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Background: Veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary students work and train in a variety of environments and are exposed to a wide range of hazards., Objectives: (1) To compare the rate of health and safety incidents and injuries between veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary students. (2) To investigate the health and safety hazard controls present in Australian veterinary workplaces., Study Design: A cross-sectional study, using an online questionnaire., Methods: Anonymous links to the questionnaire were disseminated to Australian veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary students., Results: A total of 494 veterinarians, 484 veterinary nurses and 212 veterinary students completed the survey. Incidents and injuries were common, particularly sharps-related injuries and animal bites. Australian veterinary nurses and veterinarians experienced the studied incidents at similar rates to each other. Veterinary students experienced some incidents and injuries at rates higher than both veterinarians and veterinary nurses, including heatstroke, hypothermia, sunburn, electric shock, loss of consciousness, being rammed or pushed over by an animal and farm equipment injuries. Of the workplace hazard controls reported, first aid boxes were most commonly present, and safety meetings occurred least commonly. Veterinary nurses received Q fever and rabies vaccines much less frequently than veterinarians and veterinary students., Conclusion: This study demonstrated that improvements need to be made to the occupational health and safety standards in the Australian veterinary sector. Veterinarians and veterinary nurses had suboptimal rates of access to many of the required and critical workplace health and safety controls. Improvements to the standard of health and safety training of veterinary students are indicated, given their higher rates of certain incidents and injury., (© 2024 The Author(s). Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.)

The equine industry contributes $74 billion and provides 1.3 million jobs annually to the United States economy. However, limited information is available on the current salaries and benefits of equine professionals. In 2022, an online survey was conducted to assess salaries, benefits, and education levels of equine professionals across several career types in the equine industry. The survey consisted of 38 questions with conditional branching and was distributed through social media and e-newsletters. Survey branching focused on grouping participants by career type into the following categories: farm management, government, industry, nonprofit, private practice, and university. The most prevalent career type represented was farm management (34%) followed by private practice (18%), academia (17%), industry (15%), nonprofit (12%), and government (4%). Associations between variables were examined with Chi-squared analysis. An association was observed between education level and salary (P = 0.001, X 2 = 103.17) with salaries greater than $50,000 being more prevalent with advanced degrees. Similarly, job type and salary were associated (P = 0.001, X 2 = 73.47), where salaries for academia and industry careers were often greater than $50,000 and nonprofit and farm management salaries were more often less or equal to $50,000. Compared to professionals in farm management or in private practice, those in academia and government received more benefits (P<0.05). Data collected from this survey creates a baseline for evaluating compensation across the equine industry and exposed opportunities for improvements in future surveys. Outside of industry salary comparisons, survey data can be used by educators to emphasize the benefit of further education to increase salary and benefits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could influence or bias the content of the paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Occupational stress is a serious problem in veterinary medicine; however, validated instruments to measure this problem are lacking. The aim of the current study was to address this literature gap by designing and validating a questionnaire and establishing the cut-off points for identifying veterinarians with high and low levels of stress., Methods: The study involved two sub-studies with two Spanish samples. The first study (N = 30 veterinarians; 66.7% women; 63.33% from small animal clinics) investigated the factors related to the work environment that caused the most stress; the results were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The second study (N = 1082; 70.8% women; 71.4% from small animal clinics) involved designing and validating a questionnaire to measure sources of stress in veterinary medicine, as well as establishing the cut-off points for interpreting the results using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis., Results: The first study showed the main sources of stress and allowed items to be defined for the questionnaire. The second study validated the Sources of Stress in Veterinarian Medicine (SOS-VetMed) questionnaire and confirmed five sources of stress with adequate reliability and validity indices: "work overload," "work-family conflict," "emotional burden of work," "organizational factors," and "emergency problems." Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses verified a structure of five factors (Cronbach's alpha values ranging between 0.92 and 0.69). The five subscales of the SOS-VetMed questionnaire were positively correlated with two indicators of distress: "psychological complaints" and "psychosomatic complaints." The cut-off points indicated that 45.83% and 19.95% of the veterinarians surveyed had high and low levels of stress, respectively., Conclusions: The results confirmed that the SOS-VetMed questionnaire could be used to determine the stress levels of veterinarians and to design intervention programs to improve their workplace health., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: This study aimed to identify factors associated with veterinary support staff resigning from UK companion animal veterinary practices., Methods: Cross-sectional employment data from support staff working across a group of veterinary practices on 31 December 2020 were retrospectively analysed. The support staff were categorised as those who remained at, or resigned from, their practice over the following 12-month period. The proposed risk factors for future resignations were analysed using multivariable binary logistic regression modelling., Results: In total, 398 of 2068 (19.2%) veterinary support staff resigned during the study period. Factors associated with greater odds of future resignations included lower staff engagement (employee net promoter score; odds ratio [OR] = 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99-1.00; p < 0.001), lower client practice engagement (net promoter score; OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.97-1.00; p = 0.012), shorter tenure (OR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.90-0.95; p < 0.001), recent parental leave (OR = 2.37; 95% CI 1.38-4.07; p = 0.002) and younger age (OR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.98-1.00; p = 0.017)., Limitations: Data were collected retrospectively and were not recorded for research purposes., Conclusions: Employee and client net promoter scores are important predictors of resignations and could be useful tools for managers. Recent parental leave is a predictor of support staff attrition, and 'return to work' interventions may present an opportunity to improve retention., (© 2024 British Veterinary Association.)

Objective: To document the utilization and training of laparoscopic and thoracoscopic minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques within the American, European, Australian and New Zealand Colleges of Small Animal Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS, ECVS, and ANZCVS) in 2020., Study Design: Observational study., Sample Population: Diplomates and residents of the ACVS, ECVS, and FANZCVS., Methods: An electronic survey was sent using veterinary list servers. Questions were organized into categories evaluating (1) the demographics of the study population and the caseload, (2) comfort level with specific procedures, (3) motivating factors and limitations, and (4) surgical training and the role of the governing bodies., Results: Respondents included 111 practicing surgeons and 28 residents. Respondents' soft-tissue MIS caseloads had increased since they first started performing MIS; however, most respondents were only comfortable performing basic laparoscopy. Over half of the respondents agreed on the patient benefits and high standard of care provided by MIS. Perceived adequate soft-tissue training in MIS during residency was strongly associated with perceived proficiency at the time of survey response. Most respondents agreed that the specialty colleges should take a more active role in developing standards for soft-tissue MIS, with residents agreeing that a required standardized course would be beneficial., Conclusion: Soft-tissue MIS is widely performed by diplomates and residents. Perceived adequate soft-tissue MIS training was strongly associated with perceived proficiency., Clinical Significance: There is substantial underutilization of advanced MIS techniques in veterinary specialty surgical practice, which might be improved by a stronger focus on MIS training during residency., (© 2024 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Veterinarians play an essential role in safeguarding and promoting animal and human health by timely reporting of notifiable diseases to animal and public health agencies and by educating animal owners on effective disease prevention measures. Moreover, clinical veterinarians can prevent the transmission and spread of zoonotic diseases by adopting effective biosecurity practices in their clinics. An online questionnaire was administered between October and November 2021 to veterinarians registered with the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinarians were surveyed on their disease risk perception, biosecurity practices, and disease reporting knowledge. In total, 104 veterinarians (64 % females and 46 % males) completed the questionnaire, of whom 88 % were veterinarians working in clinical practice (88 % companion animals and 12 % bovine or swine), while 12 % were employed in non-clinical settings. The disease-reporting knowledge score was higher for veterinarians with biosecurity training (IRR: 1.35; 95 % CI: 1.47-1.75). Compared to large animal veterinarians, companion animal veterinarians had lower odds of having biosecurity training (OR=0.68; 95 % CI=0.02-0.28) and were less familiar with current biosecurity guidelines (OR=0.12; 95 % CI = 0.03-0.51). Veterinarians familiar with biosecurity guidelines had a higher probability (OR=4.4; 95 % CI: 1.21-16.28) of perceiving biosecurity practices as practical while working with animals. Conversely, veterinarians who perceived that they could transmit diseases to animals had lower odds (OR: 0.42; 95 % CI: 0.20-0.91) of wearing protective clothing while dealing with confirmed cases of zoonotic diseases. Based on our study results, a gap in disease-reporting knowledge was identified among companion animal veterinarians. Biosecurity training improved the disease-reporting knowledge of veterinarians, suggesting that providing continuing education for veterinarians would be beneficial to disease reporting. A disconnect between disease risk perception and biosecurity practices was identified and further studies are needed to understand this discrepancy to design effective education programs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To identify thoroughbred industry stakeholders' views on the yearling sales endoscopy in Australia., Design: Semi-structured qualitative group interviews with equine veterinarians, thoroughbred breeders and yearling purchasers., Methods: Twenty-nine experienced thoroughbred industry stakeholders participated in online focus groups: (1) equine veterinarians involved in yearling endoscopy; (2) thoroughbred breeders; and (3) yearling buyers. The focus groups were audio and video recorded and digital whiteboards were available. Data was transcribed, live-coded and analysed thematically., Results: The main themes identified included the uncertainty surrounding the relationship between yearling laryngeal function and future performance, especially the significance of yearlings with grade 3 out of 5 laryngeal function; interobserver variability in the laryngeal function grade assigned by veterinarians to the same endoscopic exam; and the presence of intra-horse variability in laryngeal function over different time points., Discussion: Stakeholders raised multiple concerns about the current yearling sales endoscopy process in Australia. Recommendations to address these concerns include further investigation into the race performance of yearlings identified with grade 3 laryngeal function; training of veterinarians to reduce inter-observer variability; and the need to determine the most appropriate grading system to use in yearlings. Future research should evaluate the significance of intra-horse variability in a yearling population., (© 2024 The Authors. Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.)

