Veterinary Profession Research Articles

Antimicrobial resistance: A significant public health issue of both human and veterinary concern

Abstract Introduction The discovery of antibiotics and the subsequent realization that these medications are the most effective treatments for a wide range of illnesses affecting the health of humans and animals constituted a revolution in medical history. Methods A review of the literature was done, looking for pertinent studies, using an explorative review method to discuss how the widespread use of antibiotics often led to bacterial resistance and antibiotic residue in food animals, which negatively impacted humans and animals. Results The study showed that treating bacterial resistance is a therapeutic challenge for physicians and veterinary professionals. Increased treatment failure rates, the severity of disease-causing infections, the frequency of blood infections, the length of time patients were sick, and the death rate in both humans and animals are all signs that the overuse of antibiotics is becoming a catastrophe. Discussion To prevent the negative effects of antibiotics in people, animals, and the environment, especially in developing nations, this article ends by recommending that strict guidelines, laws, and regulations regarding the use of antibiotics in clinical human and veterinary medicine be implemented. Concern must be expressed about the effects of inactivity on public health, both now and in the future. We may attempt to reverse the global resistance issue by increasing the use of antibiotics and reducing the frequency of resistance genes at all levels. Ultimately, the safety of animal products depends on the proper use of antibiotics in animal husbandry under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Fear free design guidelines: exploration of quantitative acoustic criteria

Fear Free(r) is an organization that is dedicated to changing the landscape of veterinary medicine by educating veterinary professionals, architects, engineers, and others about the importance of considering the psychological impact of the built environment on animals. By involving an interdisciplinary team of veterinarians, architects, animal behaviorists, and others, the Fear Free Hospital Design Guideline has been developed to inform the design of animal care facilities. In partnering with Siebein Acoustic, new quantitative criteria can potentially be included as part of the Fear Free Design Guideline. The first step in reducing noise within any animal care environment is prevention, reducing or eliminating the stressors that cause dogs to bark. Metrics for measuring acoustic control include Reverberation Time, alpha bar, STC ratings, requiring a Site Noise Study if located in a sensitive area, the use of OITC ratings for the exterior building skin and mechanical criteria for the specific space types that are typical of animal care facilities. These criteria have been drafted to provide quantitative performance criteria to complement the design efforts that Fear Free is undertaking to transform animal care environments into healthy, vibrant spaces that promote the well-being and safety of all occupants, animals and humans alike.

Impact of storage on sterility of surgical instruments in autoclave bags

Background: There is no published veterinary research to support an optimal storage duration and method of sterile surgical instrumentation (SI) when using self-seal autoclave bags (SSABs), although aspects of research from human healthcare are transferable. Multiple pieces of research in human healthcare have demonstrated the ability of sterilisation packaging materials to maintain barrier integrity and sterility for several months poststerilisation. Research on an optimal storage method is inconclusive. Aims: To determine an ideal storage duration and method of single SI, packaged in SSABs and sterilised via an autoclave. To determine the current practice of sterilisation, storage methods and durations using SSABs in small animal practice. Methods: This mixed methods study consisted of an online questionnaire to investigate the current procedures for autoclave sterilisation in veterinary practice. Alongside this, a non-randomised control study was conducted to assess the sterility of single SI, packaged in SSABs and sterilised via autoclave, to determine an ideal storage duration and method. SI was sterilised and stored for one, three and six months, in open (on a shelf) and closed (in a box) environments. Results: The questionnaire indicated veterinary professionals are adopting a cautious approach to storage durations with 75.5% (n=40) storing sterile single SI for between one and three months, prior to reprocessing. The experimental study did not identify an optimal storage method and either open or closed could be used for effective storage in undisturbed conditions. It is highly probable that most SI were sterile at the end of the storage durations and for up to 6 months. Conclusions: Laboratory findings are mostly consistent with those in existing literature. Results suggest the storage of sterile SI, in either open or closed environments for up to 6 months was not detrimental to the sterility of the instruments. To encourage good sustainability performance, practices could extend the storage times of sterilised SI prior to reprocessing.

Assessment of the quality of life of cats affected by paraparesis/paraplegia and urinary retention, and their impact on caregivers.

