When veterinarians treat plus-sized pets: Insights for veterinary practice

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Health
• Veterinary Well-being

Background:

• Companion animal obesity is a growing concern in Canadian veterinary practices, affecting cats and dogs.
• Treatment and prevention of pet obesity present significant challenges.
• Veterinary well-being is impacted by pet obesity, compounded by high rates of burnout and compassion fatigue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how practicing veterinarians perceive the treatment of overweight companion animals.
• To examine the effects of treating obese pets on veterinarian well-being.

Main Methods:

• Focus group interviews and individual interviews were conducted with practicing veterinarians.
• Thematic data analysis was employed to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Three themes emerged illustrating negative impacts on veterinarian well-being.
• These include negative emotions (frustration, sadness), owner comprehension issues (leading to early euthanasia decisions), and client nonadherence to treatment plans.

Conclusions:

• Treating pet obesity negatively affects veterinarian well-being, contributing to burnout.
• Recommendations include relationship-centered communication, enhanced nutritional expertise, and workplace wellness initiatives.
• Improving veterinarian well-being is essential for effectively managing the rising challenge of companion animal obesity.