Pet Owners’ Perceptions of COVID-19, Zoonotic Disease, and Veterinary Medicine: The Impact of Demographic Characteristics

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of sociodemographic characteristics on pet owners’ concern about the transmission of zoonotic disease and SARS-CoV-2, and to describe owners’ perceptions of veterinarians and physicians as resources for zoonoses information. Between September and October 2020, 1154 individuals completed an online survey via Qualtrics. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between owner demographics and perceptions of zoonoses and SARS-CoV-2. Most participants were minimally concerned about their pets contracting or transmitting zoonotic diseases or SARS-CoV-2, although perceptions of risk differed based on age, race, and education. Older participants were typically less concerned about the transmission of zoonotic diseases and SARS-CoV-2. Considering where participants obtained information about zoonoses, pet owners were more likely to contact their veterinarian for advice (43%) than their physician (17%). However, 17% of pet owners struggled to access veterinary care, and 51% said their access to veterinary care had become more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings highlight a need for further education about zoonoses and SARS-CoV-2, and suggest veterinarians may play a key role in these communications. The results also emphasize the need to address access to care issues in veterinary medicine.

Assessment of Italian Population Awareness on One-Health, Zoonoses and the Mpox Vaccine: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

“…On the contrary, good economic status, as well as a high level of education, working with animals, or a career in healthcare, improves knowledge of zoonoses. These results were very similar to those reported in other studies investigating knowledge of zoonoses in specific subject categories [ 20 , 21 ].…”

Perception and Knowledge of Portuguese Veterinarians about the Zoonotic Transmission of Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter suis: The Need for One Health Intervention

“…infections, they continue to play an important role in the promotion of public health [ 35 , 39 ]. Pet owners are more likely to contact their veterinarian than their physician regarding information about zoonoses [ 40 ], along with the fact that they consider the role of veterinarians important as public health promoters [ 39 ]. So further training programs addressing vet communication skills should take into account the particular issues of emerging zoonoses, and veterinarians need to have proper knowledge so they can assess and explain the risks to their clients [ 41 ].…”

Impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on antimicrobial use in companion animals in an academic veterinary hospital in North Carolina

“…Both veterinary and human medical facilities were subject to extended periods of highly modified operations (i.e., limited hospital capacity, reduced personnel, and medical equipment shortages) as a result of supply chain disruptions and state/federal health‐related mandates such as social distancing (AVMA A, 2020; Cheeyandira, 2020; FDA, 2022). These disruptions included limited appointment slots, reduced client‐clinician interactions, and staffing shortages (Bollig et al, 2022; CDC A, 2022; Powell et al, 2022). All these events have created the opportunity for changes in veterinary AMU, which could have potential downstream consequences for AMR (Bollig et al, 2022).…”