In cats affected by severe thoracolumbar spinal cord pathologies, paraplegia and paraparesis, often accompanied by urinary retention, pose significant challenges, impacting both the cats' welfare and owners' lives. This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) of cats affected by these conditions, and to evaluate the social and familial implications for caregivers. The study was structured into two parts. The first part comprised direct observations of aspects of QoL in cats both in household and shelter settings, while the second part involved the distribution of questionnaires to cat owners and shelter operators. Cats with paraplegia/paraparesis and urinary retention can maintain a good QoL, with hindlimb mobility significantly influencing QoL scores. Shelter cats showed a comparable QoL to household cats, challenging the anecdotal beliefs that shelter cats with severe neurological impairments are destined to lead substandard lives. Operator surveys highlighted the feasibility of managing these cats in shelter environments, emphasising the importance of collaboration between caregivers and veterinary professionals. Likewise, owner surveys revealed a manageable time commitment for care, with most owners achieving proficiency in manual bladder expression within 1 month. Despite challenges, most of the owners reported positive experiences and did not contemplate euthanasia for their cats. Regular veterinary visits and occasional physiotherapy were common practices among caregivers. Owners who respond to the questionnaire and shelter operators have a high commitment to cats with paraplegia/paraparesis. Although the study acknowledges this potential bias, it suggests that dedicated care can ensure a good QoL for cats with severe spinal injuries, both in shelter and household settings. Effective communication between caregivers and veterinary professionals is essential for accurate information dissemination and optimal care provision. This research contributes to raising awareness of managing these conditions and emphasises the importance of collaborative care approaches in veterinary medicine.

Psychological, physical, and professional impact on second victims in veterinary anaesthesia: a cross-sectional international survey - Part 1

ObjectiveTo investigate the psychological, physical and professional impact of veterinary patient safety incidents (PSIs) on veterinary anaesthesia professionals. Study designWe conducted an observational cross-sectional survey, inviting veterinary anaesthesiologists, anaesthesiologists in training and veterinary nurses/technicians through social media platforms from 2 June 2023 to 20 September, 2023. The questionnaire was based on Second Victim Experience and Support Survey (SVEST) and analysed using descriptive statistics and subscale scoring to assess psychological, physical and professional impacts. ResultsA total of 303 participants from 31 countries responded, including North (24%), Central (13.5%) and South America (25%), Europe (13.2%), UK (12.5%), Australia/New Zealand (8.1%) and Asia/Middle East (3.3%). A participation rate cannot be estimated. All respondents described themselves as second victims, with 70% encountering a PSI in the past 6 months. Of the 303 participants, 75% had direct involvement with the incident. Common post-incident challenges included an increased awareness for PSIs (67.1%), fear of new PSIs (62.7%), diminished confidence (56.1%), more defensive medicine practice (46.7%) and sleep disorders (43.3%). Additionally, 62.7% agreed or strongly agreed that they experienced embarrassment post-incident. After a PSI, approximately 69% of the participants reported feeling inadequate in their animal care abilities, and a similar percentage questioned their professional competence. Over half of the respondents (54.6%) became fearful of undertaking high-risk procedures. Approximately 38% of respondents considered leaving the field of anaesthesia, and over 56% harboured thoughts of leaving their job because of the stress from PSIs. Additionally, a significant proportion (69.8%) reported not taking time off work following PSIs. Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe study identifies a significant psychological, physical and professional impact on veterinary anaesthesia professionals, with notable effects on their emotional well-being and professional self-efficacy. The findings emphasize the need for supportive measures and interventions to mitigate the adverse effects experienced by these individuals.

Internet Addiction and its Effect on Sleepiness among Veterinary Professionals in Tamil Nadu

Internet Addiction and its Effect on Sleepiness among Veterinary Professionals in Tamil Nadu

Intoxicação de canídeo doméstico por ingestão de Espada de São Jorge

Saint George's sword (Sansevieria trifasciata) is a plant with elongated leaves and of rhizomatous characteristics that is easily adaptable to different environments. It naturally produces chemical substances such as saponins, alkaloids and calcium oxalate to maintain its vital functions or as a defense mechanism. When ingested in high doses by dogs, they can pose a health risk, as they can cause gastrointestinal, liver and kidney damage, and even lead to the death of these animals. This is a descriptive study of the narrative literature review type, with the main objective of investigating and understanding the poisoning of domestic canines from ingestion of Saint George's sword, offering theoretical support to veterinary health professionals in identifying and treating occurrences, and understanding the potential damage that its components can cause to the animal’s organism if ingested, thus improving life expectancy and the prognosis, in addition to aiding in prevention through access to information. During this work’s implementation, it was observed that technical literature on the subject was scarce and that the majority of cases of canine poisoning occur due to the owners' lack of knowledge regarding the toxicity of the plant, and thus not considering any means of prevention. This work was carried out based on extensive searches on the PubMed, Scielo, ResearchGate and Google Scholar platforms, using keywords such as “gastrointestinal disorders”, “ornamental plants” and “toxic plant”.

