Veterinary Technicians Research Articles

Increased efficiency could lessen the need for more staff in companion animal practice.

To evaluate technical efficiency of US companion animal practices. 60 independently owned companion animal practices selected from the 2022 AVMA Veterinary Practice Owners Survey. A ratio of the weighted sum of outputs to weighted sum of inputs was computed for each practice (ie, decision-making unit [DMU]). Inputs included labor (hours worked) and capital (fixed costs and number of exam rooms). Outputs (or production) included annual gross revenue, number of patients seen per year, and number of appointment slots per full-time-equivalent (FTE) veterinarian per year. Data envelopment analysis was used to optimize the ratio and estimate relative efficiency (RE) scores. 25 (42%) practices were classified as having high efficiency (RE = 1 or 100% efficient), 26 (43%) as having moderate efficiency (RE > 0.7 but < 1.0), and 9 (15%) as having low efficiency (RE ≤ 0.7). Mean RE scores for moderate- and low-efficiency practices were 0.83 and 0.66, meaning they could have reached their current production levels with 17% or 34% less resources. Per the model, if all 60 practices were 100% efficient on the RE scale, 22 fewer FTE veterinarians, 47 fewer FTE veterinary technicians and assistants, and 43 fewer FTE nonmedical staff would be needed overall. These preliminary findings suggested that efforts to optimize efficiency could allow companion animal practices to meet demands for their services without necessarily needing to hire more staff. Such efforts might include engaging support staff to their full potential and implementing automated processes. Additional research is needed to identify routines or workflows that distinguish high-efficiency practices from others.

Nursing strategies for the mechanically ventilated patient.

The goal of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary review of the best nursing practices of caring for mechanically ventilated patients. By reviewing human medicine literature, the authors will extrapolate procedures that have been found to be most effective in reducing the risk of mechanical ventilation (MV) complications. Paired with review of the current standards in veterinary medicine, the authors will compile the best practice information on mechanically ventilated patient care, which will serve as a detailed resource for the veterinary nursing staff. Written from a nursing standpoint, this manuscript aims to consolidate the nursing assessment of a mechanically ventilated patient, addressing both systemic and physical changes that may be encountered during hospitalization. The goal of this review article is to present information that encourages a proactive approach to nursing care by focusing on understanding the effects of polypharmacy, hemodynamic changes associated with MV, complications of recumbent patient care, and sources of hospital acquired infections. When applied in conjunction with the more technical aspects of MV, this manuscript will allow veterinary technicians involved in these cases to understand the dynamic challenges that mechanically ventilated patients present, provide guidance to mitigate risk, address issues quickly and effectively, and create an up-to date standard of practice that can be implemented.

Pet owners provide a more reliable weight estimate for dogs compared to veterinary professionals in an emergency setting.

To determine the accuracy of pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers (interns and residents), and attending clinicians at estimating dog weights in a veterinary emergency room. 272 dogs weighing over 2 kg presenting to the emergency room between June 1 and July 29, 2022. Pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers, and attending clinicians recorded the dogs' weight estimations on individual data collection cards. Pet owners were also asked to estimate their dogs' weight during the triage period. The dogs' actual weights were then obtained and recorded. Pet owners were more accurate than veterinary professionals at providing weight estimates for dogs. Weight estimates were accurate to within 10% of the dogs' actual weights for 67.9% (181/267) of pet owners. Forty-one percent (112/270) of attending clinicians, 35.3% (95/269) of house officers, and 35.4% (96/271) of veterinary technicians' weight estimates were within 10% of the dog's actual weight. There was no difference noted in the length of veterinary experience and ability to closely estimate the patient's weight. Overall, veterinary professionals were more likely to closely estimate the weight of large dogs compared to small dogs. The pet owner is most likely to provide an accurate weight for dogs and questions about the dog's weight should be directed to the client for situations in which a weight cannot be rapidly obtained.

