Job satisfaction and engagement among US small animal vet techs

David Liss and others, Amerivet Veterinary Partners Management, San Antonio, Texas

Veterinary technicians (ie, VNs) may experience a variety of stress factors in the workplace but there has been little research on the effects this may have on their job satisfaction and engagement. The authors describe an internet survey looking at the attitudes of 873 vet techs to their jobs in small animal practices. Factors associated with lower engagement and job satisfaction included more frequent overnight shifts and having more veterinarians working in the clinic. Those factors associated with better job satisfaction and engagement included having a supervisory role, receiving a higher hourly wage and having more vet techs employed at the practice. Holding a vet tech specialist designation was not associated with improved job satisfaction.

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 257(5), 537-545

Conflict and affiliative behaviour in cats living in multi-cat households

Ashley Elzerman and others, Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Multiple studies have identified links between pets living in multi-cat households and an increased risk of behavioural and health problems, such aggression, feline idiopathic cystitis and periuria (house soiling). The authors carried out a survey of 2,492 cat owners with multiple pets, recording their observations on the interactions between these animals. The findings suggest that the perceived quality of the interactions between different cats was strongly influenced by the behaviour they displayed when first introduced to each other

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 22(8), 705-717

Complete upper airway collapse and apnoea during tethered swimming in horses

Sue Jones and others, University of Melbourne

Cardiovascular and respiratory responses to swimming in horses is known to be different to that during ground exercise, but there is limited knowledge of the impact of swimming on the structures of the upper respiratory tract (URT). The authors carried out endoscopic examinations of healthy horses during tethered exercise and showed that horses experience complete URT collapse associated with post inspiratory apnoea when swimming. The reasons for this are currently unknown but it may be to aid buoyancy or be associated with the mammalian dive response.

Equine Veterinary Journal https://doi:10.1111/evj.13,177

A health-related QoL questionnaire for the owners of dogs with cardiac disease

Lisa Freeman and others, Tufts University North Grafton, Massachusetts

Cardiac disease in dogs can have a significant impact on the quality of life of their owners, which in turn may influence their ability to provide adequate care for the pet. The authors created a questionnaire for owners to provide information on issues such as the effect of the dog's illness on their own finances, social life and sleep patterns, etc. The questionnaire appears to offer reliable results on changes to the owner's QoL and may guide efforts to minimise the effects of the dog's illness on their own health.

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine https://doi/epdf/10.1111/jvim.15791

Accuracy of urine dipsticks for the assessment of glucosuria in dogs and cats

Caroline Aldridge and others, Auburn University Alabama

Accurate measurements of glycosuria are important in the management of diabetes in small animal patients. While urine dipsticks provide a convenient, easy and inexpensive testing method, there are still questions around the use of these technologies. The authors compared the results of human interpretation of dipstick tests with those from automatic readers and found that visual readings were more accurate. Dipstick readings were useful for confirming glycosuria when a result was positive but not for ruling it out when the results were negative.

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 257(4), 391-396

WSAVA guidelines on feline dental treatment

Brook Niemiec and others, World Small Animal Veterinary Association

Dental diseases are among the most frequently encountered health problems in small animal practice. These conditions will often cause considerable pain but are often poorly managed and can develop into significant welfare issues. The authors, members of the WSAVA global dental committee, aim to provide veterinary practitioners with guidance on providing realistic minimum standards of care for all companion animals. Their paper describes the common oral pathologies, diagnostic procedures and treatments for these conditions, with advice on anaesthesia and nutritional considerations.

Journal of Small Animal Practice https://doi/epdf/10.1111/jsap.13132

Management of pain in dogs at a university emergency clinic

Frederik Rousseau-Blass and others, University of Montreal, Quebec

Numerous studies have shown that pain is underrecognised and undertreated in veterinary clinics. The authors investigated the prevalence and management of pain in dogs presented to a university emergency service. Patients were assessed on entry using a validated pain scoring system and those identified as being in pain were given analgesia. Nevertheless, it was a concern that a small proportion of dogs did not receive analgesia despite the presence of identifiable pain. The authors suggest there is a need for further training in pain recognition for veterinary staff.

Canadian Veterinary Journal 61 (3), 294-300

Comparison of three techniques for urinary catheter placement in female dogs

Abbie Tippler and others, Veterinary Specialist Services, Jindalee, Queensland

Urinary catheterisation is often necessary for the management of hospitalised dogs but may be associated with a number of complications such as urethritis, urinary tract perforation or infection. The authors describe a new technique for catheterising female dogs and compare the results with those from two established techniques. Six of nine clinicians involved in the study found the NCD (novel catheterization device) easier to use than standard SPEC (visual with speculum) or BP (blind palpation) methods when tested in dogs from three size groups.

Australian Veterinary Journal https://doi:10.1111/avj.12961

Client perceptions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in veterinary practice

Jennifer Oberholtzer and Erik Hofmeister Midwestern University Glendale, Arizona

When an animal is admitted for hospitalisation the owners may be asked if they want their pet to be resuscitated in the event of a cardiac arrest. The authors investigated clients' knowledge and understanding of the process to gauge their ability to provide informed consent for the procedure. The majority of owners who responded to the survey overestimated the survival rate following resuscitation. Those owners who regularly watched medical dramas on television tended to give higher estimates of the pet's survival chances.

Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 30(4):411-417

Use of aerobic bacterial swabs to predict infection in acute open wounds

Lauren Hamil and others, Colorado State University Fort Collins