Owner expectations regarding antimicrobial prescription for canine acute diarrhea: A prospective observational study from the capital of Denmark.

Acute diarrhea is a common condition in dogs. Most cases are mild and self-limiting and according to guidelines, antimicrobial treatment is only indicated in dogs with severe systemic disease. However, antimicrobials are still prescribed in 50-65 % of mild cases. Multiple factors have been shown to influence the antimicrobial prescription decision, including perceived pressure from pet owners. This study aimed to investigate dog owners' expectations regarding antimicrobial prescription for dogs with acute diarrhea and the attending veterinarians' perceived owner expectation. To investigate this, a structured telephone interview with owners and a post-consultation questionnaire for the attending veterinarians were conducted. Ninety-nine unique dog-consultations were included with a 91 % owner response rate (n = 90), in these cases 63 % of veterinarians responded (n = 57). Only 6/90 (7 %) owners expressed an expectation of antimicrobial prescription. Of these, two expressed dissatisfaction that antimicrobials were withheld. In 5/57 cases, the attending veterinarian perceived an expectation to prescribe antimicrobials. Three cases aligned with an actual owner expectation, the latter two were pure perception. Eighty percent of owners expressed satisfaction with the consultation in general (n = 72/90), while 16 % (14/90) and 4 % (4/90) expressed minor or major dissatisfaction with non-treatment related issues, respectively. In this study, very few dog owners expressed an expectation of antimicrobials for treatment of acute diarrhea. Likewise, the veterinarians perceived an expectation in only a minority of cases, however, the actual and perceived expectation did not always align. In conclusion, this study suggests that an overall high owner satisfaction is feasible despite a non-antimicrobial approach.

Gravgaard AS ，Jessen LR ，Bjørnvad CR ，Heidemann PL ，Christensen KJ ，Kristensen EKS ，Dupont N ... -  《-》

Owners' views of canine nutrition, weight status and wellbeing and their implications for the veterinary consultation.

To investigate owners' views around canine nutrition and wellbeing, how these beliefs may differ according to the weight status of the dog and the implications for owner support approaches. A researcher-mediated questionnaire collected quantitative and qualitative data via structured interviews with dog owners (n=147) attending a country park in the East Midlands, UK, with a specific focus on views around canine nutrition and wellbeing. Forty-four percent of owners cited "past experience" when determining what to feed, and only 9% of owners cited the veterinarian as a source of this information. When comparing chosen verbal description versus non-sequential body condition score images of the dog, only 22% of owners with overweight animals matched perceived verbal and visual appraisals, compared with 89% of owners of ideal weight dogs. Owners cited a good diet and regular exercise as important factors for canine wellbeing, but companionship with other dogs as the least important factor. Owners report being aware of the important association between canine nutrition and wellbeing, but their considered importance of factors influencing dog wellbeing may be influenced by their perceived weight status of the animal. Veterinarians may need to reframe owner discourse such that there is more routine discussion around weight and nutrition at every consultation. Furthermore, the use of non-sequential body condition score images could be a useful tool for a more considered opinion of canine weight status by owners.

Wainwright J ，Millar KM ，White GA 《-》

Pet owners' and companion animal veterinarians' perceptions of weight-related veterinarian-client communication.

Sutherland KA ，Coe JB ，Janke N ，O'Sullivan TL ，Parr JM ... -  《-》

Divergent veterinarian and cat owner perspectives are barriers to reducing the use of cefovecin in cats.

Cazer CL ，Lawless JW ，Frye A ，Gonzalez L ，Safi AG ... -  《-》

Pet owners' and veterinarians' perceptions of information exchange and clinical decision-making in companion animal practice.

Janke N ，Coe JB ，Bernardo TM ，Dewey CE ，Stone EA ... -  《PLoS One》