Benefits of using LVTs/assistants in food animal medicine

&#x0D; The use of veterinary technicians or veterinary assistants in food animal medicine, especially cow-calf medicine, is highly underutilized, and is an area that should be more thoroughly explored. Often, bovine veterinarians bring no help for chute side activities such as bangs vaccinating, pregnancy diagnosis, ultrasound, breeding soundness exams, and routine vaccina­tion of cattle. A very obvious benefit to bringing a technician to the field is increased efficiency of work, as most procedures at the chute are often where activities take place that ultimately decrease pace. That being said, many other benefits of bring­ing trained help often go unrecognized, such as quality of chute side activities, increased client/clinic relationship, and most importantly, value-added services. With the rise in lay people diagnosing pregnancies and conducting breeding soundness exams, adding perceived value is crucial in maintaining high-value services in your clinic, as well as separating ourselves from the lay person.

A Study of Lumpy Skin Disease in Cattles: Epidemic Disease in Pakistan

Lumpy dermatitis (LSD) is a widespread illness that affects farm animals, including water-based cattle.The illness is caused by LSD, the disease which is part of the Poxiviridae family Capripox genera. Skin wounds are considered the most common site of infection because the virus can survive for a long time in a wound or scab. LSD's initial medical applications were described in 1929 in Zimbabwe. This skin disease has also had an impact on Pakistan; several animal farms in Karachi have infected large numbers of animals, and 190,000 instances were recently documented across the country, with over 7,500 deaths attributed to disease. LSD has a huge impact on Pakistan's economic condition, resulting in livestock loss and reduced milk production. The Ministry of Research and the Security of Food in Pakistan has organised a task force to create a plan for controlling the spread of disease to cows &amp; buffaloes. Awareness initiatives should include both private and government veterinary technicians, the two areas and abattoirs, vet students, cultivators, livestock merchants, livestock transporters, and artificial insemination.

Trap, Snip, Repeat: Cat Overpopulation and Gendered Labour in a Feral Sterilisation Programme

Cat overpopulation in Toronto, Canada, is a serious and growing problem. Small, and frequently isolated, groups of volunteers work in a variety of capacities to help mitigate the large numbers of litters produced by stray and feral cats. One such organisation is Toronto Street Cats. This volunteer group works with the help of the Toronto Humane Society to operate a monthly trap/neuter/release (TNR) programme. Groups of caretakers look after registered feral cat colonies and capture cats of breeding age. Once a month these cats are sterilised, vaccinated, treated for parasites, and microchipped in an evening-long marathon. Volunteers in veterinary medicine (registered veterinary technicians [RVTs], veterinary assistants and veterinarians) comprise the medical staff who provide treatment and perform the assembly-line surgeries. Post-surgery, the cats are taken by the volunteers to a recovery facility and

Social research to understand farmer and agricultural stakeholder attitudes towards bovine tuberculosis vaccination of cattle.

This social research study employed a behavioural insights framework, Easy, Attractive, Social, Timely ('EAST'), to identify cues that may influence farmer and stakeholder attitudes towards the deployment of CattleBCG vaccine. The EAST framework was employed to develop policy scenarios consisting of several cues likely to affect vaccine uptake. These scenarios consisted of a government-led approach, an individual farmer-led approach, and a third approach, also farmer-led but organised collectively. The government approach was mandatory, while the farmer-led approaches were both voluntary. The scenarios were tested during farmer participatory workshops (n = 8) and stakeholder interviews (n = 35). Overall, the EAST framework provided a useful approach for gathering behavioural insights around attitudes towards cattle vaccination. We found an overall receptiveness towards the idea of vaccinating cattle against bovine tuberculosis, particularly where clear, transparent messaging around the likely efficacy is mobilised, where clarity around potential implications for trading is provided, and where vaccine doses are provided free of charge and administered by veterinarians and veterinary technicians. In general, these factors were a pre-requisite to a mandatory (government-led) national approach, which was the preferred deployment mechanism among farmers and stakeholders. However, these conditions would also likely facilitate a voluntary vaccination programme. Trust in those involved in delivering a vaccine programmeandtrust in the vaccine itself represent a crucial aspect of farmer and stakeholder attitudes towards cattle vaccination; however, this aspect was not covered by the EAST framework. EAST provided a novel framework for examining attitudes towards cattle vaccination with CattleBCG, although we recommend incorporating a 'trust' component in future iterations.

