A multi-centre prospective evaluation of internet research habits among owners seeing a veterinary oncologist.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the internet-use among pet owners seeing a veterinary oncologist. Over a two-month period, 137 questionnaires were collected at three specialty hospitals around a large urban city. Approximately 85% of respondents reported using the internet to research their pet's condition and/or treatment. A search engine was the most employed means however veterinary university websites were considered to provide the most accurate information. The odds of owners who researched their own health condition online researching their pet's condition was 4.3 (95% CI: 1.2-23.1, p < .021) times as high as owners who did not research their own health condition. The odds of owners who have been to their oncologist previously to research their pet's condition was 4.7 (95% CI: 26.9.3, p < .001) times as high than owners who have not been to an oncologist previously. Oncologists should be aware internet use among pet owners appears common and further research to assess the accuracy and readability of veterinary medical websites appears indicated.

An analysis of client complaints and their effects on veterinary support staff.

BACKGROUND: Veterinarians and support staff have been reporting the negative mental health effects from client complaints (CC). A previous study was performed evaluating these effects in veterinarians however no such study has been performed on veterinary support staff (VSS). OBJECTIV: The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and effects of CCs on VSS. METHODS: A cross sectional anonymous survey using a web-based questionnaire was created evaluating the frequency, type, and effects from CC. The survey was distributed to five different VSS Facebook groups and respondents provided demographic information and reported the frequency and effects of such complaints. RESULTS: A total of 681 questionnaires were collected during the study period but 130 were incomplete and were excluded from analysis. This resulted in 551 completed questionnaires available for review. One hundred and ninety (34.4%) VSS reported being subject to a CC in the previous 6 months with cost of care the most common reason (78.6%). Two hundred and sixty VSS (47.2%) reported feeling depressed because of CCs made against them, 295 VSS (53.5%) stated CCs negatively affected their enjoyment of their job, and 146 (26.5%) have considered changing their career because of CCs. CONCLUSIONS: CC have detrimental effects on VSS career satisfaction, mental health and hospital practices. Further studies are warranted to mitigate the detrimental effects of CCs.

A prospective evaluation of oral Yunnan Baiyao therapy on thromboelastographic parameters in apparently healthy cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Yunnan Baiyao (YB) on hemostatic parameters measured by thromboelastography (TEG) in apparently healthy cats administered 1 capsule of YB orally twice daily for 1 week. DESIGN: Prospective study of client-owned cats at a small animal specialty hospital. SETTING: One private referral center. ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned adult cats were prospectively enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: All cats underwent echocardiographic examination by the same board-certified cardiologist to rule out occult cardiomyopathy. Blood samples were collected for analysis of baseline CBC, fibrinogen, and kaolin-activated TEG values. Cats were administered 1 capsule (250 mg/capsule) of YB twice daily orally for 1 week and the physical examination, CBC, fibrinogen, and TEG were re-evaluated. Any side effects attributed to YB were noted at this time. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three cats were excluded as 2 cats were identified with underlying cardiomyopathy and another cat had a cystic mass in the cranial mediastinum identified via echocardiography. Seventeen cats were treated with YB; however, 1 cat could not complete the study due to severe vomiting associated with YB administration. The remaining 16 cats completed the study, although 2 additional cats experienced transient vomiting. Yunnan Baiyao administration was associated with a significant decrease in HCT and red blood cell count, although no cat became anemic. None of the TEG parameters significantly changed compared to baseline after 1 week of YB therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest YB at a dose of 1 capsule orally twice daily in cats fails to produce any significant change in hemostatic parameters as measured by TEG, although it did significantly reduce HCT and red blood cell count. Yunnan Baiyao was tolerated for most of the cats, although 3 of 17 (17.6%) cats experienced vomiting. Clinicians should be aware of these effects before considering the use of YB in cats.

A prospective evaluation of rivaroxaban on haemostatic parameters in apparently healthy dogs.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of rivaroxaban (RIV) on haemostatic parameters assessed by prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and kaolin-activated thromboelastography (TEG) in apparently healthy dogs administered 1 mg kg-1 orally once daily for 1 week. Eleven dogs had a baseline complete blood count (CBC), fibrinogen, platelet count, serum chemistry profile, PT, aPTT, and TEG performed. Each dog was then administered approximately 1.0 mg kg-1 of RIV orally once daily for 1 week and the CBC, fibrinogen, platelet count, serum chemistry profile, PT, aPTT, and TEG was re-evaluated. Any side effects attributed to RIV were noted at this time. One dog was excluded due to identification of a macrocytic thrombocytopenia on pre-treatment blood work. The remaining 10 enrolled dogs completed the study. Dogs received a median dose of 1.02 mg kg-1 (range 0.94-1.17 mg kg-1 ) of RIV once daily and was associated with a significant increase in pulse, packed cell volume, total solids, platelet count, fibrinogen and a significant decrease in mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. There was no significant change in PT, aPTT or any TEG parameters. The RIV appeared well tolerated with one dog having one episode of vomiting on day 4 but otherwise no other side effects were identified clinically or on recheck blood work. The results of this study suggests that RIV at a dose of 1 mg kg-1 orally once daily is safe and well tolerated but does not cause a significant prolongation of PT, aPTT or TEG parameters.