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a One Health issue and a major threat to animal and human health. Antibiotic use (ABU) drives AMR development, and several hotspots for ABU, and AMR, in livestock have been identified in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. There are often multiple drivers of ABU at farms, and to identify all of them there is a need to look beyond farm level., Objectives: The overall aim of this study was to identify routines and/or competencies, related to antibiotic sales, among veterinary drug shop workers that may be improved in order to decrease the medically non-rational use of antibiotics in livestock production., Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted at 50 veterinary drug shops in northern Vietnam., Results: Results showed high education and knowledge levels. According to the respondents, antibiotic treatment advice was almost always provided to the farmers, and the recommended treatment was most commonly based on recommendations for the specific disease. However, farmers had almost never had their animals properly diagnosed. Antibiotics were the most sold drug category, penicillins being the most common. Several broad-spectrum antibiotics were also quite frequently sold. Further, >50% of respondents recommended antibiotics for disease prevention., Conclusions: Even though education and knowledge levels might be high, several challenges can prevent drug shop workers from contributing to more prudent ABU at farms, for example, lack of proper diagnosis, commercial interests and individual farmer motives, often in combination with poor compliance to regulations., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Veterinary professionals experience higher psychological distress and lower wellbeing compared with the general population. Identifying workplace stressors is key to understanding and alleviating these difficulties., Objective: Identify the severity of workplace stressors in veterinary professions across different levels of professional experience., Method: A cross-sectional quantitative design was utilised via administration of a veterinary stressor questionnaire that measured the severity of 93 generic and veterinary-specific workplace stressors., Results: A total of 658 participants reported stressor severity score. Factor analysis revealed four main stressor categories: workload and job demands, client relations stress, performance and accountability, patient care challenges. An inverse relationship was found between experience level and stressor severity scores. Furthermore, the most severe stressors varied as a function of career stage., Findings and Implications: Stressor severity tends to decrease with increasing experience levels. Stressors can be categorised by theme and unique stressor profiles can be derived for practitioners according to experience level. This knowledge can assist in the design and delivery of workplace support initiatives., Conclusions: Identify key stressors across different levels of experience is important in focusing efforts to support people in the workplace., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Veterinary practice staff are directly involved in the dispensing of prescription veterinary medicines (POM-Vs) to farmers as prescribed by registered veterinary surgeons to animals 'under their care'. The role of veterinary practice staff has, to date, been underresearched. The objective of this study was to investigate the roles played by veterinary practice staff, exploring their expectations and perceptions of the front-of-house (FoH) role, their interactions with clients in day-to-day veterinary practice and their experiences relating to the dispensing of POM-Vs., Methods: Thematic analysis was used to analyse data from 20 semi-structured interviews of veterinary practice staff. Participants were recruited from 80% of the large animal or mixed species veterinary practices across Wales., Results: Four key themes-'piggy in the middle', learning on the job, practice organisation and facilitating change-were identified, illustrating the multifaceted and diverse nature of this type of employment., Limitations: This study is not intended to be representative of the perceptions of FoH staff on the dispensing of antimicrobials. Larger-scale studies are required to substantiate these findings., Conclusion: Understanding the roles of non-clinical veterinary staff allows practice managers and veterinary surgeons to better identify and meet training and staffing needs and improves recognition of this key area of practice work., (© 2024 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

Background: Client satisfaction depends on the balance between expectations and service experience. Previous research identified seven aspects of equine veterinary professional conduct that are important for client satisfaction: quality of care, quality of service, horsemanship, transfer of knowledge, financial aspects, interpersonal skills and professionalism., Methods: By employing a cross-sectional study design through a survey-based investigation, horse owners' initial contact preferences and their perceptions of the importance of various aspects of veterinary care in different scenarios were explored. Categories included professional versus amateur and competitive versus non-competitive horse owners. Quantitative data analysis was performed., Results: Data from 1153 participants revealed that horse owners promptly contacted veterinarians for colic (92.7%) but delayed for lameness (51.8%) and pre-purchase examinations (63.0%). Overall, quality of care emerged as the most important aspect of veterinary care for horse owners, with financial aspects considered least important. Competitive and professional horse owners prioritised financial aspects and professionalism, whereas non-professional and non-competitive horse owners prioritised quality of care and interpersonal skills (p < 0.005)., Limitations: Survey distribution relied on a snowball effect, internet access was necessary and the study exclusively represents the Western equine community. Potential bias should be acknowledged., Conclusion: The perceived importance of various aspects of veterinary care varies depending on the nature of the consultation and the horse owner type. Tailoring veterinary services can improve client satisfaction by aligning with diverse expectations., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern. Humans can acquire antibiotic resistance through human-to-human transmission, from the environment, via the food chain, and through the contact with animals. The National Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance 2020-2024 highlights the prudent use of antibiotics in veterinary activities as the key element in keeping antibiotics effective. We determined the factors associated with misuse of antibiotics among animal health professionals in Rwanda., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that enrolled animal health field professionals from five districts, where stratified random sampling was used to select one district by each province of Rwanda. Structured questions were used during face-to-face interviews. The misuse of antibiotics was defined as the use of antibiotics for reasons other than treatment, the non-completion of required courses, or the use of a high dose (i.e., an overdose) of antibiotics. We collected socio-demographic data of respondents, as well as elementary knowledge and perceptions on veterinary antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. A backward stepwise logistic regression model was used to identify the factors that were predictive of the inappropriate use of antibiotics., Results: There were 256 respondents to the survey. Of those, 198 were male and 58 were female. Almost three quarters of respondents (n = 174/256; 68%) reported the misuse of antibiotics at least once in the previous 12 months. The final logistic regression analysis identified the following factors to be predictive of antibiotics misuse: aged ≤ 24 years (aOR 0.92; 95% CI [0.88, 0.96]; p < 0.001); low trust in veterinary antibiotics available in the local market (aOR 8.45; 95% CI [4.18, 17.07]; p < 0.01), insufficient knowledge about basic understanding of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance (aOR 2.78; 95% CI [1.38, 5.58], p < 0.01) and not acquiring any continuing education (aOR 1.97; 95% CI [1.02, 4.19]; p = 0.04)., Conclusions: This study identified inadequate perceptions of proper antibiotic use among animal health professionals. There is a need for continuous education on appropriate antibiotic use among animal health professionals to lessen the negative impact of antibiotic resistance on public health security., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Overriding spinous processes, also known as 'kissing spines', are one of the most common causes of back pain in horses. The aim of this study was to investigate which options for diagnosis and treatment are preferred by equine orthopaedic specialists and assess which techniques are used for local injection., Methods: An online survey was distributed among members of the European/American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the European/American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology and nationally recognised advanced equine orthopaedic practitioners., Results: The survey was completed by 353 respondents. The injection techniques most commonly used involve placing two needles abaxial to the interspinous space (42%) under ultrasonographic guidance (32%) or one needle in the midline (35%) between two spinous processes. The most popular combination for overriding dorsal spinous process therapy was local injection (26.7%) combined with controlled exercise (25.5%). Manual therapy was considered by 42% of European and 25% of American specialists (p = 0.01). Surgical intervention as a first-line treatment was recommended mainly by specialists working in the United States, the UK or Ireland (p = 0.001). Overall, most equine orthopaedic veterinarians (71%; n = 201) preferred conservative management and recommended surgery only for horses that did not respond to conservative therapy., Limitations: Respondents' personal bias may have skewed the findings., Conclusions: Despite a growing body of evidence, the therapeutic approach to 'kissing spines' in horses is influenced by professional specialisation and regional preferences. Variations in injection techniques and differing criteria for surgical intervention warrant further investigation., (© 2024 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

