mostly used for skin closure for both dog and cat spays. For cat spays, the percentage of respondents using the ventral midline approach decreased with increasing years since graduation (p < 0.001). For both dog and cat spays, the percentage of respondents using two encircling ligatures and transfixation ligation of the uterus, and using a simple continuous suture pattern for the closure of the abdomen, decreased with number of years since graduation (p < 0.05).Conclusions and clinical relevance: Veterinarians responding to this survey used a wide range of techniques to perform routine dog and cat spays, some of which were associated with the number of years since graduation. It may be beneficial to provide veterinarians with resources to reflect on their current approaches for performing routine spays. However further research is needed to determine whether any surgical techniques are superior to others.

A survey of veterinarians’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding an emerging disease: Coccidioidomycosis in Washington State

Coccidioides immitis is an emerging fungal pathogen in Washington State (WA). While the geographical boundaries of C. immitis in WA have not been well characterized, human infections have resulted from exposure in the south-central region of the state. Since 2010, only one dog has been identified as a probable locally acquired animal case, despite pilot canine serological surveys from south-central WA revealing a 9.8% seroprevalence. On the suspicion that clinical animal cases may be underdiagnosed and/or underreported, we assessed WA veterinarians' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding coccidioidomycosis. All veterinarians with active licenses in WA were invited to complete a self-administered, web-based survey from November 2018 to January 2019. Four hundred and twenty-five of 2,211 (19.2%) veterinarians returned the survey and were eligible for inclusion in the final analysis. Nearly, all respondents (98.8%) had heard of coccidioidomycosis, but only 31.5% and 25.6% knew that locally acquired animal and human cases, respectively, had been reported in WA. Only half (52.6%) of participants knew that the disease was reportable. Fewer than 20% of respondents reported confidence that their knowledge of coccidioidomycosis was up to date, and 76.9% "never" or "rarely" considered the risk of disease in their patients. A statistically significant predictor of a high knowledge score (≥70%), however, included practicing in endemic counties where the Washington State Department of Health had previously delivered outreach and education services. While the results suggest some success with these activities, it is clear that information on the emergence of coccidioidomycosis is not adequately reaching veterinary practitioners in WA. The data support that more frequent CE opportunities, and dissemination of public health communications through veterinary-specific modalities, would help fill the knowledge gap. In turn, improved diagnosis and reporting of animal cases would assist in our overall understanding the epidemiology of coccidioidomycosis in WA.

Welfare-Adjusted Life Years (WALY): A novel metric of animal welfare that combines the impacts of impaired welfare and abbreviated lifespan.

Currently, separate measures are used to estimate the impact of animal diseases on mortality and animal welfare. This article introduces a novel metric, the Welfare-Adjusted Life Year (WALY), to estimate disease impact by combining welfare compromise and premature death components. Adapting the Disability-Adjusted Life Year approach used in human health audits, we propose WALY as the sum of a) the years lived with impaired welfare due to a particular cause and b) the years of life lost due to the premature death from the same cause. The years lived with impaired welfare are the product of the average duration of each welfare impediment, reflecting the actual condition that compromises animal welfare, the probability of an incident case developing and impaired welfare weights, representing the degree of impaired welfare. The years of life lost are calculated using the standard expected lifespan at the time of premature death. To demonstrate the concept, we estimated WALYs for 10 common canine diseases, namely mitral valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, atopic dermatitis, splenic haemangiosarcoma, appendicular osteosarcoma, cranial cruciate ligament disease, thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease and cervical spondylomyelopathy. A survey of veterinarians (n = 61) was conducted to elicit impaired welfare weights for 35 welfare impediments. Paired comparison was the primary method to elicit weights, whereas visual analogue scale and time trade-off approaches rescaled these weights onto the desired scale, from 0 (the optimal welfare imaginable) to 1 (the worst welfare imaginable). WALYs for the 10 diseases were then estimated using the impaired welfare weights and published epidemiological data on disease impacts. Welfare impediment “amputation: one limb” and “respiratory distress” had the lowest and highest impaired welfare weights at 0.134 and 0.796, rescaled with a visual analogue scale, and 0.117 and 0.857, rescaled with time trade-off. Among the 10 diseases, thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease and atopic dermatitis had the smallest and greatest adverse impact on dogs with WALYs at 2.83 (95% UI: 1.54–3.94) and 9.73 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 7.17–11.8), respectively. This study developed the WALY metric and demonstrated that it summarises welfare compromise as perceived by humans and total impact of diseases in individual animals. The WALY can potentially be used for prioritisation of disease eradication and control programs, quantification of population welfare and longitudinal surveillance of animal welfare in companion animals and may possibly be extended to production animals.

Survey of Veterinarians Using a Novel Physical Compression Squeeze Procedure in the Management of Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome in Foals.

