[Professional practice and health status of veterinarians]

By carrying out an inquiry by mail to 925 veterinarians in the Southern Netherlands, there was looked after a relationship between the professional practice of the veterinarian and his health status. The inquiry was completed and returned by 453 veterinarians. The questions about the health status dealt with complaints about: the respiratory tract, the stand and motion apparatus and the hearing. Based on over 75% of the work package the veterinarians were divided into: veterinarians in the large animal practice, veterinarians in the small animal practice and veterinarians with an other job. The results are compared with the results of a comparable inquiry by pig farmers. Veterinarians, who do smoke, have twice as much respiratory complaints than no smoking veterinarians. Veterinarians in the large animal practice have more respiratory complaints, more complaints about elbows and wrists and more deafness. Veterinarians in the small animal practice have more complaints about allergies, and more complaints about the back and the knees and feet.