Evaluation of owners' attitudes towards veterinarian attire in the small animal specialty setting in North America.

Previous studies in human medicine have found that patients prefer their doctors to be more formally attired, and that this influences their trust and confidence in their physician. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how veterinarians' attire affected owners' impressions and trust in the small animal specialty medicine setting. A questionnaire based study conducted during a 2-month period at an urban based small animal private practice specialty hospital. Respondents completed a written survey after reviewing pictures of the same male and female veterinarian in five different dress styles. Respondents were asked for their preference for male and female veterinarian attire in different clinical scenarios and whether it would affect their willingness to discuss sensitive issues. Two hundred and thirty-eight questionnaires were completed during the study period with 76.1% of respondents being female. Female respondents did not have a preference to how a male or female veterinarian was attired with the attire examples provided. However, male respondents tended to have fairly equal response rates between no preference and preferring a male veterinarian to be in either clinical or professional attire. Male owners either had no preference or preferred their male veterinarian to be attired in clinical or professional attire and had no preference or preferred their female veterinarian to be clinical attire. Most respondents do not feel it is necessary for a veterinarian to wear a white coat or neck ties and most do not feel it is inappropriate for a veterinarian to wear blue jeans, have coloured hair, or have visible tattoos.

Clients' attitudes toward veterinarians' attire in the small animal emergency medicine setting.

OBJECTIVE To determine how veterinarians' attire affected clients' perceptions and trust in the small animal emergency medicine setting. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE 154 clients of a 24-hour small animal emergency clinic in a rural location. PROCEDURES A survey was administered to clients in the waiting room over a 1-month period to elicit their impressions of veterinarians' attire in various clinical scenarios and whether that attire would affect their perceptions. Respondents completed the survey after examining photographs of 1 male and 1 female veterinarian in 5 styles of attire (business, professional, surgical, clinical, and smart casual). RESULTS 83 (53.9%) respondents were female, and 71 (46.1%) were male; age was evenly distributed. Across all clinical scenarios, the most common response was no preference regarding the way a male or female veterinarian was dressed and that this attire would have no effect on the respondents' trust in their veterinarian. Most respondents were indifferent or preferred that their veterinarians not wear neckties and white coats. Twenty-six percent (40/154) of respondents indicated that they believed their veterinarian's attire would influence their opinion of the quality of care their pet received. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In this small animal emergency medicine setting, most clients indicated no preference regarding their veterinarian's attire, yet approximately one-fourth indicated this attire would influence their perception of the quality of care their pet received. Further studies are warranted in other practice settings and locations to determine whether these findings are generalizable or unique to this particular setting.

A prospective evaluation of oral Yunnan Baiyao therapy on thromboleastographic parameters in apparently healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Yunnan Baiyao (YB) on hemostatic parameters measured by thromboelastography (TEG) in healthy dogs administered 1 capsule of YB orally twice daily for 1 week. DESIGN: Prospective study of client-owned dogs at a small animal specialty hospital. SETTING: Private referral center. ANIMALS: Eighteen client-owned adult dogs weighing at least 15 kg. INTERVENTIONS: Dogs had a baseline TEG performed and then each dog was administered 1 capsule of YB twice daily by mouth for 1 week and the TEG was reevaluated. Any side effects attributed to YB were noted at this time. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All 18 enrolled dogs completed the study. Dogs that received 1 capsule (250 mg/capsule) of YB orally twice daily had significantly increased G as well as A30 and A60 values. There was also a significantly decreased LY30 and LY60 values after 1 week. The YB appeared well tolerated as only one dog developed mild diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that YB at 1 capsule orally twice daily in healthy medium to large breed dogs increases the strength of the clot as measured by TEG and that YB was apparently well tolerated in the study population reported here. Larger prospective studies in different disease states are warranted to further evaluate these preliminary findings.