Simple SummaryNeonatal foals must pass key milestones for survival such as standing and sucking from the mare shortly after birth. A condition known as neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS), or “dummy foal syndrome”, is characterized by failure to stand, suck, and follow their mare, putting them at risk of malnourishment, infection, and death. NMS had been presumed to be exclusively caused by low oxygen in the foal during the perinatal period. More recently, however, our group demonstrated the presence of neuroactive steroids in foals that exhibited the altered behavior and consciousness characteristic of the disorder. It has been hypothesized that signaling the transition from the in utero unconscious state to extrauterine consciousness may involve labor-induced physical compression (squeezing). During normal birth, foals experience such physical compression for approximately 20 min during stage-2 labor. Current medical treatments for NMS are symptomatic and supportive, which may require 2–7 days of veterinary care. Anecdotal evidence demonstrated that a novel physical compression (squeeze method) that applies 20 min of sustained pressure to the chest of neonatal foals exhibiting this syndrome might rapidly hasten recovery. This survey compares reported outcomes of medical therapy alone to this squeeze procedure with or without medical therapy. The results revealed some foals that received the squeeze procedure recovered faster than those that received medical therapy only.Horses are a precocious species that must accomplish several milestones that are critical to survival in the immediate post-birth period for their survival. One essential milestone is the successful transition from the intrauterine unconsciousness to an extrauterine state of consciousness or awareness. This transition involves a complex withdrawal of consciousness inhibitors and an increase in neuroactivating factors that support awareness. This process involves neuroactive hormones as well as inputs related to factors such as cold, visual, olfactory, and auditory stimuli. One factor not previously considered in this birth transition is a yet unreported direct neural reflex response to labor-induced physical compression of the fetus in the birth canal (squeezing). Neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS) is a disorder of the newborn foal characterized by altered behavior, low affinity for the mare, poor awareness of the environment, failure to bond to the mother, abnormal sucking, and other neurologically-based abnormalities. This syndrome has been associated with altered events during birth, and was believed to be caused exclusively by hypoxia and ischemia. However, recent findings revealed an association of the NMS syndrome with the persistence of high concentrations of in utero neuromodulating hormones (neurosteroids) in the postnatal period. Anecdotal evidence demonstrated that a novel physical compression (squeeze) method that applies 20 min of sustained pressure to the thorax of some neonatal foals with this syndrome might rapidly hasten recovery. This survey provides information about outcomes and time frames to recovery comparing neonatal foals that were given this squeeze treatment to foals treated with routine medical therapy alone. Results revealed that the squeeze procedure, when applied for 20 min, resulted in a faster full recovery of some foals diagnosed with NMS. The adjunctive use of a non-invasive squeeze method may improve animal welfare by hastening recovery and foal–mare interactions that minimize health problems. This would also avoid or reduce costs arising from hospitalization associated with veterinary and nursing care that sometimes leads owners to elect for euthanasia.

Honey, an unexplored topical wound dressing agent in Nigerian veterinary practice

This paper presents an overview of honey as a wound dressing agent, its mechanism of action, selected cases of wounds managed with honey and a survey of veterinarians’ perception and usage of honey for wound management in Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were administered to veterinary practitioners predominantly in Southwest Nigeria to evaluate their awareness, usage and concerns about honey as a wound dressing agent. Case reports of animal patients’ wounds managed with honey are presented in a logical fashion to showcase honey efficacy in wound management. There was remarkable healing with honey in the cases managed. Many of the respondents did not consider honey as first choice in wound management and availability of pure honey is a major concern expressed with honey use. More veterinarians in Nigeria should use honey for its high efficacy and cost effectiveness in the management of animal wounds.Keywords: Awareness, Dressing agents, Efficacy, Honey, Wound

La profession vétérinaire en Europe

The veterinary profession in Europe. The survey of veterinarians across Europe received 13000 responses from 24 FVE members. The results establish 243000 veterinarians who care for 157 million companion animals and 342 million cattle, sheep, pigs and goats. It is a young profession with 44 % veterinarians aged under 40, and an equal profession with a near balance of male and female. Veterinary medicine is flexible where 17 % are working part time, while 21 % have at least two different jobs. Unemployment is low, 3 %. It results that veterinarians are satisfied with their choice of career. Veterinary practice is the most important area of employment. Veterinarians feel confident about their prospects. They believe that more veterinarians will be needed in the areas of animal welfare, disease control and environment. But too many veterinarians are emerging, with insufficient skills to perform daily tasks, and need of specialization.

Methods and Variables Associated with the Risk of Septic Arthritis Following Intra-Articular Injections in Horses: A Survey of Veterinarians.

To determine common methods for intra-articular injections and variables associated with the risk of septic arthritis following intra-articular injection in the horse. Cross-sectional survey. Equine veterinarians. A link to an online survey was distributed to equine practitioners in 2014. Responses for descriptive data were tabulated. Data on infection rates obtained from medical records were analyzed. Variables associated with the risk of septic arthritis were determined using χ2 or Fisher's exact tests and logistic regression. Common current methods for intra-articular injections were determined from 241 surveys. Sixty-four of 241 surveys (26.6%) contained data with numbers of joints injected and number of infections obtained from review of medical records. Eight different injection methods were used by more than 2/3 of responding veterinarians. A total of 67 out of 319,760 injected joints reported became septic following injection, giving an incidence of 2.10 septic joints per 10,000 intra-articular injections. Based on multivariate analysis, infection rates were significantly lower when veterinarians prepared their own injection sites (OR=0.10) and had <20 years of practice experience (OR=0.025), whereas infection rates were significantly higher when hair was removed at the injection site (OR=19.70). There is a low incidence of septic arthritis following intra-articular injection and a large number of injection methods reported by responding veterinarians. The low reported incidence of infection may be related to the large number of practitioners frequently using common methods.