This study investigated equine nutrition knowledge and educational needs of licensed veterinarians in the United States who were exclusively or predominately equine practitioners. It found veterinarians regard their peers as an important resource of nutritional knowledge, ranking ahead of all other sources except a PhD equine nutritionist. Interestingly, only 21% of veterinarians felt good about their knowledge level in equine nutrition after graduating from veterinary school. Although veterinarians in this study reported equine nutrition to be an area of weakness, 75% had not pursued continuing education in the field of nutrition within the last year. Additionally, they devoted only 65 minutes per year on average to improving their knowledge of equine nutrition, yet the majority (82.2%) had been providing nutritional advice to clients. This study revealed that time spent practicing veterinary medicine increases ( p < .001) a veterinarian's self-perceived knowledge level of equine nutrition, shifting from just below average after graduation from veterinary school to just above average at the time of this study. The majority (70%) of veterinarians in this study believe nutrition is very important in their practice philosophy, and 71% showed interest in taking online continuing education courses; thus, curriculum should be developed and offered in areas of need as identified by this study. These areas include insulin resistance, equine gastric ulcer syndrome, equine metabolic syndrome, performance horses, equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, equine polysaccharide storage myopathy, and arthritis/joint pain, along with how to assess nutritional status during general wellness examinations.

Objective: Assess veterinarians' reported levels of moral distress and professional well-being. Determine the predictive value of moral distress, controlling for demographic factors, on veterinarians' levels of Professional Fulfillment, Work Exhaustion, Disengagement, and Burnout., Sample: Members of the Veterinary Information Network., Procedures: An electronic survey distributed via the Veterinary Information Network data collection portal., Results: A total of 1,919 veterinarians completed the survey. For both associates and owners, gender and age were significant predictors of moral distress with younger female veterinarians reporting higher levels of distress than older male veterinarians. For associates, age was a positive predictor and moral distress score was a negative predictor of Professional Fulfillment. Age was a negative predictor, and female gender and moral distress score were both positive predictors for Work Exhaustion. For Interpersonal Disengagement and Burnout, age was a negative predictor and moral distress score was a positive predictor. For owners, age was a positive predictor and moral distress score was a negative predictor for Professional Fulfillment. Age was a negative predictor, and female gender and moral distress score were both positive predictors of Work Exhaustion, Interpersonal Disengagement, and Burnout., Clinical Relevance: We found that, controlling for age and gender, higher levels of moral distress predicted lower levels of Professional Fulfillment and higher levels of Work Exhaustion, Interpersonal Disengagement, and Burnout. Given the prevalence of moral distress and its impact on mental health, it is imperative that the veterinary field provide training and education on how to recognize and navigate ethical conflicts.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of veterinarians graduated between 2009 and 2019 in the Netherlands leaving practice, their reasons for leaving and the relative importance of these reasons., Methods: Study 1 (focus group sessions, n = 14) of this project was aimed at defining the reasons Dutch veterinarians have for leaving veterinary practice within 10 years of graduation. In study 2, the frequency of veterinarians leaving veterinary practice and the relative importance of the reasons for leaving identified in study 1 were investigated through a cross-sectional digital survey. A career in veterinary practice was defined as working in first- or second-line veterinary practice. Leaving practice was defined as ending employment in veterinary practice., Results: The results of study 1 yielded 20 reasons given by veterinarians to leave veterinary practice within 10 years of graduation. One of the reasons obtained by this study was not mentioned in literature before: leaving veterinary practice as a pre-planned career path. Study 2 demonstrated that the mean percentage of respondents from graduation years 2009 to 2014 who left practice within 5 years of graduation was 16.8%. The most important reasons respondents gave for this career move were poor work-life balance, excessive workload, insufficient remuneration and perceived lack of employer support., Conclusion: A substantial number of veterinarians leave veterinary practice within 5 years of graduation. The most important reasons for this decision are excessive job demands or insufficient job resources. Furthermore, these reasons are a result of negative experiences regarding organisation of work, management and remuneration., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

Background: Telehealth adoption is being fueled by both technological breakthroughs and societal demands; however, veterinarians have yet to fully embrace the concept of telemedicine, limiting its use and potential benefits. The goal of this study was to evaluate how effective the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behaviour change explains the initiation and sustenance of telehealth use among veterinarians., Methods: For this cross-sectional study, a research company was contracted to disseminate the MTM-based online survey to veterinarians currently engaged in clinical practice within the United States., Results: A total of 243 veterinarians participated in this study. The most frequently reported age group among participants was 31-40 years (33.7%, n = 82). It was also noted that the majority of participants were female (70.0%, n = 170) and white (76.5%, n = 186). Hierarchical multiple regression showed that participatory dialogue (p = 0.037), species (p = 0.013) and previous monthly telehealth use (p = 0.040) were significant explanatory variables of initiation of telehealth use. Moreover, emotional transformation (p < 0.001) and previous monthly telehealth use (p = 0.035) were significant explanatory variables of sustenance of telehealth use., Limitations: The data were collected in July 2020, during a global pandemic, in which telehealth use surged across a variety of professions. As a result, the findings of the study may not be relevant in periods when there is no pandemic., Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, researchers, educators and veterinary professionals should consider using MTM as theoretical framework to develop interventions to enhance telehealth use., (© 2022 British Veterinary Association.)

Background: This study aimed to investigate the perceived effect of the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP) on its graduates, with respect to career advancement, professional practice and contentment with work in the veterinary industry., Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of CertAVP graduates was performed, utilising descriptive analysis of Likert scales, logistic regression of demographic variable associations with key outcomes and free-text analysis., Results: The majority (89%) of the 103 respondents felt that the CertAVP led to improvements in professional practice, 56% felt it had helped advance their career and 55% stated it had improved their contentment with work in the veterinary industry. The CertAVP was perceived to improve evidence-based practice, clinical governance, intellectual satisfaction and encourage lifelong learning, but was not perceived to improve work-life balance., Limitation: Due to potential response bias, this study may not represent the wider population., Conclusion: Despite respondents reporting career advancement, this was only reflected in mentorship and managing more complex cases; respondents neither felt that the CertAVP resulted in promotion, a pay rise or new leadership roles, nor did it afford greater flexibility in their working schedule., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

Countries in which foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic may face bans on the export of FMD-susceptible livestock and products because of the associated risk for transmission of FMD virus. Risk assessment is an essential tool for demonstrating the fitness of one's goods for the international marketplace and for improving animal health. However, it is difficult to obtain the necessary data for such risk assessments in many countries where FMD is present. This study bridged the gaps of traditional participatory and expert elicitation approaches by partnering with veterinarians from the National Veterinary Services of Kenya ( n = 13) and Uganda ( n = 10) enrolled in an extended capacity-building program to systematically collect rich, local knowledge in a format appropriate for formal quantitative analysis. Participants mapped risk pathways and quantified variables that determine the risk of infection among cattle at slaughter originating from each of four beef production systems in each country. Findings highlighted that risk processes differ between management systems, that disease and sale are not always independent events, and that events on the risk pathway are influenced by the actions and motivations of value chain actors. The results provide necessary information for evaluating the risk of FMD among cattle pre-harvest in Kenya and Uganda and provide a framework for similar evaluation in other endemic settings.