Clients prefer collaborative decision-making with veterinarians regardless of appointment type.

To determine clients' preferences for veterinarians' communication during decision-making in relation to 3 clinical contexts: preventive care, general problem (eg, illness or injury), and urgent appointments. A cross-sectional online questionnaire was distributed by use of snowball sampling to veterinary clients owning a pet. Demographic information was collected, and participants were then randomly assigned to a scenario reflecting one of the following clinical contexts (appointment types): preventive, general problem, or urgent. Discrete choice exercises were used to solicit client preferences for 5 aspects of veterinarians' communication approach to decision-making with clients in clinical contexts: amount of information, presentation of plan (options or a recommendation), communication of value, nature of client involvement, and communication of financial cost. Relative-preference scores were calculated using hierarchical bayesian modeling. Responses for 1,614 participants were included in the final analysis. The majority were female, lived in Canada, and were financially stable. Across clinical decision-making contexts, participants preferred to collaborate with the veterinarian, be offered options with a clear recommendation, be informed of present and future costs, and have benefits of any action regarding their pet's health explained to them. For the general-problem context, participants preferred veterinarians' communication to focus solely on concerns; in contrast, in preventive care and urgent contexts, participants preferred that communication include both normal findings and concerns. Irrespective of clinical decision-making context, participants preferred collaborative decision-making with a veterinarian. Veterinary professionals should consider, when possible, communication that supports a collaborative approach to decision-making with clients.

How to Design a Biomonitoring Study – A Practical Guide for Veterinary Professionals under a One Health Approach

Currently, veterinarians can see their daily practice and medical tasks as constant opportunities for passive surveillance of One Health threats, such as infectious zoonotic diseases and chemical pollution effects on living beings. The present study aimed to provide a practical guide to designing a biomonitoring study during veterinary clinical practice without time-consuming procedures or significant costs. The constant access to several species' specimens provides the necessary samples to perform a biomonitoring study of environmental pollutants at the regional or national level. Generally, most health professionals know what to do (or where to find information) to report a disease outbreak. However, a summarized background to perform a biomonitoring study of a chemical hazard is missing. The authors of the current study provided a flow chart with the main steps to conduct a biomonitoring study in different fields of veterinary medicine. Thus, a biomonitoring study might give veterinarians (as other health professionals) a positive contribution to the clinical cases’ resolution, while improving the general knowledge about the impact of environmental contamination on animals and human health.

Veterinary Evidence: moving forward

Unrecognised and unknown information needs can significantly impact on the quality of decision making, advice, and patient care. In the practice of veterinary medicine, additional information may be required in one or more of epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, control (risk reduction), and prevention (risk avoidance), in order to optimise patient care. Veterinary Evidence publishes Knowledge Summaries, which aim to answer a specific and focused clinical query by appraising the best available evidence published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. By presenting the evidence in a structured and easily digestible format, Knowledge Summaries enable veterinary professionals to stay informed and apply the best available evidence to their decision-making. To assist in the identification of unrecognised deficits and the generation of clinical queries Veterinary Evidence has developed a list of common conditions for each species, alongside the different categories of information. The aim is to prompt and support the generation of new clinical queries in a more systematic format. This resource sits alongside our species-based lists of clinical queries that have already been suggested by practicing veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and other paraprofessionals (see veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/clinical-queries). We hope readers and prospective authors will use these resources to generate new clinical queries or as a starting point for writing their own Knowledge Summaries. Most of the papers published in Veterinary Evidence are Knowledge Summaries, but the journal has always accepted and will continue to accept and encourage other types of reviews and original research that provide evidence to inform clinical practice. For example, in this issue we have published a commentary paper by Professor Jonathan Elliott regarding the processes and evidence required for the registration of veterinary medicinal products which provides some important insights and debate into the publication of evidential information (Elliott, 2024). A Knowledge Summary may not always be the best format to synthesise and summarise evidence on a multifaceted topic; scoping reviews, systematic reviews, or narrative reviews maybe more appropriate. Munn et al. (2018) provide a useful account of scoping reviews and how they differ from traditional literature and systematic reviews. In particular, we are keen to receive articles on artificial intelligence applications, sustainability, and quality improvement in clinical practice, as the impact and importance of these topics grows. We are also making some changes to the presentation of Knowledge Summaries in Veterinary Evidence, to help readers more easily understand the details and context of the summarised evidence. In order to support everyone in appraising and understanding quantitative clinical studies, we will be publishing a glossary and guidance on basic statistical terms and tests on the journal website.

