Preliminary evaluation of a quality-of-life screening programme for pet dogs

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a potential screening programme that would raise awareness of welfare consideration of pet dogs visiting a veterinary practice. METHODS: The questionnaire asked owners to provide biographical information about their dog, assess the resources they provided their dog (comfort, exercise, diet, mental stimulation and companionship) from the perspective of their dog's wellbeing and choice, score a range of behavioural and medical signs on visual analogue scale, rate how willing they would be to take on the life of their dog on a visual analogue scale and suggest changes that would improve the quality of life of their dog. RESULTS: Twenty-seven owners completed the questionnaire on consecutive days. There was good correlation for all the parameters between the two days (P<0.05). Of the 16 expected correlations to test internal consistency, nine were significant (P<0.05). Twenty-six per cent of owners scored in the top 10 mm of the visual analogue scale for being willing to "take on the life their dog was living". More exercise was the most commonly suggested change to improve quality of life (14 owners). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The questionnaire was found to be repeatable, feasible and to have good internal consistency and validity, making it suitable for use in veterinary practice to assess welfare.     

Veterinary opinions on refusing euthanasia: justifications and philosophical frameworks

To obtain information on euthanasia decisions from practising veterinary surgeons, respondents were asked to estimate how often during their time in practice they had refused to euthanase a dog and how often they had wanted to refuse to euthanase a dog but not done so because of other pressures. For each, respondents were then asked to state their most common reasons for refusing/not refusing in free text. The responses of clinicians were considered in the light of established ethical concepts to produce an evidence-based ethical framework for decision making. In total, 58 practitioners responded. Common reasons given for decisions on whether to refuse euthanasia referred to the patient's interests, such as the possibility of treatment or rehoming, and the fear of other unacceptable outcomes for the dog. Other reasons were based on concern for owners' interests. Some respondents reported being pressured into euthanasia by clients and other veterinary surgeons. This gives insight into the ethical principles that explicitly underlie veterinary surgeons' euthanasia decisions and the resultant framework may be useful for discussing and teaching euthanasia.     

Animal welfare and the Australian veterinarian

SUMMARY This paper discusses the moral and philosophical arguments related to animal welfare. The veterinary profession in Australia has, to date, addressed this matter on a superficial and unsatisfactory level. In my view, the Australian Veterinary Association has not yet considered sound philosophical and moral positions in any area of animal welfare. This paper provides some examples of arguments concerning animal rights. It is suggested that the veterinary profession in Australia needs to take heed of these arguments and to develop a philosophy of its own. The profession is not seen to be having sufficient influence on the development of community standards in animal welfare. For example, public statements on the stray cat and dog problem concern the nuisance to human society and little is said of the welfare or rights of the animals themselves. The Australian Veterinary Association has not looked thoroughly at problems of animal welfare in the livestock industries, where the need for attention is urgent. Few veterinarians in Australia have the knowledge and experience to tackle problems in the area of animal experimentation. These include questions of laboratory animal production and disease, as well as those of a moral and philosophical nature. A discussion of ethical problems in studies on animal behaviour points to the lack of experience el veterinarians in this area. Possible mechanisms for statutory control of animal experimentation are explored. Antivivisectionist ideas and the significance of their political influence are outlined.     

Promoting discussions and decisions about dogs' quality-of-life

Objective : The objective of this paper is to report the formulation and preliminary testing of a participatory tool in order to encourage discussions and decisions about dogs’ quality‐of‐life. Materials and Methods : A tool was designed in which owners rated aspects of their dog’s quality‐of‐life. Two randomised controlled trials were conducted: one with a veterinary surgeon who was involved in the tool design, the second with other veterinary surgeons. In each, owners either were given the tool before a veterinary consultation or underwent normal consultations. After each consultation, owners were asked to report what they had discussed and what decisions they had made. Results : The study involved a total of 170 consultations, of which 91 were randomly allocated to the tool group and 79 into the control group. In both trials, using the tool was associated with a significant increase in the frequency of discussions. In the first trial, using the tool was also associated with an increase in the number of decisions made, but this was not found in the second trial with practitioners who were not involved in the trial design. Clinical Significance : These data suggest that the use of a participatory tool has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of consultations, especially if the practitioner is familiar with the tool design.     

