PF-19 Professional Wellness for Veterinarians

Personal and professional wellness of veterinarians and veterinary staff are receiving increased attention in veterinary publications and conferences, social media and the non-veterinary press. Recent suicides of high-profile, socially-harassed or victimized veterinarians have caused consternation within the profession.  There is an increased recognition that stress and compassion fatigue coupled with a demanding workplace environment are adversely affecting the mental well-being and physical health of veterinarians

A Global Survey of the Views of Practicing Companion Animal Veterinarians on Their Undergraduate Curriculum and Their Access to Continuing Education Resources

A global survey was developed to gain insight into the opinion of companion animal veterinarians about their undergraduate education and their access to continuing education on the following topics: client communication, animal welfare, surgical techniques, human-animal bond, dentistry, animal behavior, and zoonotic disease/epidemiology. In 2016, the survey was distributed via SurveyMonkey (R) in five languages to companion animal veterinarians around the world. A total of 1,167 respondents returned to the survey. The distribution of survey responses differed by geographic region (number of respondents in parentheses; where respondents work/have been trained): Europa (including the Russian Federation, 359/423), Asia (311/205), North America (77/89), South America (24/16), Africa (46/41), and Oceania (147/167). The results were strongly influenced by a large number of respondents (in parentheses) who graduated in the Russian Federation (180/162), Australia (133/154), Israel (136/82), the Netherlands (64/64), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (36/46), and the United States of America (46/44). On the basis of the responses, all topics were poorly covered or not taught, except for surgical techniques and zoonotic disease/epidemiology, which were covered adequately or well. However, there were country and geographic regional differences. This was also true for continuing education resources, which were-in addition to countries and geographic regions-also influenced by the educational topic. As already stated by Dhein and Menon in 2003, time away from the practice, travel distance, and expense may be reasons why companion animal veterinarians do not follow continuing education. Online continuing education could fill in the gap and is more time and cost-efficient

A Global Survey of Companion Animal Veterinary Practitioners on Animal Welfare Teaching – focus on undergraduate and continuing education, and clients’ sources of information

As part of a wider research on animal welfare, a global survey was developed to gain insight into the opinion of companion animal veterinarians about animal welfare education, namely to investigate i) their exposure to animal welfare teaching during their undergraduate education, ii) their access to continuing professional education on animal welfare, and iii) their opinions on clients’ sources of information on animal welfare. The survey was distributed to companion animal veterinarians around the world. The results were highly influenced by the large numbers of respondents who trained in the Russian Federation, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or the United States of America. Worldwide, 58.4% of the respondents thought that animal welfare was poorly covered or not taught at all when they were students. The best coverage of animal welfare was in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most companion animal veterinarians (65.3%) had access to continuing education on animal welfare, but there were small differences between the six above-mentioned countries. Companion animal veterinarians get information on animal welfare mainly from the internet and veterinary conferences/meetings, and thought that their clients obtained animal welfare information from various sources. The findings show that there is a need to improve education on animal welfare in veterinary curricula and the provision of relevant continuing education, so that companion animal practitioners can keep abreast of developments and societal expectations

Hair Cortisol in Service Dogs for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Compared to Companion Dogs (Canis Familiaris)

Service dogs are trained to assist humans. This assistance potentially exposes them to stressors To investigate if service dogs are exposed to more stressors than companion dogs we questioned whether hair cortisol levels differed between both groups. We studied this by cutting a tuft of hair from the neck of 19 companion and 11 service dogs. Cortisol levels were subsequently analyzed via immunoassay and compared via a simple linear regression model. The influence of coat color, season, sex, other dogs, pets, or mental health diagnoses in the household was also checked . Results showed that cortisol values did not differ between service and companion dogs. Furthermore, none of the additional variables had an influence on cortisol levels. This lead to the conclusion that the service dogs in this study did not have higher hair cortisol levels than companion dogs Further study should be conducted as to why no difference did occur between groups and if this difference is persistent over time given that we only studied a period of up to two months' worth of hair cortisol

Measuring heart rate variability using a heart rate monitor in horses (Equus caballus) during groundwork

Measuring physiological parameters of stress in horses during groundwork, for example when involved in equine-assisted interventions, is important to gain insight into the stress levels of the horses. Heart rate and heart rate variability can be used as physiological indicators of stress in horses. Heart rate monitors could be easily incorporated into practice, as they are not expensive and easy to use. However, it is questionable whether heart rate monitors present accurate heart rate variability results in exercising horses, similar to electrocardiograms. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of heart rate monitors for the assessment of heart rate variability in horses during groundwork exercise. Simultaneous telemetric electrocardiograms (Televet) and heart rate monitor (Polar H10 transmitter and M430 receiver, Hylofit electrodes) recordings were performed on 28 horses (15 mares and 13 geldings). Results indicate that the heart rate monitor accurately determined heart rate and time-domain heart rate variability parameters when compared to electrocardiograms during both baseline and groundwork conditions. As expected, heart rate significantly increased and the heart rate variability significantly decreased during groundwork compared to baseline conditions. This indicates that the heart rate monitor can be used to accurately determine heart rate variability during groundwork