Assessment of the Accuracy of Visual Weight Estimates of Cats

Visual estimation of cat weight is commonly performed during trap-neuter-return (TNR) events where cats are brought in humane traps of various models with differing weights. These cats are typically asocial and cannot be safely handled before the induction of anesthesia. Weight estimate accuracy is important since it determines the anesthetic induction dose. This study measured the accuracy of the visual weight estimates made by various veterinary professionals involved in the program, including a veterinarian, veterinary students of all years, and several veterinary technicians, and explored whether there were variables that systematically predicted percent deviation of estimate from actual weight. Subjects estimated the weight and noted the posture (standing, sitting, crouching, laying). Cat demographics, including actual weight (kg), body condition score (BCS), coat color, solid or patterned coat, sex and pregnancy status were recorded. Age was not considered due to the correlation with weight. Accuracy was measured as the percent of estimates within 20% (PW20) and 10% (PW10). Linear regression clustered on cat was used to evaluate whether cat posture or demographic variables were associated with the percent deviation between estimated and actual weight. Potential association between the deviation and student experience as measured by student year, previous technician experience, and experience with TNRs was evaluated using linear regression. A total of 315 cats and 647 estimates were evaluated for this study from 5 TNR clinics held at Midwestern University between May 2022 and October 2022. A veterinarian provided 142 visual weight estimates, veterinary students 310, and a veterinary technician 195. The median weight was 2.7 kg (IQR 2.0-3.5). Veterinarians had a PW20/PW10 of 54%/32%, veterinary students 43%/23%, and veterinary technicians 35%/16%. Heavier cats tended to be underestimated, while lighter cats tended to be overestimated. The percent deviation decreased by 15% (95% CI -18 to -12%) per kg from a high of 45% at 1 kg, crossing 0% at approximately 4 kg, then decreasing to -43% at 7 kg. The mean difference, which did not vary by the actual weight, was 0.5 kg (SD 0.8) for cats under 3.5 kg. At weights of 3.5 or greater, the difference decreased by -0.9 kg for each additional kg of actual weight. There were several predictors of percent deviation from actual weight. The weight of female cats tended to be overestimated by 9% (95% CI 1-16%, P = 0.020), females that were pregnant underestimated by 22% (-39 to -5%), and cats with a BCS less than 5 overestimated by 10% (95% CI 2-18%, P = 0.012). There was no significant systematic variation by cat posture, color or coat pattern. Student experience did not significantly impact the deviation in their estimates. As measured by the PW20 and PW10, the veterinarian was the most accurate at visual weight estimates, although only slightly more than half of the cats were estimated within 20%. There were predictors of percent deviation, but those predictors are often only determined after anesthesia is induced. Difference between estimated and actual weights for cats under 3.5 kg was similar, with the larger difference in percent deviation for lighter cats being due to the smaller denominator of the actual weight. Cats over 3.5 kg tended to be underestimated in weight, with both difference and deviation increasing.

Calf health veterinary services: Making them work for calves, farmers and veterinarians.

Despite an appetite among UK veterinarians (vets) and farmers to improve calf health, vets face challenges in delivering and sustaining proactive calf health services. Forty-six vets and 10 veterinary technicians (techs) participated in a project to determine what makes calf health services successful while improving their own services. In four facilitated workshops and two seminars, carried out between August 2021 and April 2022, participants described their approaches to calf work, discussed measures of success, identified challenges and success factors, and addressed knowledge gaps. Many approaches to calf health services were described, and these could be categorised into three overlapping models. Success involved enthusiastic, knowledgeable vets/techs, supported by their practice team, fostering positive attitudes among farmers by providing the services they need, creating a tangible return on investment for farmers and the practice. Lack of time was identified as the most prominent challenge to achieving success. Participants were self-selected from one nationwide group of practices. Successful calf health services depend on identifying the needs of calves, farmers and veterinary practices, and delivering measurable benefits to each. More calf health services embedded as a core part of farm veterinary practice could bring wide ranging benefits to calves, farmers and vets.

Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in carnivores kept in zoos in Texas, USA: risk perception, practices, and antigen detection

BackgroundDirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of heartworm disease in wild and domestic canids, felids, and mustelids. Recent studies demonstrate that additional families in the order Carnivora are also susceptible to infection. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (1) better understand current practices surrounding heartworm prevention and diagnostics in zoological facilities located in the state of Texas, USA, and (2) assess archival serum samples of carnivores kept in these facilities for the presence D. immitis antigen and/or antibody.MethodsA questionnaire was completed by veterinarians or veterinary technicians representing 10 zoological facilities across Texas. This questionnaire was designed at the taxonomic family level, encompassing the 12 terrestrial carnivore families Ailuridae, Canidae, Eupleridae, Felidae, Herpestidae, Hyaenidae, Mephitidae, Mustelidae, Prionodontidae, Procyonidae, Ursidae, and Viverridae. The second objective was achieved with the use of archival serum samples made available by six zoo facilities.ResultsRisk perception varied across facilities for every family, including among species belonging to Canidae. All facilities used monthly heartworm prevention in canids and felids, with more variation existing in the other families. The use of diagnostic testing and type and route of administration of preventive varied by facility, with oral ivermectin the most commonly used preventive. A total of 217 archival serum samples, belonging to 211 individual animals encompassing 11 families and 39 species, were tested with a commercial heartworm antigen ELISA test, pre- and post-immune-complex dissociation. A subset of samples was also assessed for the presence of feline anti-heartworm antibodies using a commercial ELISA test. Two animals, both of which were Asian small-clawed otters from the same facility, had antigen detected (0.95%).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that while the zoo veterinary community is aware of the risk and health impact of heartworm disease in canids and felids, there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding the risks and ideal strategies for prevention in other carnivore families. The low proportion of antigen detection may serve as a baseline for future prevalence studies across the southern United States, where there is an emerging concern of macrocyclic lactone resistance in heartworm.Graphical

Cross-sectional survey of sleep, fatigue and mental health in veterinary anaesthesia personnel

ObjectiveTo evaluate the sleep quality, prevalence of fatigue and depressive symptoms in veterinary anaesthesia personnel. Study designAnonymous online voluntary survey. MethodsSleep quality, fatigue, depressive symptoms and self-perceived burnout were scored using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and single-item burnout measure, respectively. Demographic data and questions about work-related fatigue, out-of-hours duty, transport and rest periods were included. PSQI, FSS and PHQ-9 scores were compared using Spearman rank correlation tests. ResultsResponses from 393 participants were obtained from an estimated population of 1374 including diplomates of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary An(a)esthesia and Analgesia (43.9%), residency-trained veterinarians (15.6%), residents-in-training (13.8%) and veterinary technicians and nurses (12.0%), from 32 countries. Most were employed in clinical university teaching hospitals (54.2%) or clinical private practice (41.5%).PSQI scores > 5 were reported by 71.2% of respondents, with 52.4% reporting insufficient sleep to meet their job demands. Many showed high or borderline fatigue (56.4%), and 74.7% reported mistakes due to work-related fatigue. Major depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10) were found in 42.7%, with 19.2% reporting they had thought about suicide or self-harm in the previous 2 weeks. Over half (54.8%) met the criteria for burnout and more veterinary nurses and technicians suffered from burnout than other roles, with 79.6% of this group affected (p < 0.001).Scores for PSQI and FSS [r (388) = 0.40, p < 0.001]; PSQI and PHQ-9 [r (389) = 0.23, p < 0.001]; and FSS and PHQ-9 [r (387) = 0.24, p < 0.001] were all positively correlated. Conclusions and clinical relevanceThis survey demonstrates a high prevalence of poor sleep, fatigue, depressive symptoms and burnout in veterinary anaesthesia personnel, and more should be done to improve the health of those in the profession.

Community engagement strengthens pig disease knowledge and passive surveillance in Timor-Leste.