The perioperative management of small animals with previously implanted pacemakers undergoing anaesthesia

ObjectiveThere is little information in the veterinary literature about the perioperative management of small animal patients with previously implanted pacemakers undergoing elective or emergency non-cardiac procedures. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature with regard to human patients, with previously implanted pacemakers, undergoing general anaesthesia. Using this and the current information on pacemakers and anaesthesia in dogs and cats, we provide recommendations for small animal patients in this situation.Databases usedGoogle Scholar, PubMed and CAB Abstracts using and interlinking and narrowing the search terms: “dog”, “cat”, “small animals”, “anaesthesia”, “pacemaker”, “perioperative”, “transvenous pacing”, “temporary pacing”. Scientific reports and human and small animal studies from the reference lists of the retrieved papers were reviewed. In addition, related human and veterinary cardiology and anaesthesia textbooks were also included to create a narrative review of the subject.ConclusionsThe best perioperative care for these animals comes from a multidisciplinary approach involving the anaesthetist, cardiologist, surgeon and intensive care unit team. When such an approach is not feasible, the anaesthetist should be familiar with pacemaker technology and how to avoid perioperative complications such as electromagnetic interference, lead damage and reprogramming of the device. The preanaesthetic assessment should be thorough. Information regarding the indication for pacemaker placement, complications during the procedure, location, type and programming of the pacemaker should be readily available. The anaesthetic management of these veterinary patients aims to preserve cardiovascular function while avoiding hypotension, and backup pacing should be available during the perioperative period. Further prospective studies are needed to describe the best perioperative care in small animals with a previously implanted pacemaker.     

Development and validation of a questionnaire for measuring behavior and temperament traits in pet dogs

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a questionnaire to assess behavior and temperament traits of pet dogs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of dog owners. Animals-1,851 dogs belonging to clients of a veterinary teaching hospital or members of national breed clubs and 203 dogs examined by canine behavior practitioners because of behavior problems. PROCEDURE: Owners were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of 152 items eliciting information on how dogs responded to specific events and situations in their usual environment. Data from completed questionnaires were subjected to factor analysis, and the resulting factors were tested for reliability and validity. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded 11 factors from 68 of the original questionnaire items that together accounted for 57% of the common variance in questionnaire item scores. Reliability was acceptable for all but 1 of these factors. Behavior problems in 200 of the 203 dogs with behavior problems could be assigned to 7 diagnostic categories that matched 7 of the factors identified during factor analysis of questionnaire responses. Dogs assigned to particular diagnostic categories had significantly higher scores for corresponding questionnaire factors than did those assigned to unrelated diagnostic categories, indicating that the factors were valid. Validity of the remaining 4 factors could not be examined because of a lack of information on dogs with behavior problems related to these factors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings suggest that the resulting 68-item questionnaire is a reliable and valid method of assessing behavior and temperament traits in dogs. The questionnaire may be useful in screening dogs for behavior problems and in evaluating the clinical effects of various treatments for behavior problems.     

Stabilizing Dog Populations and Improving Animal and Public Health Through a Participatory Approach in Indigenous Communities

Free‐roaming dog populations are a global concern for animal and human health including transmission of infectious disease (e.g. rabies, distemper and parasites), dog bite injuries/mortalities, animal welfare and adverse effects on wildlife. In Saskatchewan (SK), Canada, veterinary care is difficult to access in the remote and sparsely inhabited northern half of the province, where the population is predominately Indigenous. Even where veterinary clinics are readily available, there are important barriers such as cost, lack of transportation, unique cultural perspectives on dog husbandry and perceived need for veterinary care. We report the effects of introducing a community action plan designed to improve animal and human health, increase animal health literacy and benefit community well‐being in two Indigenous communities where a dog‐related child fatality recently occurred. Initial door‐to‐door dog demographic surveys indicated that most dogs were sexually intact (92% of 382 dogs), and few had ever been vaccinated (6%) or dewormed (6%). Approximately three animal‐related injuries requiring medical care were reported in the communities per 1000 persons per year (95% CL: 1.6–6.6), and approximately 86% of 145 environmentally collected dog faecal samples contained parasites, far above levels reported in other urban or rural settings in SK. Following two subsidized spay/neuter clinics and active rehoming of dogs, parasite levels in dog faeces decreased significantly (P < 0.001), and important changes were observed in the dog demographic profile. This project demonstrates the importance of engaging people using familiar, local resources and taking a community specific approach. As well, it highlights the value of integrated, cross‐jurisdictional cooperation, utilizing the resources of university researchers, veterinary personnel, public health, environmental health and community‐based advocates to work together to solve complex issues in One Health. On‐going surveillance on dog bites, parasite levels and dog demographics are needed to measure the long‐term sustainability of benefits to dog, human and wildlife health.     