Background: Angiostrongylus vasorum (Nematoda, Metastrongyloidea) is a vascular nematode that resides in the pulmonary arteries and the right side of the heart of a wide variety of carnivores, with an indirect life cycle using coprophagic gastropods as intermediate hosts. For domestic dogs, the infection with A. vasorum can be asymptomatic, but more frequently, it is associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations like cardio-respiratory signs, bleedings, neurological signs, and ocular problems which can lead to death when not treated accordingly. Angiostrongylosis was confirmed for the first time in Romania in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in 2017 and two years later a seroepidemiologic study was conducted among domestic dogs. However, to this date, no clinical canine angiostrongylosis cases were published in Romania. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the knowledge about canine angiostrongylosis among veterinarians in Romania and to update the distribution of this disease using a national wide anonymous questionnaire., Results: Overall, 147 unique responses were submitted, from 31 out of 42 counties. Twelve veterinarians (8%) from 8 counties (26%) acknowledged diagnosing a case of angiostrongylosis including 5 from the Bucharest and 1 from each of the remaining seven counties. All affected dogs had respiratory distress, 75% suffered cardiopathy, 16% coagulopathies and 8% neurological signs. Case diagnosis was based mostly on larval detection by coprology (67%) and serological antigen detection test (42%)., Conclusions: Romanian veterinarians are aware of canine angiostrongylosis and a significant number have clinical experience with the disease. Epidemiological studies are now needed to assess its distribution in the country, and further efforts are required to improve understanding of the disease, its diagnostic and treatment methods among veterinarians., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonotic infection. Veterinary personnel and abattoir workers are considered to be at a high risk of T. gondii infection owing to their occupational exposure. However, the association of T. gondii infection with occupational exposure to animals has not been determined in India. Hence, we analysed 139 and 126 blood samples of veterinary personnel and abattoir workers, respectively, for anti-T. gondii antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), modified agglutination test (MAT) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The association of seroprevalence with sociodemographic profiles, work activities and dietary habits was determined in the study population. MAT, ELISA and IFAT results demonstrated nearly 46%, 48% and 47% seropositivity, respectively. MAT (kappa = 0.924) and IFAT (kappa = 0.962) results showed good agreement with ELISA results. Of the ELISA positive samples, 46% was copositive for IgG antibody, 1.5% for IgM antibody and 1.5% for both IgG and IgM antibodies. High IgG avidity was observed only in IgG+ IgM- and IgG+ IgM+ samples and not in IgM+ IgG- samples, indicating chronic T. gondii infection in most of the cases. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with age > 30 years (odds ration [OR] = 1.992), cat at home (OR = 1.991), not wearing gloves (OR = 1.886), not wearing safety glasses (OR = 1.985) and contact with soil (OR = 1.695). These findings support the presence of a potentially significant association between T. gondii seropositivity and occupational exposure to animals., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Worldwide, veterinary practitioners and students are reported to be at higher risk of suicide, burnout, and depression compared to other occupational groups. The aim of the current study was to apply text mining and topic modelling analysis on scientific literature regarding suicide, burnout, and depression among veterinary practitioners and students to extract meaningful and synthetic information. These statistical approaches can be used to comprehend more in deep the phenomena involving veterinarians and veterinary students and to suggest the potential changes needed in admission to veterinary school, veterinary curricula, and post-graduation initiatives as preventive actions., Results: A systematic search protocol was set up to identify scientific literature that published on the topic from 1985 to 2019. Two-hundred-eleven records were selected with abstracts/texts submitted to text mining and topic modelling analysis. Student, stress, work, anim*, and euthanasia resulted the most frequent terms. Topics modelling allowed to differentiate groups of words and papers in 3 areas of interest: 1) students' difficulties encountered during their studies that increase stress and anxiety impairing their psychological health; 2) exposure to death and euthanasia as risk factor for mental health; and 3) need of support among those providing medical and health care, and of supportive group work to cope with such profession., Conclusion: Based on the most frequent words included in the clouds and on the contents of the papers clusterised in them, some suggestions are interfered. It is emphasized that the veterinary curricula should include courses that prepare them early to deal with animal death and post-death grief of pet owners, to handle ethical dilemmas and moral stressors, to communicate with clients and staff members, to work in team, to balance work-family life and to promote individual and team resources. Specific courses for veterinary practitioners could keep them updated on their new roles and ways to handle them among functioning as potential feedbacks to monitor their psychological wellbeing., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Since drug companies are driven by the need to produce profit they are unwilling to make large investments in the development of new drugs if there is no market large enough to justify such investment. For this reason, veterinarians face a major obstacle - the veterinary drug market is not very profitable, which sometimes leads to not having a licensed drug available for treatment in veterinary practice. In this case, the cascade procedure allows veterinarians to, under certain circumstances, prescribe human approved drugs. The aim of our study was to analyze the pattern of human approved drugs prescription for 150 medical records of dogs participating in the survey. The results show that antimicrobial agents were the most commonly prescribed drugs for animals (50%) of all human approved drugs, and beta-lactams (38.6%) were the most widely used antibiotic classes. The most common general conditions for therapeutic use of antimicrobials in this study were digestive, skin and respiratory disorders. Our study shows that the frequency of bacterial culture, susceptibility testing and cytology was very low. Even though the off-label use of human approved drugs in animal practice is regulated by law, the results of this study indicate the need for more specific strategies and guidelines for such use. This may represent a potential for improvement by raising veterinarians' awareness toward more prudent use of human drugs., (Copyright© by the Polish Academy of Sciences.)

Background: Veterinarians face the risk of contracting zoonotic pathogens. Infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines stress the importance of proper hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent transmission of these pathogens., Objectives: We aimed to assess how ambulatory livestock and equine veterinarians follow IPC guidelines, when working on farms and in stables., Methods: We studied hygiene practices of livestock and equine ambulatory veterinarians (n = 129) in Finland. A web-based questionnaire was used to obtain demographic information and information regarding hand-hygiene facilities and practices, use and cleaning of PPE and cleaning of medical equipment., Results: According to 66.9% of the respondents, hand-washing facilities were often adequate on livestock farms, but only 21.4% reported that this was the case in stables (p < .001). While 75.0% reported washing their hands or using hand sanitizer always before moving on to the next farm, only 42.5% reported doing this before moving on to the next stables (p < .001). Universal protective coat or coverall use was more common in livestock practice than in equine practice (91.6% vs. 27.7%, p < .001). Stethoscope cleaning was reported to happen less frequently than once a week by 30.0% of the respondents., Conclusions: Finnish veterinarians' self-reported IPC adherence was far from uniform. IPC was more commonly followed in ambulatory livestock practice perhaps facilitated by better hand-washing facilities on farms than in stables. The study suggests that education of veterinarians is still needed and that hand-washing facilities need to be improved even in a high-income country., (© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Veterinarians have been identified as being at particularly high risk of stress in the workplace, this predisposes them to anxiety, depression and suicide. Previous quantitative studies have identified causes of stress and common coping strategies used by veterinarians. The current research aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the experience of veterinarian stress and ways of coping using qualitative methods., Method: Twelve practicing small animal veterinarians in Australia were recruited. They took part individually in semi-structured research interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to design the study and to analyse the transcripts., Results: Analyses of the interview data identified an overarching theme: spending less time working in clinical settings and four main themes: Preoccupation, self-doubt, conflicting responsibilities (between care of the animal, the human client and financial demands of the business) and insufficient support., Conclusion: The results give a deeper understanding of sources of stress and the difficulties experienced in coping. These findings can help explain why veterinarians are leaving the profession or reducing their work hours, as well as emphasize the importance of continuing education of veterinarians on self-care and coping with stress, help with resolving ethical dilemmas, and working as a team., (© 2021 British Veterinary Association.)

