Doing right by companion animals

摘要

Although pet owners usually have the test interests of their animals at heart, they may not always know what Is best for them. Two sessions at this year's BVA Congress considered how mis could reach owners and communicate the information they need. GETTING health and welfare information out to the pet owner is vital if animals are to be looked after properly, but how can vets engage owners who never or rarely visit a vet? This was the conundrum considered by Ben Hardy lecturer at the Open Universityand Tricia Colville, Hospital Manager at Vets Now Referrals, Glasgow, in a contentious issues debate at the BVA Congress in Liverpool in September. One problem, according to Dr Hardy, was that owners did not always recognise signs of illness in their pets. He cited a study by Mike Davies, published in Veterinary Record (November 26,2011, vol 169, p 584), which showed that some owners would not seek veterinary advice if their older pets had, for example, haematuria, weight loss, an increased thirst or stiffness.