Smallholder pig production in Timor-Leste is culturally and economically important for most households. However, regular and ongoing disease surveillance and pig husbandry training for farmers are limited. This article describes collaborative social and diagnostic research followed by a pilot community engagement program to improve farmer and technician knowledge, skills, and working relationships. There were three phases: (1) A qualitative study in 2020 to explore the experiences and knowledge of 133 pig farmers, 6 village leaders, and 16 district veterinary technicians on pig diseases and reporting, treatment methods, and access to information or assistance. (2) A pilot community engagement program in 3 villages in 2021 with the diagnostic investigation with samples analyzed from 27 dead pigs, and (3) Evaluation of community engagement and training outcomes. Results of the qualitative study revealed limited reporting of sick or dead pigs by farmers to veterinary technicians due to a lack of trust in the veterinary diagnostic system. Most technicians lacked experience with sampling or post-mortems so diagnostic training was undertaken for the pilot disease investigation. Evaluation results showed improved knowledge, motivation, and confidence of government staff and farmers. The credibility of veterinary technicians improved and gave them more confidence to work with communities. Farmers felt supported because all aspects of pig husbandry were addressed, and they were more willing to report dead or sick pigs. The project indicates that improved passive disease surveillance can be achieved by engaging communities in smallholder pig farming in Timor-Leste. Further research and testing of the approach in other districts and countries is recommended.

Is there a higher risk of exposure to Coxiella burnetii for pre-clinical veterinary students?

Coxiella burnetii is globally distributed but evidence of zoonotic transmission in the Caribbean region is scarce. The bacterium presence is suspected on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. The risk of exposure of veterinary students was reported in other regions of the world but is not documented in the Caribbean region. The present study aimed to evaluate the risk of exposure to C. burnetii for pre-clinical veterinary students (mostly coming from the U.S.) attending an island-based veterinary school.A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare incoming and outgoing veterinary students' seroprevalence. Serology was performed using indirect immunofluorescence assay to test Coxiella burnetii Phase I and Phase II immunoglobulins M and G. Background data were gathered using a standardized questionnaire. A parallel study enrolled veterinary school employees in the same university.Of the 98 participants (48 incoming and 50 outgoing students), 41 (41.8%, 95 %CI: 31.9–52.2) were seropositive to C. burnetii. There was no significant difference between the two groups (45.8% for incoming vs. 38.0% for outgoing students) (p = 0.4). No risk factors (demographic, animal handling practices or background) were significantly more reported in the seropositive group. In the employee study, the seroprevalence was high with 8/15 seropositives (53.3%, 95 %CI: 26.6–78.7).Pre-clinical veterinary students do not have a higher risk of exposure to C. burnetii by attending the veterinary school in St. Kitts, but they are highly exposed before arrival on the island (seroprevalence of 45.8%). Most of these participants had experience with animals either through farming or previous veterinary technician employment. This indicates a high exposure in the U.S. young population aiming to become veterinarians. There is an urgent need to increase C. burnetii surveillance in animals and humans to apply relevant prevention and control measures, including recommendations for vaccination of students and professionals at risk.

Exposure to Ergonomic Risk Factors to Veterinary Technicians at a Small Animal Clinic

Highlights Neck and shoulder discomfort found to be most prevalent in veterinary technicians. REBA posture analysis identifies areas of significant risk and provides a benchmark for improvements. Patient restraint and handling put veterinary technicians at significant risk for musculoskeletal disorders. Continuous improvement through the implementation of engineering and administrative controls is mandatory. Abstract. Research addressing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among veterinary technicians is limited. Veterinary technicians are exposed to several activities that require lifting and the adoption of non-neutral postures associated with WMSDs. It is essential to design interventions aimed at reducing WMSDs in this population. The goal of this study was to identify typical, prevalent work tasks that pose high ergonomic risk factors to veterinary technicians, as well as to determine the WMSD risk associated with the work tasks identified in order to implement interventions. A small-animal veterinary clinic in central Wisconsin was contacted for this study. Nine veterinary technicians and assistants participated in assessing musculoskeletal symptoms and identifying tasks with ergonomic risk factors. The tasks with a high count of risk factors were evaluated using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). All participants in this study experienced musculoskeletal discomfort in five or more body regions. They also reported being unable to perform work over the last 12 months due to WMSDs on shoulders, ankles, and feet (33%, n=3), neck and lower back (22%, n=2), and wrists, hands, hips, thighs, and knees 11% (n=1). One of the respondents reported no discomfort over the last seven days, while eight of them indicated discomfort in three or more body areas. Restraining and handling animals, sedation and recovery, and dental procedures were chosen for REBA analysis. Restraining and handling animals had a high-risk REBA score (ranging from 8 to 10). Sedation and recovery had a low to medium-risk REBA score (ranging from 3 to 5). Dental procedure recovery had a low to very high-risk REBA score (ranging from 2 to 11). Our findings suggest that most veterinary technicians come to work experiencing musculoskeletal discomfort and are exposed to significant WMSD risk levels when performing common tasks. This job assessment allows us to recommend administrative and engineering controls to reduce the risk of WMSDs associated with high-risk tasks. Keywords: Ergonomic risk factors, Musculoskeletal symptoms, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), Veterinary technicians, Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs).

