[Veterinary surveillance in animal shelters--defects and potentials]

Looking after the stock of local animal shelters takes a considerable part of the field of activity of veterinarians. Because of the recent situation on the job market it is of interest for the veterinary profession to provide and extend this scope of duties. In order to give a comprehensive survey of the possibilities of curative and preventive herd advising in animal shelters, 369 managers of German animals shelters were asked to answer a questionnaire containing 92 answers, concerning the situation in the animal shelter. The answers of 144 animal shelters go to prove the following results. In 41% of the animal shelters veterinarians are visiting for rounds in regular intervals, 46% of the shelters are calling the veterinarians only if needed. 1% of the animal shelters bring sick animals into the clinic and 1% does not provide any medical care for the animals. At the moment 11% of the questioned animal shelters offer positions for veterinarians. In these case a significantly better, mainly preventive medical care is found compared to shelters without regular medical care. Deworming (98%) and vaccinations (91%) are provided routinely for dogs being brought to the animal shelter recently. In 46% of the animal shelters employees vaccinate dogs during the absence of a veterinarian. Therefore, 36% of the animal shelters bring new dogs into contact with the others without a soundness examination. Even though 60% of the animal shelters dispose quarantine units, dogs are only isolated for 7 days in average in 15% of the animal shelters. The most common disease of dogs in animal shelters is diarrhoea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)