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Many Canadian pet owners lack dentistry understanding The need for better educa- tion about the importance of pet dental care extends up to our neighbors in the north, according to a study that tested Canadian pet owners on their knowledge of pain associated with periodon- tal disease. Marketing intelligence
company Ipsos Reid polled 1,017 dog and/or cat owners in Canada to find out how well they understood how pets are affected by pain related to periodontal disease. According to Ipsos Reid, 65% of respondents said root exposure is painful for cats and dogs, while 89% said it is painful for humans. Respondents also felt that
bleeding or swollen gums are painful for humans but not pets, with 63% saying the condition is painful for cats and dogs compared to 82% for humans. As part of the poll, respon-
dents were informed about the pain that pets feel while dealing with periodontal disease. Despite the educa- tion, only 46% of respon- dents expressed confidence that they fully understood the extent of the pain and comprehended how pets experience just as much pain as humans.
Veterinarians prefer dogs Almost 80% of veterinarians agree that better care for cats represents one of the most “signifi- cant, missed opportunities” for the profession. Yet, according to a study from Bayer HealthCare, in col- laboration with the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), 48% of veterinarians prefer dogs, while only 17% prefer cats. “To some extent, veterinarians’ own biases may
play a role in how they pursue feline patients,” said Dr. Elizabeth Colleran, owner of Chico Hospital for Cats in Chico, Calif., and past president of AAFP. Why do veterinarians prefer dogs? Dogs are easier to work with than cats during wellness exams (90% versus 65%);
Cats are more challenging to diagnose than dogs (57% versus 34%);
Dogs actually enjoy visiting the clinic (79% versus 15%).
Interestingly, according to the study, 20% of
veterinarians with cats report not having con- ducted a wellness exam on their own cat in the past 12 months. Almost one-third of practices admit they have
not trained staff on how to make visits less stressful for cat owners. “Since the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study III:
Feline Findings confirms that better care for cats is key to veterinary practice growth, 2013 may turn
out to be the ‘Year of the Cat’ on many veterinary calendars,” said Cristiano von Simson, DVM, MBA, Director of Veterinary Technical Services at Bayer HealthCare LLC Animal Health Division, North America, in a press release. “To help increase feline visits, Bayer HealthCare and the American Associa- tion of Feline Practitioners offer eleven practical tips.” 1. Find the un-served/under-served cats in your practice by asking about other household pets on every visit and tracking reminder compliance.
2. Educate cat owners on carrier use and transporting cats.
3. Make your waiting room as cat-welcoming as possible by establishing separate areas for dogs and cats and installing visual barriers, if possible.
4. Reserve one or more exam rooms for cats only.
5. Train all staff regularly in cat-friendly handling. 6. Review and refine feline exam protocols. 7. Talk through the exam with cat owners. 8. Use and dispense feline-friendly medications. 9. Send home an exam report every time.
10. Schedule the next exam before the cat leaves the practice.
11. Join AAFP and become a certified Cat Friendly Practice.
Trends magazine, April 2013
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