Clinical routines used in canine dental treatments by Swedish veterinary staff
Karolina Brunius Enlund and others, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala
Periodontal disease is considered to be the single most common clinical condition in dogs. Veterinary professional dental examination and cleaning is an essential element in maintaining good dental health, along with regular home care. However; there have been very few published studies looking in detail at the dental cleaning routines used in veterinary practice. The authors report the results of a questionnaire survey completed by 1,161 veterinarians and 642 veterinary nurses in Sweden. In total, 73% of vets and 96% ofVNs said dental procedures at their clinic were performed under general anaesthesia, according to international recommendations. They state that further educational efforts may be needed to change the methods used in those practices that are still using sedation alone.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica https://doi.org/I0.ll86/sl3028-020-00559-7
A role for veterinary staff in promoting exercise for dogs and their owners
Colleen Duncan and others, Colorado State University Fort Collins
Regular physical activity can make an important contribution to both health and disease treatment in humans and animals but many pet owners and their dogs take insufficient exercise. The authors examined the impact of a physical activity programme prescribed by veterinary staff for both their clients and canine patients. After eight weeks there was evidence of a reduction in hypertension in the humans and improvements in obesity measures in both owners and dogs. Increases in activity occurred irrespective of whether the owners were able to track their own activity using a wearable monitoring device.
BMC Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02682-z
Owner perceptions of problem behaviour in puppies aged six to nine months
Michelle Lord and others, Dogs Trust, London
Problem behaviour is a significant cause of compromised welfare, relinquishment and euthanasia in dogs. The authors describe a study forming part of the ‘Generation Pup' longitudinal investigation of canine health and behaviour. This aimed to identify the prevalence of different forms of unsatisfactory behaviour in puppies, along with owners' attitudes and response to the problem. Their findings suggest that certain groups, including female, unemployed or older owners were less likely to report
problems or to attend training classes. Such owners are likely to need veterinary support in dealing with these issues.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science 232, no. 105147
Noise levels in intensive care unit of a small animal hospital
Josephine Dornbusch and others, University of Florida, Gainesville
In human medicine there is evidence that noise levels in hospitals, and particularly in intensive care units, has increased over recent years due to factors such as increased use of automatic monitoring technology. The authors investigate the noise levels in a veterinary ICU. The average, median and maximum decibel levels were 76.97, 76.I3 and 96.54 dB, respectivelyThese figures exceeded current World Health Organization recommendations and were much higher than previous reports in veterinary practices. Such a noisy environment may potentially affect the wellbeing of both patients and staff.
Journal ofVeterinary Emergency and Critical Care 30(6), 632-637
Hydrolysed diets in the management of feline chronic enteropathy
Aarti Kathrani and others, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead
Feline chronic enteropathy describes a range of conditions of unknown aetiology causing gastrointestinal signs. The authors investigated the response of cats with unexplained chronic vomiting and/or diarrhoea to a hydrolysed protein diet. Clinical records were reviewed from 5,000 feline cases in which these diets formed part of the management strategy. Their findings suggest that hydrolysed diets may be an appropriate initial therapy for cats with chronic gastrointestinal signs before resorting to the use of antibiotics or steroids.
Journal of Small Animal Practice 61 (12), 723-731
Factors associated with resilience and good mental health in Canadian veterinarians
Jennifer Perret and others, University of Guelph, Ontario
The emotional wellbeing of medical staff has a considerable impact on their overall health and on the quality of care that they provide. The authors examined the demographic, career and lifestyle factors associated with resilience and positive mental health outcomes in I,130 Canadian practitioners. Their results show that general physical health, the support received from colleagues, and workplace resources were the major determinants of the scores recorded using a standard psychological test, the CD-RISC scale. Being married, working in a small animal practice and working in a junior role were associated with lower scores.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 257(10), 1057-1068
VOL 36 • March 2021 • Veterinary Nursing Journal