A Survey of Veterinarians’ Attitudes toward Euthanasia of Companion Animals in Japan

ABSTRACTThis study investigated veterinarians’ attitudes toward euthanasia of companion animals in Japan. A nationwide survey was conducted with 932 veterinarians in small animal practices. It examined the number of times they administered euthanasia, their moral criteria for choosing euthanasia for animals, and their behavioral criteria for suggesting euthanasia to owners. According to the data analyses, on average the veterinarians administered euthanasia 2.48 times a year. For many veterinarians, two conditions were necessary to justify euthanasia for animals: “the animals are incurable and suffering” and “the owners request to euthanize the animals.” In the absence of either condition, the veterinarians were inclined to disapprove of choosing euthanasia. If the owners requested further treatment, 67% showed clear disapproval of choosing euthanasia for animals with serious medical conditions. Meanwhile, more than 76% showed clear disapproval of euthanizing healthy animals when the owners requested it. These results indicate that the owners’ request takes precedence over the animals’ condition for suffering animals, but not for healthy animals. For animals with serious medical conditions, 56% of the veterinarians answered that they would or might suggest euthanasia to the owners even though the owners requested further treatment. In this situation, for some veterinarians, the animals’ condition rather than the owners’ request might become a determinant in suggesting euthanasia to owners, even if their moral judgments were against choosing euthanasia for the animals. A decrease in the owners’ or the animals’ quality of life and the owners’ inability to pay were not primary factors in choosing or suggesting euthanasia. Having an experience of euthanizing their own animals was a key factor for the veterinarians which increased not only the number of times they administered euthanasia but also the degree of their moral approval of choosing euthanasia and their behavioral willingness to suggest it to owners.

Survey of veterinarians' perceptions of borreliosis in North Carolina

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the practices and perceptions of veterinarians in North Carolina regarding borreliosis in dogs in various geographic regions of the state. DESIGN--Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE--Data from 208 completed surveys. PROCEDURES--Surveys were distributed to veterinary clinics throughout North Carolina. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize perceptions pertaining to borreliosis among dogs in North Carolina. RESULts--A significantly higher proportion of responding veterinarians believed that borreliosis was endemic in the coastal (67.2%) and Piedmont (60.9%) areas of North Carolina, compared with more western regions (37.5%). The 3 variables found to be significantly different between the northern and southern regions of the state were the estimated number of borreliosis cases diagnosed by each responding veterinary clinic during the past year, the perception of borreliosis endemicity, and the perceptions related to the likelihood of a dog acquiring borreliosis in the state. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE--Veterinarians' perception of the risk of borreliosis in North Carolina was consistent with recent scientific reports pertaining to geographic expansion of borreliosis in the state. As knowledge of the epidemiological features of borreliosis in North Carolina continues to evolve, veterinarians should promote routine screening of dogs for Borrelia burgdorferi exposure as a simple, inexpensive form of surveillance that can be used to better educate their clients on the threat of transmission of borreliosis in this transitional geographic region.

Survey of veterinarians in 6 US states regarding their experience with nursing beef calf respiratory disease

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of death of nursing beef calves 3 weeks of age and older, but little is known regarding risk factors for calf BRD. The objective of this survey was to describe observations and practices relevant to calf BRD by veterinarians in cow-calf practice. Recipients in Eastern (Georgia, Florida, and West Virginia) and Plains (Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska) states were asked to complete an on-line questionnaire regarding events occurring between August 2011 and July 2012. A total of 574 veterinarians were solicited to participate; 61 (10.6%) returned responses suitable for inclusion, with an equivalent proportion responding from both regions. Respondents reported that 18% of their cow-calf clients recognized cases of nursing-calf BRD in the previous year, and 14% of their clients had at least 1 calf die of BRD. Infectious agents identified by antemortem or postmortem testing included Mannheimia haemolytica (60% of respondents); Pasteurella multocida (53%); Mycoplasma bovis (37%); bovine respiratory syncytial virus (33%); and bovine viral diarrhea virus (33%). Of responding veterinarians, 80% recommended or administered treatment for an outbreak of nursing-calf BRD in the previous year. Routine administration of respiratory vaccines to nursing beef calves was recommended by 87% of respondents. Respondents identified a variety of risk factors as potentially associated with calf BRD. Two of these, "introduction of cattle from outside sources" and "occurrence of diarrhea in calves", were also significantly associated with nursing-calf BRD in a previous survey of producers in the same states.