Background: The misuse of antibiotics is a persistent problem in both human and veterinary medicine. While complex social and behavioural factors drive inappropriate use in human medicine, less is known about factors that impact antibiotic use in companion animal medicine., Objective: To identify the perceptions that veterinarians practicing companion animal medicine hold about the influence of financial considerations on antibiotic use., Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with veterinarians practicing companion animal medicine in a major metropolitan area in the Eastern United States. Respondents were sampled purposefully, and data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach., Results: Interviews were conducted with 36 veterinarians from 19 practices. Veterinarians believed that their clients' willingness to pay for diagnostic testing or treatment interfered with their ability to make appropriate decisions about antibiotic use. Concerns over antibiotic expiration and subsequent financial losses limited which antibiotics veterinarians stocked. Some veterinarians feared that restricting antibiotic use to appropriate uses could harm their business and lead to economic euthanasia of their patients., Conclusions: Veterinarians perceive that financial factors can impede their ability to appropriately prescribe antibiotics. Interventions that address the financial aspects of prescribing have the potential to improve antibiotic decision-making in veterinary medicine., (© 2021 British Veterinary Association.)

Background: Despite the rise in positive psychology within organisational settings, less is known about the positive factors associated with veterinary work and veterinarian well-being. This qualitative study investigated sources of pleasure for veterinarians., Method: A subset of archival data from a larger study on veterinary well-being was analysed. The current study was based on data from 273 veterinarians responding to a Ten Statements Test (TST) and demographic questions. In the TST, participants provided up to 10 responses to the prompt, 'I derive pleasure in my work as a veterinarian when…'., Results: Using the job demands-resources model as a framework, a total of 2536 responses were manually coded into themes relating to resources (positive responses) or demands (responses indicating a negative factor). In order of frequency, job resources are related to professional expertise (22%), positive outcomes (20%), job characteristics (19%), relationships (16%), recognition (10%), helping (7%) and personal resources (3%). Top job demands are related to stress and fatigue (17%) and poor work-life balance (16%)., Conclusion: The results suggest that there are an abundance of positive factors in veterinary work associated with feelings of pleasure, which may support veterinarian well-being., (© 2021 British Veterinary Association.)

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is (AMR) an emerging global public health problem. Rationale use of antibiotic can prevent the rise of antimicrobial resistance. The objective of this study was to understand the knowledge, attitude and practice on antibiotic usage and AMR among the veterinarians and para-veterinarians in Bhutan., Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey among the veterinarians and para-veterinarians was conducted from June to July 2020. A score of one to the correct answers and zero for the wrong answers was allotted to each respondent answers. The total score was added and those who scored above the mean was categorized as having good knowledge and favourable attitude., Result: A total of 219 animal health workers participated in this study. The mean knowledge score was 12.05 ±1.74 with 38.8% of the respondents having good knowledge on antibiotic use and AMR. Similarly, the mean scores for the attitude level were 8.32±1.61 with 51% them having favorable attitude towards antibiotic usage and AMR. The mean practice score was 3.83±1.06 with 77% of them having good practices on antibiotic use. The respondents who read national plan on AMR were found to have good knowledge on antibiotics and AMR (AOR: 2.39; 95% CI: 1.19-4.82). The female respondents (AOR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.01-4.61), respondents from the eastern region (AOR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.18-5.44), west central (AOR: 3; 95% CI: 1.30-6.92), animal health supervisors (AOR: 9.77; 95% CI: 1.98-48.29), and livestock production supervisors (AOR: 2.77; 95% CI: 1.21-6.35) have favorable attitude towards antibiotics and AMR., Conclusions: Our study identified that most animal health workers in Bhutan had poor knowledge on antibiotics usage and AMR. Therefore, regular awareness education on antibiotics and AMR in the form of refresher course/training must be provided to the animal health workers in the country to avoid inappropriate use of antibiotics., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Brucellosis is an important occupational disease, mainly among veterinarians, because of their frequent contact with sick animals, contaminated secretions and live attenuated anti-Brucella vaccines. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of accidental exposure to S19 and RB51 vaccine strains and occupational brucellosis among veterinarians registered to administer vaccinations in Minas Gerais, Brazil, as well as to identify the risk factors associated with accidental exposure to anti-Brucella abortus vaccines. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Three hundred and twenty-nine veterinarians were included in the analyses using stratified random sampling. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictors of accidental exposure to S19 and RB51 strains. Nearly one third of the veterinarians registered to administer bovine brucellosis vaccination in Minas Gerais, 32.83% (108/329) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.78-38.19%), reported having been accidentally exposed to S19 or RB51 vaccine strains. The exposure factors associated with this outcome included a score of personnel protective equipment (PPE) use during work (odds ratio [OR], 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89-0.98) and a score of knowledge about brucellosis symptoms, classified as poor (base category), intermediate (OR, 0.26; 95% CI: 0.07-0.87) or good (OR, 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07-0.62). In addition, 4.56% (15/329) (95% CI: 2.57-7.41%) of veterinarians reported that they had brucellosis, of which 46.67% (7/15) considered that the disease was due to accidental exposure to anti-B. abortus live attenuated vaccine. The prevalence of accidental exposure to B. abortus vaccine strains among veterinarians from Minas Gerais enrolled in the control of bovine brucellosis was high. The reduced knowledge about human brucellosis symptoms and lack of appropriate PPE use were risk factors from unintentional contact with S19 and RB51 vaccine strains., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: To examine factors that impact veterinarians' decisions to pursue a career in, or remain working in emergency medicine., Design: Survey., Setting: General practitioner and student members of Veterinary Information Network., Animals: None., Interventions: None., Measurement and Main Results: Veterinarians working in (or having worked in), and students hoping to work in emergency medicine mostly enjoy this type of medicine but find the scheduling and stress of the job create impediments to remaining in the field. Fear of being left without support, especially early in their career, also hinder veterinarians from pursuing a career in or remaining in emergency medicine., Conclusions: Programs that increase flexibility of work hours or schedules, and provide either a formal or informal mentoring environment, might help increase retention of veterinarians within the field and encourage students to consider a career in emergency medicine., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2020.)