Skills for future equine sports rehabilitation careers.

The field of equine sports medicine and rehabilitation provides a career opportunity for students interested in remaining in the horse industry but not focused on a career as a veterinarian. However, throughout the United States, there are limited educational opportunities for undergraduate students to prepare for this career. The objective of this work was to determine what skills and theoretical knowledge professionals in the equine rehabilitation industry deemed most useful for employment in the equine rehabilitation industry, and, using that information, develop a curriculum to meet these industry needs. To meet this objective, a Qualtrics survey was distributed through email and social media to veterinarians, veterinary professionals, rehabilitation service providers, and horse owners. In addition to demographics, the survey asked respondents to list practical skills and theoretical knowledge that are essential for professionals in the equine rehabilitation industry. The majority of the 117 respondents (84%) were located in the United States, with the remainder from Canada (5%), the United Kingdom (5%), and several other countries. Eighteen percent of respondents were veterinarians, 26% owned or managed rehabilitation facilities, 8.5% were veterinary technicians, and the remainder were horse owners, rehabilitation service providers, and others. Horse handling skills (19%) and communication skills (18%) were the most commonly listed practical skills deemed essential for rehabilitation professionals. Of the theoretical skills, evaluation of lameness (29.5%), anatomy (31%), and fundamentals of equine reconditioning programs (32%) were deemed equally important for rehabilitation professionals. These data were used to design a minor in Equine Sports Rehabilitation that incorporated fundamental knowledge in lameness evaluation and rehabilitation methods as well as significant hands-on opportunities with rehabilitating horses and communicating about rehabilitation methods and progress with clients.

Evaluation of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding neosporosis and toxoplasmosis among farmers and animal health practitioners in Namibia.

This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices of livestock farmers in Namibia's Khomas region and animal health practitioners (veterinarians and animal health technicians) in the whole country concerning neosporosis and toxoplasmosis. Structured questionnaires were used, and a total of 63 farmers and 51 animal health practitioners responded out of an estimated 560 farmers in the Khomas region and 300 veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the country. Only 15.9% of the livestock farmers (n = 63) had heard about neosporosis or toxoplasmosis or knew how animals get infected (p < 0.0001). Only 5% of the farmers knew the risks associated with keeping dogs and cats concerning neosporosis and toxoplasmosis, respectively (p < 0.0001). None of the 51 animal health practitioners routinely requested Neospora caninum or Toxoplasma gondii laboratory tests in cases of cattle, sheep or goat abortions. Although all animal health practitioners indicated they routinely interacted with livestock farmers, none regularly discussed neosporosis or toxoplasmosis. Only 3.9% of animal health practitioners (n = 51) indicated that they had ever discussed either neosporosis or toxoplasmosis at a farmers' gathering (p < 0.0001), and only 21.6% had talked to at least one cat owner about toxoplasmosis in the previous 12months (p < 0.0001). The authors concluded that farmers in the Khomas region were generally unaware of neosporosis and toxoplasmosis but could change their attitudes and practices if educated. The animal health practitioners lacked a deeper understanding and appreciation of the two diseases, which is required to cultivate enough confidence to educate farmers. Sharing this research and other relevant information on the two diseases at farmers' meetings, veterinary congresses, journals and newsletters could help educate farmers and animal health practitioners. Such platforms are likely to succeed because both these groups use these forums to get new information.

The use of pain scales in small animal veterinary practices in the USA.