Prevalence of the breed-related glaucomas in pure-bred dogs in North America

Objective To determine the prevalence of the breed‐related glaucomas in pure‐bred dogs presented to the veterinary medical teaching hospitals in North America that participate in the Veterinary Medical Data Base (VMDB). Materials and methods In this retrospective study, age of first diagnosis, breed, and gender data for all breeds of dogs were collected from the VMDB with the clinical diagnosis of primary glaucoma (glaucoma‐NOS) at 5–10 year intervals from 1964 to 2002. The prevalence for each breed (affected dogs compared to all dogs of each breed), any changes over the 38 years, and any gender differences for these glaucomas were determined. Results The prevalence of the primary breed‐related glaucomas has gradually increased from 0.29% (1964–1973); 0.46% (1974–1983); 0.76% (1984–1993); to 0.89% (1994–2002). Breeds that consistently featured among the highest 10 for glaucoma prevalence from four different periods (1964 to 2002) included American Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Wire Fox Terrier, and Boston Terrier. During the last observation period (1994–2002), 22 different breeds had 1% or higher prevalence of the glaucomas. The highest prevalence of glaucomas in 1994–2002 by breed included: American Cocker Spaniel (5.52%); Basset Hound (5.44%); Chow Chow (4.70%); Shar‐Pei (4.40%); Boston Terrier (2.88%); Wire Fox Terrier (2.28%); Norwegian ElkHound (1.98%); Siberian Husky (1.88%); Cairn Terrier (1.82%); and Miniature Poodle (1.68%). A predominance of females with glaucoma occurred in the American Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Cairn Terrier, Chow Chow, English Cocker Spaniel, Samoyed, and perhaps the Siberian Husky, and a predominance of males in the Australian Cattle dog and St Bernard. Age affected the time for first presentation of the glaucomas in the pure‐bred dog. In the majority of breeds the glaucomas were presented for initial diagnosis in dogs between 4 and 10 years of age. Conclusion Breed‐related glaucomas in pure‐bred dogs are frequently presented to the veterinary medical teaching hospitals in North America. The prevalence of the breed‐related glaucomas in the dog appears similar to humans, and in some breeds exceeds that in humans. In many breeds the high prevalence of the glaucomas suggests a genetic basis.     

Letters to the editor

Extract

Sir,—I desire to submit my opinions on the adoption of the courtesy title of “Doctor” by the veterinary profession in New Zealand. In doing so, I am taking a long-term view concerned with the ultimate benefit for veterinary science in New Zealand. Veterinary surgeons form today, more than ever they did in the past, an internationally interchangeable body of scientists; therefore, the veterinary profession in New Zealand should follow the great majority of world countries in the usage of the courtesy title of Doctor.     

Recommendations on vaccination for Latin American small animal practitioners: a report of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association Vaccination Guidelines Group has produced global guidelines for small companion animal practitioners on best practice in canine and feline vaccination. Recognising that there are unique aspects of veterinary practice in certain geographical regions of the world, the Vaccination Guidelines Group undertook a regional project in Latin America between 2016 and 2019, culminating in the present document. The Vaccination Guidelines Group gathered scientific and demographic data during visits to Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, by discussion with national key opinion leaders, visiting veterinary practices and review of the scientific literature. A questionnaire survey was completed by 1390 veterinarians in five Latin American countries and the Vaccination Guidelines Group delivered continuing education at seven events attended by over 3500 veterinarians. The Vaccination Guidelines Group recognised numerous challenges in Latin America, for example: (1) lack of national oversight of the veterinary profession, (2) extraordinary growth in private veterinary schools of undetermined quality, (3) socioeconomic constraints on client engagement with preventive health care, (4) high regional prevalence of some key infectious diseases (e.g. feline leukaemia virus infection, canine visceral leishmaniosis), (5) almost complete lack of minimal antigen vaccine products as available in other markets, (6) relative lack of vaccine products with extended duration of immunity as available in other markets, (7) availability of vaccine products withdrawn from other markets (e.g. Giardia vaccine) or unique to Latin America (e.g. some Leishmania vaccines), (8) accessibility of vaccines directly by pet owners or breeders such that vaccination is not delivered under veterinary supervision, (9) limited availability of continuing education in veterinary vaccinology and lack of compulsion for continuing professional development and (10) limited peer-reviewed published scientific data on small companion animal infectious diseases (with the exception of leishmaniosis) and lack of support for such academic research. In this document, the Vaccination Guidelines Group summarises the findings of this project and assesses in evidence-based fashion the scientific literature pertaining to companion animal vaccine-preventable diseases in Latin America. The Vaccination Guidelines Group makes some recommendations on undergraduate and postgraduate education and academic research. Recognising that current product availability in Latin America does not permit veterinarians in these countries to vaccinate according to the global World Small Animal Veterinary Association guidelines, the Vaccination Guidelines Group makes a series of “pragmatic” recommendations as to what might be currently achievable, and a series of “aspirational” recommendations as to what might be desirable for the future. The concept of “vaccine husbandry” is addressed via some simple guidelines for the management of vaccine products in the practice. Finally, the Vaccination Guidelines Group emphasises the global trend towards delivery of vaccination as one part of an “annual health check” or “health care plan” that reviews holistically the preventive health care needs of the individual pet animal. Latin American practitioners should transition towards these important new practices that are now well embedded in more developed veterinary markets. The document also includes 70 frequently asked questions and their answers; these were posed to the Vaccination Guidelines Group during our continuing education events and small group discussions and should address many of the issues surrounding delivery of vaccination in the Latin American countries. Spanish and Portuguese translations of this document will be made freely available from the on-line resource pages of the Vaccination Guidelines Group.     

Relationships between young stallions’ temperament and their behavioral reactions during standardized veterinary examinations

Horse handling and veterinary examination can induce hazardous stress reactions. Such reactions occur especially in young and less-trained horses, particularly stallions, and make their handling a risk for breeders, grooms, and medical staff. Moreover, these stressful situations will affect the animal’s health and welfare. Because stress reactivity is thought to be partly determined by genetic factors, scientists, veterinarians, and breeders are likely to be interested in adding temperament assessments to stallion selection schemes, as it is already done in some countries. This study assesses young stallions’ temperament and its comparison with their stress reactions during a standardized veterinary examination for studbook admission. The assessment consists of a general examination, a lameness examination including flexion tests, an endoscopy of the upper airway, and a standardized radiological examination. During the years 2008 and 2009, 93 stallions were evaluated. Stallions were observed from the moment they were unloaded from the trailer at the clinic until the end of veterinary examinations. In addition to the behavioral observations made by the experimenter, each staff member in charge of the examination filled in a short questionnaire about the horse’s temperament and the “easiness of manipulation” for the performed examinations. Breeders were asked to complete a longer questionnaire about their horse’s temperament. The assessments of “aggressiveness,” “sociability,” and “learning level” temperament traits were the most consistent, as shown by the significant Spearman correlations between judges’ assessments. Undesirable behaviors during veterinary examinations leading to handling difficulties were associated with a low “easiness of manipulation” score assessed by the clinical staff. These low “easiness of manipulation” scores were positively correlated to temperament traits such as “anxiousness” and “aggressiveness” and negatively correlated to others such as “sociability” or “learning level.” Temperament assessment and behavioral observations can therefore be used to anticipate behaviors that make a horse difficult to handle during veterinary examinations. Thus, it may be important to include temperament assessment as a feature in the selection of breeding stallions—as already practiced for some breeds in some countries. Such evaluations may promote the welfare of horses and ease of handling as well as safety for the handler.     

Canine obesity: is there a difference between veterinarian and owner perception?

Objectives : The overall aim of this study was to examine the nature of the relationship between dog‐ownership and canine obesity, explored in two cohorts of overweight/obese or non‐overweight dogs (n=125). This paper concentrates on the owners’ perception of dog weight. Methods : A researcher‐mediated questionnaire was used to collect data from dog owners attending a small veterinary practice. Interviewees (n=121) were asked qualitative and quantitative questions, designed to examine the owners’ views of their relationship with their dogs. Results : Although a high proportion of owners claimed to have discussed the dog's weight with their veterinarian, some discrepancies were apparent between owner perception of animal weight and the veterinarian's evaluation of body condition score. Owner disagreement was significantly greater for the veterinarian‐defined overweight dogs (P=0·005). Owners often provide personal narratives to account for their dog's weight status. Clinical Significance : This study confirms the important role of the vet in providing information about the issue of dog weight but also suggests that providing verbal information is sometimes insufficient. The study also indicates the potential value of qualitative research methods to further understand client perception of complex animal care issues and highlights the need for further in‐depth research.     

Comparison of interpretation of cat's behavioral needs between veterinarians,veterinary nurses,and cat owners

Cats have certain strongly motivated behaviors, which could be defined as “needs,” that should be understood to provide the cat the best quality of life and assure proper welfare. It is well recognized that cats have several behavioral needs, which if not met, can result in anxiety and secondary behavior problems. These problems can lead to relinquishment or euthanasia. Veterinarians and veterinary nurses have a special role when educating owners. To increase owners' compliance, veterinary professionals should have evidence-based knowledge for the right information to be communicated to feline owners. The goal of the present study was to identify and compare the level of knowledge that veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and pet owners have about cat behavior and to compare their perceptions on this subject. We were also interested in determining whether living with a cat affected the professionals' knowledge base and what they are able to properly communicate to pet owners. It was expected that the veterinarians would have the highest level of knowledge regarding the interpretation of feline behavioral needs. We also hypothesized that those professionals who had or have previously owned a cat would have a better understanding of what cats actually need. A questionnaire, called “questionnaire to assess cat's needs” (QACN), was completed by cat owners, veterinarians, and veterinary nurses. The QACN had 13 different statements about the behavioral needs of cats, and each participant had to select their level of agreement with the statement. The QACN was then scored and a principal component analysis was used to identify meaningful associations. The following 3 components were extracted: elimination, stress releasers, and human stimulation. Contrary to what was expected, the results showed that in some specific areas (stress releasers and human stimulation) veterinarians' and veterinary nurses' knowledge was not significantly different from that of cat owners. This could mean that the role of these professionals in preventing behavioral problems can be very compromised. Those professionals who had owned a cat personally were better at identifying the behavioral needs of cats, with some significant differences (related with stress releasers), compared with those professionals who had never owned a cat. More education about feline behavior should be included when training veterinarians and veterinary nurses for clients to continue to trust these professionals to provide them with evidence-based knowledge about cat behavior.     

Occupational disability and job satisfaction in the equine veterinary profession: How sustainable is this ‘tough job’ in a changing world?

This study used a questionnaire to evaluate the working situation, associated injuries and diseases of equine practitioners in the Netherlands. Equine veterinary work is physically demanding, strenuous and predisposes to diseases and injuries. Despite this, male and female equine practitioners alike appreciate their jobs and hardly ever take sick leave. There was no cynical attitude towards their own profession, but there was awareness of the risks and physical consequences, which are more or less taken for granted by the contemporary equine veterinarians. The profession still appeals to new generations of young practitioners, at least in most European countries, but there is no guarantee that this will remain so. It is the task of the profession itself to anticipate the impending changes, by improving conditions for pregnancy and childcare, for example, and to put more effort in educating (future) equine veterinary professionals about their personal health situation and work‐associated risks. The objectives will be to attract well‐prepared professionals and veterinary entrepreneurs.     

Hidden costs of food production: the veterinarian's role

Veterinarians who work in food-animal production and food safety help to deliver food policy by enabling farmers to supply safe, affordable food. However, existing food policy reflects a production bias and is increasingly being criticized for its hidden costs. These costs include reduced animal welfare, the inflated risk of anti-microbial resistance, and the current pandemic of human obesity and overweight. Veterinarians do not generally recognize that this is the context within which they do their work. In this article, I review this context and argue that veterinary students should be taught about it. I also argue that the profession should join with food-policy analysts, ethicists, and others who are already calling for a rethinking of food policy, so that new policy might meet the full wealth of problems and not just some.     

Maximising canine welfare in veterinary practice and research: a review

This article looks at the existing evidence-base by which veterinary surgeons can make welfare-focused treatment choices. Narrative and structured reviews were conducted. Papers were categorised under headings based on (1) themes in the UK Animal Welfare Act (AWA 2006) - behaviour, environment, nutrition, company and health; (2) iatrogenic harm induced by treatment; (3) decision-making methods, and (4) the subjects' context (e.g. home versus laboratory). There is more information available about 'overt' problems (e.g. acute disease), than 'covert' issues (e.g. chronic pain, lack of company and obesity). Forty of 109 papers covered pain, suffering, injury and disease, compared to 69 across four other themes in the AWA. Twelve papers were identified as focusing on welfare assessment and clinical decision-making. Veterinary surgeons should consider each of the five welfare themes described in the AWA in both veterinary practice and in determining veterinary research priorities.     

Factors affecting the success of rehoming dogs in the UK during 2005

In the UK, welfare organisations care for several thousand dogs each year. The successful rehoming of these dogs is a difficult process resulting in some of them being returned to rehoming centres. There have been very few studies examining the underlying mechanisms in the UK. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine those factors which affect the success of rehoming dogs.A prospective cohort study was conducted using a sample of 5750 dogs rehomed by Dogs Trust, a UK based dog welfare charity, during 2005. Dogs were followed up for a period of 6 months after adoption to determine if these dogs were still in their placement home. There was a 78% response rate to the follow-up postal questionnaires sent to the new owners, giving information on 4500 owners. Fourteen percent of adoptions failed. The results showed that behavioural problems are an important factor in the success of adoption such that if dogs had shown aggression towards people and the owners had not sought advice, they had 11.1 times the odds (95% CI: 6.6, 18.8) of being returned compared to those dogs without behavioural problems. Attending training classes significantly decreased the chance that the adoption would be unsuccessful (OR 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.4). It was shown that those owners who found that the effort and work involved in looking after their dog to be more than they had expected, had 9.9 (95% CI: 4.1, 24.6) times the odds of returning their dog than those who found the effort required to be less than they had expected.The results of this study show that there are many factors involved in a successful adoption and it is important that the new owners are informed of what to expect are encouraged to attend training classes and are prepared to work at any behavioural problems that their dog may have.     

Dieldrin poisoning of dogs

Extract

One of the obvious points of life today is the rapid pace of technological change. The veterinary profession worldwide, and in New Zealand, is not immune from such change. Most of the changes that professionals are now learning to live with are changes that they themselves helped to bring about. Over the last twenty years, and especially over the last ten years in New Zealand, the demand for veterinary skills and advice has increased dramatically. Prior to 1937, veterinary science in New Zealand was an infant profession. Since then the first stage was “selling” farmers an awareness of what veterinary science could do for them. The second stage saw the formation of the Veterinary Services Council, in which efforts were made to ensure equitable distribution of veterinarians, especially in rural areas. The third stage was trying to cope with demand. Today, numbers are reaching the stage at which we can afford the luxury of more detailed planning. The aim is to ensure that all facets of the potential of veterinary science for increasing live-stock production, furthering animal welfare, and in quality control of human food-stuffs, are adequately and efficiently exploited. This is the stage at which multi- disciplinary co-operation will have to be seriously considered.