Background: Inappropriate antimicrobial use (AMU) is a global concern. Opinions of veterinarians regarding AMU and its role in the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) may influence their prescription practices. It is important to understand these opinions, prescription practices and their potential impact on the development of AMR in order to guide efforts to curb the problem. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial prescription practices and opinions of veterinarians in Kentucky regarding AMU and AMR., Methods: This cross-sectional study used a 30-question survey questionnaire administered to veterinarians who were members of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association. Survey responses from 101 participants were included in the study. Descriptive statistics were computed and associations between categorical variables assessed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Firth logistic models were used to investigate predictors of "Compliance with prescription policies" and "Cost of antimicrobial affects prescription decisions"., Results: Almost all (93%) respondents indicated that improper AMU contributed to selection for AMR. A total of 52% of the respondents believed that antimicrobials were appropriately prescribed, while the remaining 48% believed that antimicrobials were inappropriately prescribed. Significant predictors of compliance with prescription policies were availability of prescription policy at the veterinary facility (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.2; p<0.001) and over-prescription (OR = 0.35; p = 0.025). Similarly, significant predictors of cost of antimicrobials affecting prescription decisions were lack of post-graduate training (OR = 8.3; p = 0.008) and practice type, with large animal practices having significantly lower odds of the outcome (OR = 0.09; p = 0.004) than small animal practices., Conclusion: Most veterinarians indicated that improper AMU contributed to selection for AMR. Since the odds of compliance with prescription policies were 4-times higher among veterinarians working at facilities that had prescription policies compared to those at facilities that didn't, more veterinary facilities should be encouraged to adopt prescription policies to help improve compliance and reduce AMR. Veterinarians would also benefit from continued professional education to help improve prescription practices, antimicrobial stewardship and curb AMR., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Retained fetal membranes (RFM) is a frequent postpartum disorder in cattle causing considerable economic losses, and a common indication for antibiotic (AB) administration. There is controversy with regard to the treatment of RFM, and scientific recommendations are often in conflict with current legislation on AB use and practical routines in the field. The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic approaches of RFM by Belgian rural veterinarians. A digital survey was sent to 468 Belgian veterinarians; 149 complete questionnaires (Wallonia: 78; Flanders: 71) were obtained. Survey questions captured socio-demographic characteristics, case definition, therapeutic approaches and treatment options for RFM. Questions on treatment were duplicated for dairy and beef cattle. When confronted with dairy cows suffering from RFM without fever, 35.6 % of vets do not treat with AB, while the majority administers AB, either intrauterine (47.6 %), systemically (10.7 %) or both (6.1 %). Dairy cows with RFM and fever receive a systemic (33.5 %), intrauterine (2.7 %) or combined (61.8 %) AB treatment. For a beef cow with RFM without fever, 21.5 % of vets prefer no AB treatment, while others prefer an intrauterine (24.2 %), systemic (24.8 %), combined (29.5 %) AB treatment. Beef cows with RFM and fever receive AB from the large majority of vets, by systemic (34.9 %) or combined (56.3 %) administration. In case of a parenteral treatment, benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin and ampicillin are by far the most frequently used molecules; only a minority of vets use cephalosporins. Manual placental removal is attempted by 93.9 % of the respondents. These results demonstrate that there is room for improvement when considering the treatment protocols of RFM. Many veterinarians use AB in RFM cows not presenting symptoms of general illness, or administer intrauterine AB in cows with or without clinical signs of illness. Concerning the molecules of choice, practical routines are largely in line with national AB recommendations. Beef cows suffering from RFM are treated more rigorously than dairy cows, regardless of their rectal temperature., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Monitoring programs and guidelines on the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in human and veterinary medicine have been developed worldwide to promote the prudent use of antibiotics in recent years. However, such information on the use of antibiotics in exotic pets is absent. This fact must be taken into account, since the number of exotic pet patients is constantly increasing and the administration of antibiotics is particular challenging due to the diversity of species and the differences in physiology. The present study reports the results of a survey of frequently used antibiotics and the criteria of antibiotic usage in exotic pets (rabbits, rodents, birds and reptiles) among Swiss veterinarians. These data should form the basis for the development of antibiotic usage guidelines in exotic pets. A total of 61 veterinarians returned the questionnaire. The most important decision-making criteria for antibiotic treatment and antibiotic selection were clinical symptoms (55/59, 93% for antibiotic treatment and 40/59, 68% for antibiotic selection), experience (41/59, 69% and 36/59, 61%, respectively) and textbooks (39/59, 66% and 40/59, 68%). The most important decision-making criteria for dosage and duration of therapy were textbooks (59/59, 100%) and experience (31/59, 53%). The use of a microbial culture was used as a decision criterion for both antibiotic treatment and antibiotic selection by 39% of the participants, sensitivity testing was chosen as a decision criterion by 37% for antibiotic treatment and by 46% for antibiotic selection. Fluoroquinolones were used most frequently, 46/56 (82% of the participants) for rabbits, 49/57 (86%) for rodents, 36/37 (97%) for reptiles and 38/46 (83%) for birds. The vast majority of veterinarians (57/58, 98%) would consult a guide for the use of antibiotics. The frequent use of critical antibiotics in exotic pets underscores the need for a guide to the prudent use of antibiotics. The positive influence of such guidelines has already been proven in dogs and cats.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is the causative agent of SFTS, an emerging tick-borne disease in East Asia, and is maintained in enzootic cycles involving ticks and a range of wild animal hosts. Direct transmission of SFTSV from cats and dogs to humans has been identified in Japan, suggesting that veterinarians and veterinary nurses involved in small-animal practice are at occupational risk of SFTSV infection. To characterize this risk, we performed a sero-epidemiological survey in small-animal-practice workers and healthy blood donors in Miyazaki prefecture, which is the prefecture with the highest per capita number of recorded cases of SFTS in Japan. Three small-animal-practice workers were identified as seropositive by ELISA, but one had a negative neutralization-test result and so was finally determined to be seronegative, giving a seropositive rate of 2.2% (2 of 90), which was significantly higher than that in healthy blood donors (0%, 0 of 1000; p < 0.05). The seroprevalence identified here in small-animal-practice workers was slightly higher than that previously reported in other high-risk workers engaged in agriculture and forestry in Japan. Thus, enhancement of small-animal-practice workers' awareness of biosafety at animal hospitals is necessary for control of SFTSV.

The use of antimicrobial (AM) in animal production is an important contributor to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide. Animal health professionals should play a key role in ensuring judicious use of AM. However, they are subjected to influence from clinical and non-clinical factors. The present study evaluates the perceptions and concerns of animal health practitioners regarding antimicrobial use (AMU) and prescription practices. A cross-sectional online questionnaire survey was conducted among animal health practitioners, predominantly veterinary doctors (88 %) in 20 African countries. Results showed that the most prescribed and administered AM were tetracycline (66 %) followed by β-lactams (32 %) and macrolides (25 %). Most respondents were very confident in deciding on the right dose of AM (77 %) and treatment plans (76 %) as compared to choosing the correct AM (52 %) and making an accurate diagnosis (46 %). Self-reported confidence in the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship was significantly influenced by the respondents' work environment, gender and access to information on AM. Lack of diagnostic facilities and susceptibility tests were major hindrances to adequate prescriptions and use of AM. Perceived drivers of AMR identified were excessive prescription by animal health professionals and the use of AM without proper diagnosis. Almost two thirds (62 %) of the respondents had sufficient information on AM when needed while the main source of information was professional training and drug labels. Thus, reinforcement of regional and country-level guidelines and tailored continuing education programs for veterinarians as well as the development of field-friendly disease diagnosis and management tools are essential to considerably improve AMU., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although data are still needed, early neutering of cats appears to be as safe as neutering at the traditional age of six months or older and beneficial to the individual and the population. The aim of this observational study was to obtain an overview of veterinarians' opinions and practices about feline early neutering (ie, until the age of four months)., Methods: In this retrospective work, a web survey was distributed to French practitioners., Results: A total of 609 veterinarians returned the survey. Majority of the veterinarians (56 per cent) reported never performing early neutering, 42 per cent reported performing it inconsistently, and 2 per cent reported consistently performing it. When carried out, it was mainly on kittens from commercial breeding, following breeders' request, and performed at the age of three months. An overwhelming majority (93 per cent) of veterinarians performing early neutering reported no incidents. Veterinarians who did not practise early neutering neutered mostly (81 per cent) kittens from four to six months of age., Conclusion: In conclusion, early neutering is still not a common practice among French veterinarians. Opinions differed as to its advantages and disadvantages, although reported incidents were scarce. Veterinarians who do not perform early neutering reported a lack of interest in this practice rather than reluctance., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© British Veterinary Association 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Dental disease is very common in dogs and veterinary professional dental cleaning and examination, together with daily dental home care, is the foundation for good dental health. To our knowledge, no previous study has investigated professional dental cleaning routines in small animal veterinary practice. A validated questionnaire survey was distributed to all veterinarians and veterinary nurses with registered e-mail addresses in the Swedish national registry (veterinarians; n = 3657, veterinary nurses; n = 1650). Response rates were 32% for veterinarians (V) and 38% for veterinary nurses (VN)., Results: In total, 73% (V)/96% (VN) of respondents reported that professional dental cleaning was performed at their work place under general anesthesia, and 27% (V)/18% (VN) that dental cleaning was performed under sedation. Of the respondents, 43% (V)/96% (VN) considered regular dental cleaning under general anesthesia fairly or very important, and 49% (V)/47% (VN) stated that it was sometimes important for good dental health in dogs. A majority of respondents, 84% (V)/97% (VN), reported that dental extractions were performed at their clinic, and 72% (V)/90% (VN) had access to dental radiography equipment., Conclusion: A majority of Swedish veterinarians and veterinary nurses perform professional dental cleaning under general anesthesia with access to dental radiography equipment, in accordance with national and international recommendations. However, a considerable proportion of professional dental cleanings were performed under sedation only, and extractions performed without access to dental radiography equipment were common, suggesting several areas of improvement in the routines in Swedish veterinary clinics and hospitals. Our results clearly indicate the need for improved educational efforts to increase the awareness among veterinary health professionals regarding guidelines and official recommendations in canine dental care.