Pain assessment in veterinary medicine is challenging. Uncertainty in the ability to recognise pain in animals contributes to suboptimal analgesia. Pain scales have been developed to aid in pain recognition. It is unknown if such scales are routinely utilised in veterinary practices. A survey using RedCap software was emailed to veterinarians and veterinary technicians working in practices across the USA. This study aimed to investigate whether pain scoring was routinely performed and reasons to use or not use pain scales. One hundred and forty-four participants were required to estimate prevalence (95% confidence level, 5% precision) with hypothesised prevalence of approximately 10%. One hundred and forty-seven participants completed the survey. Seventy (47.6%) responded that pain scoring was performed in their practices, 24 (16.3%), reported "sometimes" and 53 (36.1%) reported pain scores were not performed. Reasons for not pain scoring included no training (51.9%) and busy caseload (48.1%). Disadvantages of pain scales were unreliability (16/82; 20%), duration required for completion (14/82; 17%) and vocalisation (14/82; 17%). Almost 50% of the small animal practices surveyed reported the use of pain scales as part of their routine workflow. However, many practices still do not consistently utilise pain scales to assess pain in dogs and cats. Perceived unreliability and lack of compliance were reasons for this result. Improvement of training and proper pain scale introduction and implementation in small animal practices in the USA appears to be required.

Editorial

Welcome to the inaugural volume and first issue of Perspectives in Animal Health and Welfare. This journal was established to provide an opportunity for the publication of outputs by, and for, veterinary nurses, veterinary technicians and allied veterinary professionals. The scope of the journal is broad, with a multi-disciplinary approach – we are interested in publishing papers in the areas of animal disease, parasitology, nutrition, behaviour, anaesthesia and analgesia, breeding and reproduction, One Health, and social sciences related to the veterinary industry. In this first issue, Hannah Sadler, Laura Harvey and Lauren Prior present their research into bullying in the veterinary industry, showing that bullying is a significant concern within the sector in Aotearoa. Meanwhile, Kristie Cameron, Lewis Bizo and Nicola Starkey investigate the impact of long-term free-feeding on the bodyweight of animals in use for operant experiments.

Veterinary technicians contribute to shared decision-making during companion animal veterinary appointments.

To describe and compare veterinary professionals' use of shared decision-making during companion animal appointments. Multi-practice cross-sectional study. A purposive sample of 4 companion animal veterinary clinics in a group practice in Texas. A convenience sample of veterinary appointments were recorded January to March 2018 and audio-recordings were analyzed using the Observer OPTION5 instrument to assess shared decision-making. Each decision was categorized by veterinary professional involvement. A total of 76/85 (89%) appointments included at least 1 decision between the client and veterinary professional(s), with a total of 129 shared decisions. Decisions that involved both a veterinary technician and veterinarian scored significantly higher for elements of shared decision-making (OPTION5 = 29.5 ± 8.4; n = 46), than veterinarian-only decisions (OPTION5 = 25.4 ± 11.50; P = .040; n = 63), and veterinary technician-only decisions (OPTION5 = 22.5 ± 7.15; P = .001; n = 20). Specific elements of shared decision-making that differed significantly based on veterinary professional involvement included educating the client about options (OPTION5 Item 3; P = .0041) and integrating the client's preference (OPTION5 Item 5; P = .0010). Findings suggest that clients are more involved in decision making related to their pet's health care when both the veterinary technician and veterinarian communicate with the client. Veterinary technicians' communication significantly enhanced client engagement in decision-making when working collaboratively with the veterinarian.

A qualitative study of the roles, motivations, and challenges of academic veterinary technicians.

A qualitative study based on one-on-one interviews was conducted to better understand the role of the academic veterinary technician (AVT) and identify the motivations and challenges that AVTs face during their academic careers. 34 AVTs from 12 accredited US colleges of veterinary medicine. Virtual, semi-structured interviews were conducted between July and December 2020. Transcripts were analyzed using discourse analysis within the context of social identity theory. Five themes and seven accompanying sub-themes emerged: one title but many roles and responsibilities (professional/work; other obligations); workplace culture (belonging/inclusivity, administrative/policies); unique challenges of being in the ivory tower (impostor syndrome, educator role, technical skills for academia); entry into the profession and career progression; and motivation. AVTs have great passion for and dedication to their profession. Overwhelmingly, they want their voices to be heard and their skillsets to be both utilized and respected. Recognition of and consideration for the themes uncovered in this study may help to better support and retain technicians in their academic career paths.