Veterinary Clients Research Articles

Cytotoxic Chemotherapy: New Players, New Tactics

Veterinary clients often seek the same new and innovative cancer treatment options for their companion animals that they read about in the press or on the Internet. It is, therefore, necessary for the practitioner to have an understanding of the development of new and innovative cytotoxic drugs and delivery techniques. This article describes the drug development process and how a new product eventually finds its way into clinical use. Some of the newer drugs and delivery techniques applied to small animals are reviewed.

Curriculum Development in The Netherlands: Introduction of Tracks in the 2001 Curriculum of Utrecht University, The Netherlands

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht has recently introduced two major curriculum changes in order to keep pace with developments in research (the vast increase in scientific knowledge), in society (the quality awareness of veterinary clients), and in the veterinary profession, where a species and sector differentiation can be observed. After about 15 years during which the curriculum remained more or less unchanged, a radical curriculum revision was introduced in 1995. A further revision, with the introduction of separate study tracks, began in 2001. The 2001 curriculum focuses on academic and scientific training, active learning and problem solving, training in communication and professional behavior, and lifelong learning. It is divided into a four-year core curriculum, in which a broad, cross-species pathobiological insight is central, and a two-year track curriculum, through which students achieve a starting competence in a specific species or sector. The main teaching methods are tutorials and group tasks; practical work is used mainly to achieve specific veterinary skills. Teaching hours represent 30-35% of all study hours. Self-teaching is encouraged by providing study materials, self-teaching questions, teachers assigned to assist with self-teaching, and adequate facilities. The five tracks offered are Companion Animals/Equine; Food Animals; Veterinary Public Health; Veterinary Research; and Veterinary Administration and Management. All students follow a uniform 30-week clinical rotation program, while the track program is 42 weeks. A summary of admission procedures is given, as well as the times and procedures for track selection.

Death of a Companion Cat or Dog and Human Bereavement: Psychosocial Variables

AbstractThis study found that death depression, general depression, and positive attitudes toward, and attachment to, companion animals were associated with greater grief following the death of cats and dogs both in a veterinary client group who had recently lost their companion animals and in a college student group with a history of companion animal loss. The correlations of both the above variables and the demographic and death circumstance variables tended to be higher with the veterinary clients. Death of a dog by accident as opposed to illness correlated .81 with extended grief in the veterinary clients. Not having their dogs euthanized correlated .70 with extended grief in this group as well.

Demographic and aggressive characteristics of dogs in a general veterinary caseload

A retrospective cross-sectional survey of dog-owning veterinary clients was undertaken in 1996 in the three Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, to generate a population of dogs for future use in a more detailed survey on canine behaviour. The questionnaire was designed to detect which dogs had or had not bitten a person living in the same household, and included both demographic and behaviour questions. Twenty veterinary clinics were enlisted to administer the questionnaire to their clientele. Data was collected on 3226 dogs, a response rate of 81.4%. Dogs were predominantly purebred (60.1%) and neutered (71.6%). The Labrador Retriever was the most commonly reported of 110 breeds. There were slightly more female than male dogs, and significantly more female dogs were neutered ( P<0.001). Questions elicited information about three forms of aggression: growling, possessive aggression, and biting. The reported frequencies of aggression problems were significantly associated with age, gender, neuter status, and breed. Biting behaviour was reported for 15.6% of all dogs. The highest frequency of biting was reported for dogs less than 1 year of age. Relative to intact female dogs of at least 1 year of age, the odds ratio for having bitten a member of the household was highest for neutered male dogs (OR: 3.23; 95% CI: 1.83–5.71), followed by neutered female dogs (OR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.21–3.75). Similar trends were seen for growling and possessive aggression. Our results indicate that excellent response rates can be achieved in behavioural research by utilising general veterinary practices and their clientele, that canine aggression in a household setting is a frequent problem, and that the relationship between neutering and behaviour warrants further investigation.

Feline Aortic Thromboemboli and the Potential Utility of Thrombolytic Therapy with Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Feline aortic thromboembolism is a common and devastating clinical condition for which there is presently no effective therapy. Thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator represents a promising, relatively noninvasive method for resolution of the clinical syndrome. In clinical trials in man, tissue plasminogen activator is proving to have advantages over previously available thrombolytic agents. Previously available thrombolytic agents require intensive monitoring and commonly cause complications that entail large monetary and manpower costs to monitor and control. Being specific for thrombus-associated plasminogen, t-PA enables more safe and effective thrombolysis without the hazards previously associated with thrombolytic therapy. In cats with aortic thromboemboli, early clinical trials are promising with regard to acute thrombolytic efficacy but raise questions concerning the risks and benefits of therapy and will require more controlled studies. It is estimated that t-PA therapy for a cat with aortic thromboemboli will cost approximately +500 to +1500, including hospitalization and drugs. This compares favorably with what most veterinary clients are willing to spend for quality veterinary care. However, before we can look upon t-PA therapy as a useful therapeutic advance, we must consider the etiopathogenesis and probability of rethrombosis. The results of controlled studies have not been published, but it is generally considered that there is a high probability of recurrence in cats. Fifty per cent of cats treated with t-PA have rethrombosed despite aspirin therapy at the recommended dose of 25 mg per kg every third day. Finding a cure for feline myocardial diseases (cardiomyopathies) and/or an effective method for safely anticoagulating cats at risk would help justify the monetary and manpower costs associated with thrombolytic therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)