An exploratory examination of the symptoms of moral injury and posttraumatic growth in veterinary professionals following exposure to potentially morally injurious events

Through their occupational role, veterinary professionals are regularly exposed to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs). These events can elicit negative (pathogenic) psychological outcomes of moral distress. However, PMIEs can also result in positive (salutogenic) outcomes of posttraumatic growth. Both outcomes are characterised by specific symptomology that is suggestive of a pathogenic or salutogenic trajectory. This study employed data from 194 veterinary professionals from Australia and New Zealand and sought to examine symptoms experienced by professionals following exposure to PMIEs. Respondents reported more symptoms of moral distress than posttraumatic growth following PMIE exposure. Negative symptoms included both affective and work-related factors including consideration of leaving the profession, while positive factors included increased confidence, personal growth, and staff cohesion. Potential factors contributing to the disparity in salutogenic and pathogenic outcomes are discussed. An integrated approach comprising both individual- and organisation-level factors is recommended to facilitate more salutogenic outcomes for veterinary professionals following PMIE exposure.

Raw meat diets are a major risk factor for carriage of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant and multidrug-resistant E. coli by dogs in the UK.

Raw-meat diets (RMD) for dogs, comprising unprocessed or non-heat-treated animal material, are increasingly popular. However, RMDs have been demonstrated to be contaminated with antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria, and there is concern that such diets may pose a zoonotic disease risk. Additionally, dogs fed RMD may shed more AMR- fecal bacteria compared to those fed conventional cooked diets. Data from the UK remain limited; the present study investigated the presence of AMR-Escherichia coli in the feces of RMD and non-RMD (NRMD)-fed dogs in the UK, the E. coli AMR gene complement, and the lifestyle risk factors associated with AMR- E. coli carriage. Fecal samples from UK-owned dogs (N = 193 RMD, N = 239 NRMD) and questionnaires discussing lifestyle factors, were obtained between October 2020-August 2021. Samples underwent culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing to determine the presence of AMR-E. coli. Whole genome sequencing determined AMR gene carriage. Risk factors for the presence of AMR-E. coli were determined by multivariable modeling. RMD dogs carried significantly more fecal AMR E. coli (p < 0.001), including third-generation cephalosporin resistant, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing, and multidrug resistant isolates and multivariable modeling confirmed raw-meat diets to be a significant risk factor. The bla CTX-M-15 gene was the most frequently identified bla ESBL gene. The bla CTX-M-55 and bla SHV-66 genes were also prevalent and were only found in RMD dogs. The mobile colistin resistance gene, mcr-4 was identified in one ESBL-producing E. coli isolate from a NRMD-fed dog. This study has shown that dogs fed RMD in the UK are significantly more likely to shed E. coli which is resistant to highest priority critically important antibiotics, and multidrug resistant E. coli, than dogs fed NRMD. Additionally, AMR-E. coli isolates from RMD-fed dogs harbor multiple, diverse, and novel AMR genes. Therefore, provision of RMD to dogs could pose an important potential threat to human and animal health, especially given the close nature of the relationship many owners share with their pets. Awareness of these findings should be shared with pet owners, veterinary and medical professionals, pet food manufacturers and public health to mitigate potential risks.

"Microbiology can be . . . " Student Competition to Develop Resources about Infectious Diseases that Improve Health Literacy.