Background: Food animal veterinarians face commodity specific and urgent global challenges yet conditions preventing use of best available knowledge have been sparsely studied. The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) membership (N = 1289) was surveyed online to benchmark their information priorities and their motivations and sources for keeping current with infectious disease research, and to describe their reported time, skill, access, and process as barriers to knowledge translation (KT)., Results: Respondents (n = 80) were mostly from Canada (n = 40) and the U.S.A (n = 31) and demographics approximated the AASV's. Colleagues are the first choice for information on difficult cases (49%, 95%CI: 38-61). Half of respondents (53%, 95%CI: 41-64) spend an hour or less per week keeping up with infectious disease research. The majority reported moderate or less than moderate efficiency (62%, 95%CI: 51-72), and moderate or greater stress (59%, 95%CI: 48-70) with their process for keeping up. Journal article methods sections are commonly not read, almost a third (32%, 95% CI: 22-43) reported either they do not evaluate statistical methods or that they had poor confidence to do so, and half (52, 95%CI: 41-63) could not explain 'confounding bias'. Approximately half (55%, 95%CI: 41-69) with direct oversight of swine herds had full access to 2 or fewer academic journals. Approximately a third of respondents (34%, 95%CI: 24-46) selected only formats involving single research studies (either full text or summaries) as preferred reading materials for keeping current over expert summaries of the body of evidence., Conclusion: KT barriers are considerable and a source of stress for many swine veterinarians. Sub-optimal efficiency with keeping up and low confidence to appraise aspects of research are concerns. Results are consistent with previous literature and illustrate need for improved KT infrastructure and for additional training in statistical methods and interpretation of primary research. Further evaluation is warranted of why approximately a third of veterinarians in this study, for the purpose of keeping up, preferentially choose to review individual research studies over choices that would include an expert summary of the body of evidence. Consideration of reasons for this preference will be important in the planning of KT infrastructure improvements.

Transferring antimicrobial-resistant bacteria from companion animals to human hosts has become increasingly common. Data regarding antimicrobial susceptibility could help veterinarians to select the most appropriate antibiotic treatment. However, standardized and ongoing surveys regarding antimicrobial resistance remain limited. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial-susceptibility patterns and trends of bacteria isolated from stray dogs, hospital-admitted dogs, and veterinary staff in South Korea from 2018 to 2019. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of different antimicrobials for Staphylococcus spp., Enterobacterales, and Enterococcus spp. were determined to establish representatives of different antibiotic classes relevant for treatment or surveillance. For coagulase-positive and -negative Staphylococci, resistance to gentamicin was <27 %, while that to ampicillin and penicillin was high (33-80 %). The mecA-detection rates among staphylococcal isolates were 28.5 %, 42.6 %, and 32 % from stray dogs, hospital-admitted dogs, and veterinary staffs, respectively. For Enterobacterales, resistance to carbapenems was low (0-6%). A total of 31.2 % and 18.9 % of Enterobacterales isolates from stray dogs and hospital-admitted dogs were confirmed to possess at least one of bla CTX-M , bla SHV , or bla TEM . Additionally, Enterococcus spp. isolates showed no resistance to vancomycin. These results demonstrate that dogs are commonly colonized with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and highlight the need for further investigation., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Recruitment and retention is currently of major concern and has resulted in the veterinary profession being returned to the UK's Shortage Occupation List in 2019., Methods: An online questionnaire of veterinary employees and employers investigating factors contributing to leaving/staying in current employment and the profession. The questionnaire was distributed via specialist veterinary associations' email lists and social media from September to October 2018., Results: Respondents had few job changes (median 3), however, 43.7 per cent (n=2390) reported that they were likely or very likely to leave their employment within two years. Vets who were recently qualified, on lower salaries and female were more likely to plan to leave. Most frequently chosen reasons to stay in a position were: team, location and family. Most commonly cited reasons to leave were: work-life balance, management and salary. Respondents most disliked dealing with people, work-life balance and the physical/emotional impacts of the job. They would most like to change the hours worked, team aspects and management. Employers suggested that it was difficult to employ a veterinary surgeon, especially an experienced individual., Conclusion: The current retention crisis is due in part to the differing requirements between modern-day veterinary employees, their employers, the public and the profession., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© British Veterinary Association 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Many cats in the UK are not neutered before reaching potential breeding age. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the prevalence of veterinarians' behaviours around neutering cats at four months of age and to identify any needs of the veterinary profession on this., Methods: A sample of 483 veterinarians that completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire were included in quantitative and qualitative analyses., Results: Almost 70 per cent of veterinarians indicated they were comfortable carrying out neutering on cats of four months of age, and approximately half of veterinarians indicated they would recommend neutering client-owned cats at four months of age if practice policy permitted. There was no association found between these practices and geographic risk factors. Instead, neutering at four months was associated with the gender of the veterinarian, their practice policy and whether they routinely neuter unowned cats. Veterinarians have contrasting beliefs on similar themes, depending on whether they neuter kittens at four months or not, including differing opinions on general anaesthetic, surgery risks, owner compliance and their perceptions of neutering practices within the wider profession., Conclusion: Familiarity and experience with the procedure, alongside perceived norms, are central to beliefs. We also highlight informational and learning barriers., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© British Veterinary Association 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Impostor syndrome (IS) is the tendency to doubt one's abilities despite positive evidence to the contrary. Individuals with IS are afraid of being discovered as intellectual frauds and attribute their successes to external qualities., Methods: An international study explored the prevalence and severity of IS in practicing veterinarians. An anonymous survey consisting of the 20-question Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale, plus additional demographic and work-related questions, was distributed online., Results: A total of 941 practicing veterinarians responded. Overall, 631 participants (68 per cent) met or exceeded the clinical cut-off score for IS. Ordinal regressions found that residing in New Zealand (NZ) or the UK, being female or having been in practice for less than five years increased the odds of having a high IS score. The effect of these factors on the perceived degree of impact of IS on participants' professional and personal life was also explored. Women, UK residents and new practitioners reported higher levels of impact in their professional life. However, sex and country of residence did not affect the degree of impact on participants' personal life., Conclusion: Veterinarians in general have an alarmingly high prevalence of IS with young, female graduates practising in the UK and NZ at increased risk., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© British Veterinary Association 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believed that the maintenance of the health status of any individual or animal is by the harmonious flow of Chi (life force) along a pathway known as the meridian. Interruption or blockage of Chi brings about disorders, pain, and diseases. Acutherapy, therefore, aims at correcting the interruption or blockage of the harmonious flow of Chi along the meridian to restore the healthy condition of the body system. This correction could be accomplished by either acupuncture or acupressure, and are both collectively referred to as acutherapy. This form of therapy has been used in both humans and animals for several decades. It is, however, just gaining popularity in the treatment of humans and is still not yet in practice among veterinarians for animal patients in most developing countries like Nigeria. This review, therefore, is aimed at exposing veterinarians from the developing countries to the general application of acutherapy with emphasis on the musculoskeletal system and associated pain where it is most applied. It is highly recommended that the universities, where Veterinary Medicine is studied in developing countries, should endeavor to train their veterinary surgeons in this area and see to how acutherapy can be included in the curriculum., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Background: Communication skills to promote changes in management routines are especially important in veterinary herd health management (VHHM). Motivational interviewing (MI) is a communication methodology shown to be effective in stimulating client behaviour change. This study aimed to evaluate a 6-month MI-training programme for veterinarians., Methods: Thirty-eight cattle veterinarians gathered in groups of four to eight at six workshops separated by 3-4 weeks, during which they read literature and practised their skills. MI skills were evaluated before and after training using audio recordings of role-play conversations with professional actors. Recordings were coded using the MI Treatment Integrity Code (MITI) V.4.2.1. The effect of training was evaluated by 16 regression models. Participants filled in questionnaires about their experiences., Results: All participants improved their MI skills after training in at least one parameter and significant improvements were found in all but 3 of the 16 statistically evaluated MITI variables. The mean (25th-75th percentiles) ratings of the veterinarians' perceived relevance of MI skills in their work was 4.9 (4.0-6.0) and of their satisfaction with the programme was 5.1 (5.0-6.0) on a 6-point Likert scale., Conclusions: Results show that MI training was perceived to be useful and relevant and successfully improved veterinarians' communication skills in VHHM., Competing Interests: Competing interests: LF is a partner at MIC Lab AB and HW is a partner at MeetMe Psykologkonsult AB. Research results demonstrating positive effects of MI in veterinary medicine may increase the market for codings for MIC Lab AB and the market for educational concepts in MI for MeetMe Psykologkonsult AB. CS, UE, KR and AMB have no conflict of interest to report., (© British Veterinary Association 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. Published by BMJ.)

