Behavioral medicine opportunities in North American colleges of veterinary medicine: A status report

In 1999, 8 of 27 (29.6%) US veterinary schools had a full-time behaviorist. A survey was conducted in the summer of 2007 to obtain information about the availability of behavioral medicine educational opportunities in colleges of veterinary medicine in North America. Twelve of 32 (37.5%) veterinary colleges have a veterinary behaviorist on staff, and 9 (28.13%) support residency programs. Fourteen (43.75%) have a normal animal behavior course, 12 (37.5%) an abnormal/clinical behavior course. Nine universities (28.13%) have a combined normal/abnormal animal behavior course in lieu of separate normal and abnormal behavior courses. Seven have officially recognized student chapters of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Four have no behavioral medicine presence in the form of faculty, behavior courses, interested staff, or a student club. Inclusion of behavioral medicine into the curricula of North American colleges of veterinary medicine has been slow in the 14 years since the recognition of the specialty by the AVMA's American Board of Veterinary Specialties. Each year, behavior problems account for a large number of deaths, by euthanasia, of otherwise healthy pets. Increasing opportunities in behavioral medicine at the university level would have a considerable trickle-down effect by affecting the perception by owners and the comfort level of practitioners in identifying, managing and treating behavior problems in pets.     

A survey of reading, writing, and oral communication skills in North American veterinary medical colleges

In the 1989 report by the Pew National Veterinary Education Program (PNVEP), communication skills topped the list of characteristics the veterinary graduate should possess in order to function effectively in the twenty-first century. To determine the reading, writing, and oral communication requirements and opportunities in veterinary curricula in the US and Canada, and to determine the perceived communication tasks that might be commonly required of practicing veterinarians in the next century, we sent a 15-item communications skills questionnaire to the academic deans of the 31 veterinary curricula in the US and Canada. The results reinforce the importance of communication skills in veterinary medicine, as detailed by the PNVEP over 10 years ago. Based on the responses to our questionnaire and on our own experiences with veterinary medical students, we make several recommendations to enhance communication instruction in veterinary medical curricula.     

2007 North American zoo and aquarium veterinary employment survey

A web-based survey was presented to 158 Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoos and 31 AZA-accredited aquariums or marine-life parks in the United States and Canada via e-mail. The survey included questions about veterinary employment and salaries. Representatives from 124 zoos and 15 aquariums responded. Zoos and aquariums with higher operating budgets were more likely to employ full-time veterinarians. The number and percentage of zoos employing full-time zoo veterinarians have increased since the previous job survey that took place in 1988, with 59.6% of all responding zoos employing at least one full-time veterinarian. During the same time span, the proportion of male to female zoo veterinarians has shifted from a predominantly male group to an almost equal ratio. Salaries for full-time zoo and aquarium veterinarians ranged from $20,800 to $150,000.     

Teaching veterinary parasitology: the North American perspective

The American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists (AAVP) initiated a study of parasitology curricula in veterinary schools in the US and Canada in November 1989. An ad hoc committee (Task Force) and then the Education Committee developed a position paper on teaching parasitology in veterinary colleges. In addition to confirming the importance of parasitology as a discipline they recommended a set of general learning objectives and proposed topic-specific titles rather than parasite-/group-specific titles. Another problem observed in teaching parasitology was a significant reduction in time available to teach parasitology. One way to compensate for the lost classroom time is to utilize some of the technological advances in presenting the material to students.     

Relationships between demographic variables and lead toxicosis in cattle evaluated at North American veterinary teaching hospitals

OBJECTIVE: To determine associations between age, sex, breed, and month and year of admission and the diagnosis of lead toxicosis in cattle. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. Sample Population-Records of all cattle evaluated at North American veterinary teaching hospitals during the years 1963 to 2002, which were available through the Veterinary Medical Database. PROCEDURES: Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between postulated risk factors and the occurrence of lead toxicosis in cattle and predict the occurrence of the diagnosis of lead toxicosis in cattle. RESULTS: 413 cases of lead intoxication and 202,363 control cattle were identified and met the inclusion criteria. Cattle < 4 years of age were at increased risk for the diagnosis of lead intoxication relative to cattle > or = 4 years of age. Cattle > or = 2 months and < 6 months of age had the greatest risk for lead intoxication (odds ratio, 12.3). Angus cattle were at greater risk for toxicosis (odds ratio, 1.95), compared with other breeds. The risk of lead toxicosis was greater before 1985 (odds ratio, 1.94) than the risk thereafter. The risk of lead toxicosis diagnosis was greatest in the months of May, June, July, and August. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Lead toxicosis in cattle was associated with age < 4 years and the Angus breed. A seasonal pattern existed with peak occurrence in the late spring and summer. The occurrence of lead toxicosis has declined over time.     

Developing an international program in a North American veterinary college

Developing an international program in a North American veterinary college can be challenging. A unique set of constraints are encountered in implementing such a program. In this article, the author discusses the process of setting up an international program and provides information on taking advantage of an individual college's strengths while working around the obstacles encountered.     

Efficacy of training in theriogenology as determined by a survey of veterinarians

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether veterinarians perceive that theriogenology training at veterinary medical schools in North America and the Caribbean is adequate for achievement of theriogenology skills commonly used in private practice. PROCEDURES: A survey was mailed to members of the veterinary medical associations of Alabama, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Washington. With regard to reproductive procedures in bovine, equine, porcine, small ruminant, camelid, and small animal species, veterinarians (predominantly practitioners) were asked to rate the importance of that procedure in their job and to assess their own degree of competency in that procedure at the time of their graduation from veterinary school. RESULTS: Procedures considered most valuable in practice were those that represent basic theriogenology education and training, such as transrectal palpation of cows and mares and interpretation of vaginal cytologic specimens in bitches. Dystocia management was a high priority in all species. Correlations between rankings for value in practice and competency at graduation were good, varying from 0.75 in cattle and 0.78 in horses to 0.98 in dogs and 1.0 in cats, small ruminants, and pigs. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of these data suggests that appropriate theriogenology procedures are being taught in veterinary medical schools but perhaps not to the extent required to achieve adequate competency immediately at graduation. Issues requiring further investigation include the effect of tracking in the veterinary curriculum on theriogenology training, methods by which more students could receive greater practical exposure during theriogenology training, and the apparent relative lack of theriogenology training (including contraception) in small animals and exotic animals.     

Availability and estimates of veterinary antimicrobial use in British Columbia

The amount of antimicrobial use is a significant selection pressure that alters the frequency of antimicrobial resistance. This paper summarizes attempts to estimate the weight of antimicrobial purchases in British Columbia for use in animals. The data reported here do not capture all sources of veterinary antimicrobial use in British Columbia. This paper highlights how information deficits on veterinary drug use complicate the development of an evidence-based policy framework for combating antimicrobial resistance.