The European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education emphasizes the importance of communication skills and teamwork for student success in clinical practice. Traditionally, many veterinary curricula lacked standardized formal training in acquiring these essential skills.Effective communication and collaborative teamwork are not only crucial for fulfilling the clinical responsibilities of the veterinary profession but also play a pivotal role in the broader societal context. Veterinarians, in their social role, serve as scientific communicators for the community. This role involves conveying scientific concepts, even complex ones, with a particular emphasis on their significance for public health, reaching a diverse audience. Currently, there is a growing public health necessity to improve health literacy, which refers to the ability to access, understand, appraise, and use information to support healthy choices by society, especially for topics like infectious diseases and vaccination. This became more evident during the global COVID-19 pandemic. This teaching tip describes the development, organization, and broad outcomes of a student competition introduced during a standard veterinary medicine course to design novel resources on microbiology and infectious disease-enhancing health literacy. Three separate events were organized during the academic years 2020-2023. The third-year veterinary medicine students attending the 3-month course on infectious diseases of small animals participated in a student competition aimed at promoting creativity and innovation. Their task was to develop novel resources that delivered informative content to the public concerning microbiology and infectious diseases. Participation was voluntary and students participated in groups of 5-6. Overall, 125 students created 22 projects on microbiology and infectious diseases that were able to enhance health literacy. This approach allowed students to engage with the content and convey foundational knowledge to others in an easily accessible way. This skill of communicating with the public using easy-to-understand language is essential for success in the veterinary medicine profession. The resources produced, such as drawings, comics, games, and videos, constitute informative sources. Thus, they were published online on a scientific journal to disseminate knowledge of infectious diseases to a broader audience.

RVN's perceptions of confidence levels of veterinary professionals when assessing pain in rabbits

RVN's perceptions of confidence levels of veterinary professionals when assessing pain in rabbits

Video-based compilation of acute pain behaviours in cats.

The aim of this work was to create a video-based compilation of acute pain behaviours in cats as an open-access online resource for training of veterinary health professionals. A database comprising 60 h of video recordings of cats was used. Videos were previously recorded after ethical approval and written client consent forms, and involved cats with different types (eg, medical, surgical, trauma, orofacial) and degrees (eg, from no pain to severe pain) of acute pain, before and after surgery or the administration of analgesia. The database included videos of cats of different coat colours, ages, sex and breeds. Video selection was based on a published ethogram of acute pain behaviours in cats. Videos were selected by one observer (SM) according to their definition and quality, followed by a second round of screening by two observers (SM and PVS). Video editing included a standardised template (ie, watermark and titles). A total of 24 videos (mean length 33 ± 17 s) with each acute pain-related behaviour described in the ethogram were uploaded to an open-access online video-sharing platform (http://www.youtube.com/@Steagalllaboratory) with an individual hyperlink. Videos were provided with a short description of the behaviour for the public. This video-based compilation may promote better training of veterinary health professionals on acute pain assessment while improving feline health and welfare and the understanding of cat behaviours.

A Review On Human Brucellosis: An Important Occupational Hazard

Human brucellosis is a re-emerging and neglected zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp., with Brucella melitensis being the principal cause worldwide. Despite the disease's prevalence, serological surveillance is not routinely practiced, even in countries where Brucella is endemic. Although eradication efforts have been successful in many developed and developing countries, brucellosis continues to pose a significant health risk to both animals and humans. Transmission to humans occurs by direct or indirect contact with infected animals or their products. Veterinary professionals, especially those conducting per-vaginal examinations without proper protective gear, and animal handlers are particularly vulnerable to infection. The pathogenesis of brucellosis is complex, involving bacterial invasion of host cells, immune evasion, and the potential for chronic infection. In humans, brucellosis often becomes chronic, but in acute cases, it presents as undulant fever with nonspecific symptoms. To reduce morbidity and mortality, early diagnosis and timely antibiotic treatment are most important. For diagnosis of Brucella spp. reliable, rapid, sensitive, specific, easy-to-perform, and automated detection systems are urgently required. Currently, there is no safe and effective vaccine available for humans. Prevention relies on controlling the disease in domestic livestock, primarily through mass vaccination, effective heat treatment of dairy products, and hygienic precautions to minimize occupational exposure. Treatment requires prolonged antibiotic therapy with a combination of drugs. To control human brucellosis, awareness programs, safe livestock practices, and timely diagnosis are essential

An Epidemiologic Study of Bacterial Culture and Antibiotic Susceptibility Analyses in Captive Macaques and Marmosets at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a growing public health threat that arises at the interface between animal, human, and environmental health. Although the pathways promoting the development of AMR are well characterized in human health settings, data within the veterinary medical world are less abundant, particularly from fields focusing on nontraditional species, such as nonhuman primates (NHPs). The purpose of this study was to describe trends in sample submission for bacterial culture, characterize patterns of microbial growth and any changes in AMR and susceptibility over time, and inform best practices for veterinary antimicrobial stewardship in a captively-housed, indoor NHP colony. Electronic health records from the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center were analyzed across a 10-y period using SAS Studio. There was an increasing pattern of sample submissions for culture and susceptibility analyses, with no corresponding increases in resistance to relevant antibiotics for potential zoonotic pathogens, such as Escherichia coli or Shigella species. Trends are suggestive of appropriate antimicrobial stewardship practices that were responsive to the medical needs of Wisconsin National Primate Research Center animals, as well as the needs of the larger research community at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. These findings can inform veterinary professionals working with NHPs and contribute to the growing body of literature surrounding AMR in nontraditional species.

Zoonoses in the Indian Poultry Sector and Prospect of One Health Approach as a Sustainable Solution: A Review

The Indian poultry sector has witnessed noticeable amplification in recent years. Still, it has also been plagued by the emergence of zoonotic diseases, posing significant threats to public health, food security, and the economy. This abstract explores the alarming rise of zoonotic diseases in the Indian poultry industry and highlights the urgent need for a One Health approach to address emerging challenges. The One Health framework, which emphasizes the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health, holds promise as a sustainable solution to mitigate zoonotic epidemics in the poultry sector. This study reviews the challenges, potential benefits, and key considerations associated with implementing the One Health approach in India, emphasizing its role in preventing and controlling zoonotic outbreaks in poultry birds, improving bird welfare, and fostering sustainable operation in the poultry industry thereby securing human and environmental health and well-being. It underscores the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, veterinary and medical professionals, and the poultry industry, to promote a holistic and resilient approach to zoonoses management.

BRUSH Summer Research Program: Promoting Science Identity in Underrepresented Veterinary and Undergraduate Students.

While all facets of the health care workforce need to diversify, the veterinary profession lags behind in training students from underrepresented populations. The need to increase diversity among health care professionals is not limited to clinicians but extends to those generating new information through biomedical research. To address demographic disparities within the biomedical research community, we provide a summer research program for veterinary and undergraduate students from populations historically underrepresented in the biomedical workforce that is explicitly designed to foster science identity and subsequently increase participants' interest and success in pursuing biomedical research-related educational and career paths. We hypothesized that participation in this program would enhance science identity, confidence, and pursuit of research-related education and subsequent careers. Three validated survey instruments containing qualitative ordered rating scales were administered to program participants (N = 57) over the course of the summer in which they participated (2018-2022). Questions asked at two time points were analyzed with a repeated-measures linear mixed-effects model. Significant growth was reported in most topics surveyed over time. Many queries within gains, confidence, and science identity modules displayed significant increases over time or scored high in surveys at both time points. In addition, post-graduate educational and career outcomes were obtained for alumni (N = 130) of program years 2011-2023; their post-graduate enrollment rates (78%) markedly exceeded national norms. This multidimensional experiential research program, which holistically fosters professional networking and student confidence in research-related endeavors, provides quantifiable growth in research skills and science identity. These gains support students' persistence in research and biomedical-related educational and career paths.

Development and Implementation of a Veterinary Spectrum of Care Clinical Rotation Aligned with the CBVE Model.

Spectrum of care (SOC) has recently been described in the literature, yet it is not an entirely new concept within the veterinary profession. Practitioners in general veterinary practice have long needed to provide a broad range of unique care options for their patients and clients, particularly those for whom referral is not possible. More recently, graduates and their employers have reported that new veterinarians often lack the competence and confidence to provide a broad array of care options, while training in ever more specialized tertiary-referral environments. To better prepare veterinary learners to cope with the variable nature of general veterinary practice and to better meet employer demands, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine purposefully backward designed learning experiences in a new outcomes-based curriculum so that SOC is emphasized and aligned with the foundation offered by the Competency-Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) model. A unique set of subcompetencies and educational goals were collaboratively developed and used to define a new final year rotation, with additional input provided by an advisory panel of practicing SOC veterinarians from private practice. Ideal caseload characteristics, case numbers, appointment length, daily activities, and other elements were defined, and final year student performance was monitored during implementation to assess progress in meeting key developmental milestones. Incorporating spectrum of care training at The Ohio State University shows promise for developing confidence and competence in new graduates, while also increasing their skills, and perhaps improving their mental health.