To date, information about reasons to select and kill poultry on-farm and which method veterinarians and poultry producers preferably use is scarce. Little is also known about their knowledge of the legislation regarding on-farm killing methods and of methods alternative to the one(s) they use, as well as their perception of those alternatives. In this study, Flemish poultry veterinarians (n = 13), broiler chicken producers (n = 27), and turkey producers (n = 4) were surveyed on killing methods they currently use in practice and alternative methods, on their opinion about what constitutes an appropriate method for on-farm killing of poultry, and on their reasons for killing. All poultry veterinarians and chicken producers who filled out the survey kill poultry by manual cervical dislocation (CD), whereas some turkey farmers also indicated killing by percussive blow to the head (n = 1) or exsanguination (n = 1). Turkey producers seem to be more inclined not to kill animals with injuries or symptoms of disease as compared to veterinarians or chicken producers, such that moribund turkeys are more likely to remain in the flock. Veterinarians considered the following properties of a killing method important: animal friendliness, applicability inside the stable, a high success rate, and time efficiency. Producers ranked the properties similarly, but for them, ease of performance and cost-efficiency were more important than applicability inside the stable. Producers scored those killing properties rather positively for manual as well as mechanical CD. Veterinarians and chicken producers considered the captive bolt method to be easy to perform, to have a high success rate, to be feasible to perform in the stable, and to be animal-friendly. Turkey producers, however, had doubts about the latter 2 properties. Gas, injection, and electrocution were inferior methods to kill poultry according to producers. In conclusion, manual CD is the most common method for killing broiler chickens and turkeys, and knowledge of, and experience with, alternative methods is very limited, both among veterinarians and producers. Informing them about legislation and training for the use of alternative killing techniques are recommended., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Vaccination is the most important preventive measure for protection against infectious diseases in humans and companion animals. Nevertheless, scepticism about the safety and importance of vaccines is increasing in human and in veterinary medicine. Although owner attitudes towards vaccination have been investigated in cats, there are no similar studies in dogs. The goals of this study were therefore to investigate the vaccination status of dogs in Germany, to determine owner compliance with vaccination and to identify factors that play a role in owners' decisions to have their dogs vaccinated., Methods: Data were collected from August 2018 to February 2019 using an online survey targeting dog owners in Germany. A total of 3,881 questionnaires were evaluated, and factors associated with the vaccination status of dogs were determined by a linear logistic regression model using Akaike information criterion. Cohen's kappa statistic was used to evaluate agreement between questionnaire and 340 vaccination passports submitted voluntarily by owners., Results: A total of 46.8% (n = 1,818/3,881) of dogs were vaccinated with core vaccines according to current guidelines with the lowest vaccination rate for leptospirosis (50.1%; n = 1,941/3,874). Dog's age (16 weeks to 15 months) (odds ratio (OR): 3.08; 95% CI: 2.05-4.68), type (working dog) (OR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.22-3.53) and travelling abroad within previous 36 months (OR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.12-2.96) had the strongest 'positive' association with the vaccination status. Recommendation from a veterinarian not to vaccinate against leptospirosis had the strongest 'negative' association (OR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.04-0.18)., Conclusion: The study revealed a need for improvement in vaccination compliance because of inadequate vaccination coverage, especially for leptospirosis, in dogs. Factors influencing owner compliance were numerous. Vaccination recommendations made by the veterinarian had a strong association with the vaccination status and should be used to increase canine vaccination rates., Competing Interests: Katrin Hartmann has given talks for MSD, Merial, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Idexx. She participated in research funded by or using products from MSD, Merial, Boehringer, Zoetis, Megacor, Biogal, and Scil. Michèle Bergmann has given talks for Merial. She participated in research funded by or using products from MSD, Merial, Boehringer, Zoetis, Megacor, Biogal, and Scil. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Background: With exotic pet species commonplace in the UK, owners are increasingly seeking veterinary advice regarding the health and welfare of their small mammals and reptiles. This study aimed to assess the confidence of veterinarians in the UK in treating and diagnosing rabbits, guinea pigs, small mammals and reptiles., Methods: A 41-question survey was promoted via social media, including on interest groups focused specifically at veterinary professionals. A total of 131 practising veterinarians in the UK completed the questionnaire., Results: Frequency of presentation of exotic pets to a practice had a significant effect (P<0.01) on the confidence of veterinarians in treating them. Veterinarians who were presented with exotics more frequently had increased self-reported knowledge of their health and disease and were more confident in treating, diagnosing and anaesthetising them. Knowledge of and confidence in diagnosing and treating exotic pets were significantly less than for dogs and cats (P<0.001). There was a significant effect of length of time qualified on confidence in treating exotic pet species (P<0.01)., Conclusions: Increased provision and engagement with continuing professional development may increase veterinary confidence in diagnosing, treating and anaesthetising exotic pet species that are less commonly encountered in practice., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© British Veterinary Association 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Cervico-thoracic vertebral subluxation (CTVS) in sheep is a collective term that is used to describe various conditions that concomitantly affect the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, leading to their collapse. The aetiology and pathophysiology of CTVS remain unknown. The objective of this study was to conduct an epidemiological farm investigation and describe the clinicopathological findings of CTVS cases occurring in a flock of sheep; as well as to determine awareness of CTVS among sheep producers and ruminant veterinarians in Australia. Diagnostic imaging revealed severe deformities in the vertebrae between C6-C7 and T1-T3. Sheep affected with CTVS were at a four times higher risk of having low body condition scores (< 2 based on a 5-point scale) compared with non-affected sheep, OR = 3.98, 95% CI (1.20-12.65), p = .02. Survey results revealed that only 34% (15/44) of respondents were aware of CTVS. There is a need to further explore the aetiology and pathophysiology of CTVS, and the impact it has on sheep breeding and production., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)