American veterinarians' animal welfare limitations

Koch, Lars

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2009.07.002

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…However, veterinary practitioners are not perfect. They may be overly focussed on physical aspects of animal welfare (Koch 2009), which might make them more concerned about conditions such as obesity and breed‐related conditions, than about “mental” issues such as company and behavioural problems. Practitioners may also have imperfect empathy for animals (O’Farrell 1990), which can decrease during veterinary training (Paul and Podberscek 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Veterinary surgeons' opinions on dog welfare issues

Yeates

Main

2011

J of Small Animal Practice

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OBJECTIVES: To begin to determine the significance of various dog welfare issues as perceived by veterinary practitioners.METHODS: Using an online questionnaire, respondents were asked how frequently they were made aware of 12 welfare issues and how important they felt each one was for each dog affected. Respondents were also asked how much they agreed with statements that the veterinary practitioners in their area, and the veterinary profession, should do more about each issue.RESULTS: Responses were received from 59 practitioners. The most frequently noted problems were "obesity", "chronic pain/poor mobility" and "breed-related conditions". The most important issues for each dog affected were "lack of treatment for suffering", "abuse or active cruelty" and "malnutrition". "Breed-related conditions", "obesity" and "behavioural problems" were the issues for which there was greatest agreement that veterinary practitioners should do more, both in their area and as a profession.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This pilot study suggests that the veterinary profession believes that obesity, breed-related conditions and behavioural problems are important concerns, and that more should be done about them. Although these results cannot be taken as definitive from a study of this size, it does provide a background for such further work involving companion dog welfare and the veterinary profession.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Veterinary surgeons' opinions on dog welfare issues

Yeates

Main

2011

J of Small Animal Practice

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“…The veterinary profession and associated education curricula, in the UK and elsewhere, has been criticised for equating good welfare with good physical health and overlooking behaviour aspects (Hetts and others 2004, Wojciechowska and others 2005, Christiansen and Forkman 2007, Wickens 2007, Gazzano and others 2008, Koch 2009). This risks making an incomplete assessment of the animal's welfare (Wojciechowska and Hewson 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Veterinarians' perceptions of behaviour support in small‐animal practice

Roshier

McBride

2013

Veterinary Record

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Veterinarians are professionals considered to be at the forefront of animal welfare, including behaviour medicine. However, concerns raised, both within the profession and without, highlight that the support offered is not optimal, due to deficiencies in veterinary training, which focuses on physical aspects and overlooks psychological aspects. This preliminary study explored the experiences and perceptions of six veterinarians (three male, three female, age range: 23–55 years) in two UK small-animal practices. Seventeen annual booster consultations were videoed and conversations thematically analysed for welfare topics discussed. Both veterinarians and clients completed questionnaires to gather demographic information and perspectives. All veterinarians recognised behaviour as a component of their caseload, and acknowledged that clients expected them to provide behaviour support. Veterinarians varied in their experiences of and confidence in providing behaviour support. Five felt unable to meet client expectations; four did not feel their training had prepared them sufficiently. Only one provided dedicated behaviour consultations, the others referred cases. All provided suggestions for behaviour skills needed for new veterinary graduates. The study has afforded an insight into the experiences of a small opportunistic sample of veterinarians. The data indicated important limitations regarding time available in general consultations to discuss behaviour concerns, and practitioner knowledge and skill in detection, anamnesis, assessment and provision of appropriate behaviour information. Suggestions for veterinary training in behaviour are provided.

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“…Other definitions vary from the utilitarian one provided by Peter Singer to Tom Regan's deontological interpretation (Regan and Singer 1989), from animal-based (e.g., Whay et al 2003) to environmentally-based approaches (e.g., animal needs index, Bartussek 1999), focus on affective states (e.g., Duncan 1996), natural living (e.g., Fraser 2008, to basic health and functioning (e.g., Broom 1986). Many of these conceptualizations have been criticized by Rushen (2003), Haynes (2008), and Koch (2009), who state that the animal welfare concepts used by scientists are often too limited in scope and only address a limited subset of the issues that concern the public. Correspondingly, Fraser (2001) argues that improving understanding of specific societal concerns about modern agriculture would be a more fruitful approach than constantly trying to redefine welfare.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Citizens’ Views on Farm Animal Welfare and Related Information Provision: Exploratory Insights from Flanders, Belgium

Vanhonacker

Poucke²,

Tuyttens³

et al. 2010

J Agric Environ Ethics

109

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The results of two independent empirical studies with Flemish citizens were combined to address the problem of a short fall of information provision about higher welfare products. The research objectives were (1) to improve our understanding of how citizens conceptualize farm animal welfare, (2) to analyze the variety in the claimed personal relevance of animal welfare in the food purchasing decision process, and (3) to find out people's needs in relation to product information about animal welfare and the extent to which the current information caters to these needs. The first study consisted of a survey conducted in three consecutive years (2000-2002, n = 521) and was complemented with more recent qualitative data from four focus group discussions (2006, n = 29). Citizens' conceptualization of farm animal welfare matched reasonably well with those in the scientific literature, although it is clearly influenced by a lower level of practical experience and a higher weight of empathy. In general, respondents indicated that animal welfare was an important product attribute, although it was less important than primary product attributes such as quality, health, and safety. Moral issues, rather than a perception of higher quality, were the main influence on preferences for higher welfare products. At present, higher standards of animal welfare are mostly guaranteed within more general quality assurance schemes. Yet people's decisions to not choose higher welfare products seems to be related to the perceptual disconnection between eating animal food products and the living producing animals. Respondents generally thought better information provision was required and the present level of provision was strongly criticized. In combination, the findings of both studies help inform the discussion about how citizens can be informed about animal welfare and the preferred content, source, and medium of such information. The paper also provides insights into citizens' semantic interpretation of the concept of animal welfare (what wordings they use) and the range of relevance that animal welfare has for different groups that, in turn is useful in identifying which segments can be targeted. This can contribute to a more effective valorization of animal welfare as a product attribute.

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American veterinarians' animal welfare limitations

Cited by 9 publications

References 17 publications

Veterinary surgeons' opinions on dog welfare issues

Veterinary surgeons' opinions on dog welfare issues

Veterinarians' perceptions of behaviour support in small‐animal practice

Citizens’ Views on Farm Animal Welfare and Related Information Provision: Exploratory Insights from Flanders, Belgium

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