Renal secondary hyperparathyroidism should be considered a differential diagnosis in forensic cases where animal abuse is suspected

This case description reports an adult dog with multiple rib fractures that was initially suspected to be the victim of non-accidental trauma, but eventually was diagnosed with severe chronic interstitial nephritis and renal secondary hyperparathyroidism leading to fibrous osteodystrophy and multiple pathological fractures. The importance of the specific expertise of a dedicated expert panel on animal abuse is discussed. This case illustrates the significance of the identification of normal, pathological, and breed-related variations within an animal in addition to forensic expertise, emphasizing that the presence of multidisciplinary teams in an expert panel on animal abuse is crucial

Renal secondary hyperparathyroidism should be considered a differential diagnosis in forensic cases where animal abuse is suspected

This case description reports an adult dog with multiple rib fractures that was initially suspected to be the victim of non-accidental trauma, but eventually was diagnosed with severe chronic interstitial nephritis and renal secondary hyperparathyroidism leading to fibrous osteodystrophy and multiple pathological fractures. The importance of the specific expertise of a dedicated expert panel on animal abuse is discussed. This case illustrates the significance of the identification of normal, pathological, and breed-related variations within an animal in addition to forensic expertise, emphasizing that the presence of multidisciplinary teams in an expert panel on animal abuse is crucial

WSAVA animal welfare survey: information sources used by companion animal veterinarians

Introduction: Veterinarians are expected to have expertise not only in the maintenance of health and the treatment and prevention of disease in animals, but also in matters relating to animal welfare. Issues surrounding animal welfare have become of increasing importance to veterinarians, governments, and society worldwide. How veterinarians select their resources to answer their questions regarding the various animal welfare issues may differ as a result of geographic, cultural, socioeconomic, and other factors. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the information sources used by companion animal veterinarians worldwide regarding the following topics: client communication, animal welfare, surgical techniques, human animal bond, dentistry, animal behavior, zoonotic disease/epidemiology. Methods: For this purpose, a global survey containing among others the aforementioned topics was distributed via SurveyMonkey® in multiple languages. The multiple response questions contain the following answer categories: ‘local continuing education’, ‘veterinary journals’, ‘veterinary conferences/meetings’, ‘internet’ and ‘I don’t search for information on this topic’. Results: The distribution of survey responses differed by region. In general, the most frequently used information source in Europe, North America, South America and Oceania was veterinary conferences/meetings, whereas in Asia and Africa it was internet. The type of information source used was not only different across regions but also depended on the topic. Depending on the topic and region there were also gender differences. Conclusions: This survey-based study showed that veterinary practitioners prefer different types of information sources to answer their questions, depending on the topic, geographic region and gender

A Global Survey of the Views of Practicing Companion Animal Veterinarians on Their Undergraduate Curriculum and Their Access to Continuing Education Resources

A global survey was developed to gain insight into the opinion of companionãnimal veterinariansãbout their undergraduate educationãnd theirãccess to continuing education on the following topics: client communication,ãnimal welfare, surgical techniques, human-animal bond, dentistry,ãnimal behavior,ãnd zoonotic disease/epidemiology. In 2016, the survey was distributed via SurveyMonkey® in five languages to companionãnimal veterinariansãround the world. A total of 1,167 respondents returned the survey. The distribution of survey responses differed by geographic region (number of respondents in parentheses; where respondents work/have been trained): Europa (including the Russian Federation, 359/423), Asia (311/205), North America (77/89), South America (24/16), Africa (46/41),ãnd Oceania (147/167). The results were strongly influenced byã large number of respondents (in parentheses) who graduated in the Russian Federation (180/162), Australia (133/154), Israel (136/82), the Netherlands (64/64), the United Kingdom of Great Britainãnd Northern Ireland (36/46),ãnd the United States of America (46/44). On the basis of the responses,ãll topics were poorly covered or not taught, except for surgical techniquesãnd zoonotic disease/epidemiology, which were coveredãdequately or well. However, there were countryãnd geographic regional differences. This wasãlso true for continuing education resources, which were-inãddition to countriesãnd geographic regions-also influenced by the educational topic. Asãlready stated by Dheinãnd Menon in 2003, timeãway from the practice, travel distance,ãnd expense may be reasons why companionãnimal veterinarians do not follow continuing education. Online continuing education could fill in the gapãnd is more timeãnd cost-efficient

Animal abuse: Offender and offence characteristics. A descriptive study

This descriptive study was done to gain insight into the characteristics of animal abusers and animal abuse. On the basis of registrations by police, animal protection services, and the national reporting centre for animal welfare, 90 cases of animal abuse involving 97 offenders were analysed. Information about the offence and the offenders could be retrieved; the group of offenders was heterogeneous as to background and characteristics. Many were in debt, and 25% had 1 or more psychological disorders (e.g., antisocial personality disorders and autism spectrum disorders). Animal abuse often occurred because of frustration, and dogs were the main victims. Most cases of abuse took place in the home of the abuser. By taking the offence of animal abuse as starting point for studying the offenders' characteristics, we gained insight into a broad spectrum of characteristics and backgrounds than would have been found if we had started from a domestic violence perspective or the graduation hypothesis. A larger study is needed to verify findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract