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1.
Can Vet J ; 48(11): 1129-36, 2007 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18050793

ABSTRACT

Data collected through a national, randomized mail survey (response rate 50%) were used to identify reasons why veterinarians were likely (i) to use analgesic drugs when dehorning calves, and (ii) to perceive dehorning without analgesia as very painful. Logistic regression analysis indicated that veterinarians were more likely to be analgesic users the more they perceived that dehorning without analgesia was painful (OR = 1.7, P < 0.001). Other positive influences were if the veterinarian worked in British Columbia or Alberta (OR = 5.9, P = 0.005), and if they were primarily in dairy practice (OR = 3.7, P = 0.012) rather than beef practice. This effect of dairy practice was negated if the veterinarian also perceived that owners were unwilling to pay for analgesia (interaction term: OR = 0.25, P = 0.038). Veterinarians were also less likely to perceive dehorning without analgesia as very painful if they perceived that owners were unwilling to pay (OR = 0.58, P = 0.029). However, this effect on pain perception was offset by concern for personal safety (OR = 2.7, P = 0.015). The results are consistent with the relatively high level of outreach about animal welfare among farmers and veterinarians in the western provinces. The results confirm that many veterinarians' approach to pain management for dehorning is influenced considerably by concern about cost. However, pain management for dehorning is not expensive and there is unequivocal evidence that dehorning calves without pain management causes significant distress. Continuing education of veterinarians should help to increase analgesic usage.


Subject(s)
Analgesics/therapeutic use , Cattle , Drug Utilization Review , Horns/surgery , Pain, Postoperative/veterinary , Postoperative Care/veterinary , Analgesics/economics , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Canada , Cattle/physiology , Cattle/surgery , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Female , Logistic Models , Male , Odds Ratio , Pain Measurement/veterinary , Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control
2.
Can Vet J ; 48(2): 155-64, 2007 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17334029

ABSTRACT

Anecdotal evidence suggests that many veterinarians may not use analgesics in livestock for routine surgical procedures or painful disease states. To investigate this, we conducted a national mail survey of a random sample of 1431 Canadian veterinarians (response rate, 50.1%). Questions primarily concerned veterinarians' analgesic usage for common surgeries and medical conditions in beef and dairy cattle, pigs, and horses, and attitudes toward pain management. More than 90% of veterinarians used analgesic drugs for equine surgeries, for cesarean section in sows and cows, and for bovine claw amputation and omentopexy. However, in these and other categories, the analgesics used were often inadequate, and many veterinarians did not give analgesics to young animals. When castrated, < 0.001% of piglets received analgesia, compared with 6.9% of beef calves and 18.7% of dairy calves < or = 6 mo of age, 19.9% of beef calves and 33.2% of dairy calves > 6 mo of age, and 95.8% of horses. Respondents largely agreed that there are no long-acting, cost-effective analgesics available for use in livestock (median rating 8/10; interquartile range 4-9), and that the long or unknown withdrawal periods of some drugs outweighed the benefits of using them (median rating 7/10; interquartile range 4-9). The results indicate an urgent need for veterinarians to manage pain in livestock better. Continuing education would help, as would an increase in the number of approved, cost-effective analgesic drugs with known withdrawal periods.


Subject(s)
Analgesics/therapeutic use , Pain, Postoperative/veterinary , Perioperative Care/veterinary , Veterinarians/psychology , Veterinary Medicine/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Animals , Cattle/surgery , Female , Horses/surgery , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Perioperative Care/methods , Perioperative Care/statistics & numerical data , Surveys and Questionnaires , Swine/surgery , Veterinary Medicine/methods
4.
Can Vet J ; 47(5): 453-9, 2006 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16734371

ABSTRACT

Factors affecting the postincisional use of analgesics for ovariohysterectomy (OVH) in dogs and cats were assessed by using data collected from 280 Canadian veterinarians, as part of a national, randomized mail survey (response rate 57.8%). Predictors of analgesic usage identified by logistic regression included the presence of at least 1 animal health technician (AHT) per 2 veterinarians (OR = 2.3, P = 0.004), and the veterinarians' perception of the pain caused by surgery without analgesia (OR = 1.5, P < 0.001). Linear regression identified the following predictors of veterinarians' perception of pain: the presence of more than 1 AHT per 2 veterinarians (coefficient = 0.42, P = 0.048) and the number of years since graduation (coefficient = -0.073, P < 0.001). Some of these risk factors are similar to those identified in 1994. The results suggest that continuing education may help to increase analgesic usage. Other important contributors may be client education and a valid method of pain assessment.


Subject(s)
Analgesics/therapeutic use , Cats/surgery , Dogs/surgery , Pain, Postoperative/veterinary , Postoperative Care/veterinary , Veterinarians/psychology , Animals , Canada , Data Collection , Female , Humans , Hysterectomy/methods , Hysterectomy/statistics & numerical data , Hysterectomy/veterinary , Linear Models , Logistic Models , Male , Ovariectomy/methods , Ovariectomy/statistics & numerical data , Ovariectomy/veterinary , Pain Measurement/veterinary , Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Postoperative Care/methods , Postoperative Care/statistics & numerical data , Risk Factors , Veterinary Medicine/methods , Veterinary Medicine/statistics & numerical data
5.
Can Vet J ; 47(2): 136-43, 2006 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16579039

ABSTRACT

In North America, there are few representative data about the effects of management practices on equine welfare. In a randomized survey of 312 nonracing horses in Prince Edward Island (response rate 68.4%), owners completed a pretested questionnaire and a veterinarian examined each horse. Regression analyses identified factors affecting 2 welfare markers: body condition score (BCS) and stereotypic behavior. Horses' BCSs were high (mean 5.7, on a 9-point scale) and were associated with sex (males had lower BCSs than females; P < 0.001) and examination date (P = 0.052). Prevalences of crib biting, wind sucking, and weaving were 3.8%, 3.8%, and 4.8%, respectively. Age (OR = 1.07, P = 0.08) and hours worked weekly (OR = 1.12, P = 0.03) were risk factors for weaving. Straw bedding (OR = 0.3, P = 0.03), daily hours at pasture (OR = 0.94, P = 0.02), and horse type (drafts and miniatures had a lower risk than light horses; P = 0.12) reduced the risk of horses showing oral stereotypies. Some of these results contradict those of other studies perhaps because of populations concerned.


Subject(s)
Animal Husbandry , Animal Welfare , Behavior, Animal/physiology , Body Constitution/physiology , Horses/physiology , Animal Husbandry/standards , Animal Husbandry/statistics & numerical data , Animals , Female , Male , Prince Edward Island , Risk Factors , Sex Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires
6.
Can Vet J ; 47(4): 352-9, 2006 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16642874

ABSTRACT

A random sample of 652 Canadian veterinarians was surveyed to determine perioperative use of analgesics in dogs and cats following common surgeries. The response rate was 57.8%. With the exception of taildocking in puppies, at least 85% of animals received preincisional analgesics, and 30% to 98.1% received postincisional analgesics. A similar survey was conducted in 1994; since then, analgesic usage has increased markedly, as have ratings of the pain caused by different surgeries. In 2001 most veterinarians (62%) used at least 2 classes of analgesic perioperatively. However, strong opioids, local anesthetics, and alpha-2 agonists were underused, and there was an overreliance on weak opioids (butorphanol, meperidine). Up to 12% of veterinarians did not use any analgesics. Nationally, this may have affected many animals monthly; for example, approximately 6000 dogs or cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Continuing education (provincial level) and review articles were considered effective ways to inform veterinarians about optimal analgesic practices.


Subject(s)
Analgesics/therapeutic use , Cats/surgery , Dogs/surgery , Pain, Postoperative/veterinary , Perioperative Care/veterinary , Veterinarians/statistics & numerical data , Animals , Canada , Drug Utilization Review , Female , Humans , Male , Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Perioperative Care/methods , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Surveys and Questionnaires
8.
J Vet Med Educ ; 33(4): 561-6, 2006.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17220498

ABSTRACT

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.


Subject(s)
Animal Welfare , Consumer Product Safety , Food Supply/legislation & jurisprudence , Legislation, Food , Public Health , Animal Husbandry/economics , Animal Husbandry/methods , Animals , Education, Veterinary , Humans , Obesity/prevention & control
10.
Am J Vet Res ; 66(8): 1453-60, 2005 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16173493

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To develop a preliminary discriminative questionnaire for assessment of nonphysical aspects of the quality of life (QOL) of pet dogs and evaluate the questionnaire's content validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. STUDY POPULATION: Owners of 120 dogs. PROCEDURE: Each QOL question had 4 response options, representing descending levels of QOL that were equally weighted. A maximum of 38 items contributed to the QOL score. The questionnaire was administered by telephone to owners of dogs with appointments at a veterinary teaching hospital before the appointment. After the appointment, each dog was classified as sick or healthy by use of defined criteria; owners of healthy dogs had a second interview 3 to 4 weeks later. Test-retest reliability (kappa), internal consistency (Cronbach alpha), and respondents' comprehension were used as criteria for excluding an item. RESULTS: There were 77 sick and 43 healthy dogs. Twenty-two QOL questions had significant kappa values (0.11 to 0.91). The Cronbach alpha values for 5 domains of QOL ranged from 0.45 to 0.61, indicating that the domains had moderate internal consistency (homogeneity). The initial pool of 38 items was reduced to 27. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The questionnaire was designed to complement veterinary assessment of dogs' physical health. The questionnaire may be a useful tool in making decisions regarding dogs' QOL.


Subject(s)
Dogs/physiology , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires , Animals , Animals, Domestic , Dogs/psychology , Time Factors
11.
Am J Vet Res ; 66(8): 1461-7, 2005 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16173494

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a questionnaire regarding the nonphysical aspects of quality of life (QOL) to differentiate sick and healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 120 dogs. PROCEDURE: The questionnaire was administered by telephone to owners of 120 dogs with appointments at a veterinary teaching hospital. A QOL score was calculated for each dog on the basis of questions relevant to the dog during the 7 days before the interview. Scores were recorded as bar graphs, and linear regression was used to examine the effect of health status and other variables on QOL score. Certain questions were eliminated post hoc, on the basis of defined criteria, and the analyses were repeated. RESULTS: Scores were similar for sick (range, 670% to 93.8%) and healthy (range, 68.0% to 89.8%) dogs. Environment (suburban vs rural) and duration of ownership were significant explanatory variables and accounted for 10.5% of the variation in the QOL score. Eleven questions were eliminated post hoc. The scores derived from the 2 versions of the questionnaire were highly correlated (r = 0.92). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There was no evidence that the QOL questionnaire could differentiate healthy dogs from sick dogs; environmental and owner factors appeared to be more important.


Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/physiopathology , Dogs/physiology , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires , Animals , Dog Diseases/psychology , Dogs/psychology , Regression Analysis
12.
Can Vet J ; 46(3): 250-2, 2005 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15884648

ABSTRACT

An equine abuse policy was developed as an adjunct to an equine management survey. If at least 3 of 5 categories caused concern, a report to the authorities was indicated. The policy was not used but, in the absence of other guidelines, it might assist veterinarians considering potential abuse cases.


Subject(s)
Animal Welfare/legislation & jurisprudence , Horses , Legislation, Veterinary , Veterinary Medicine/methods , Animals , Animals, Domestic , Mandatory Reporting , Prince Edward Island , Public Policy
16.
J Vet Med Educ ; 32(4): 422-37, 2005.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16421823

ABSTRACT

This paper comprises brief descriptions by faculty at 13 veterinary schools in Europe, North America, South America, and Australasia that summarize undergraduate training in animal welfare at the respective schools and how students are assessed.


Subject(s)
Animal Welfare , Curriculum , Education, Veterinary/organization & administration , Education, Veterinary/standards , Students, Medical/psychology , Animals , Behavior, Animal/physiology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans
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