背景:全世界对外来宠物的福利越来越关注。就本文而言,外来宠物被认为是非驯养物种,在良好做法(最低护理标准)方面存在知识差距的地方,兽医诊断和治疗。本研究中包括的外来宠物的类别是:小型哺乳动物(<20公斤),大型哺乳动物(>20公斤),鸟,爬行动物,两栖动物,鱼类和无脊椎动物。狗,猫,兔子,仓鼠,沙鼠,豚鼠,老鼠,老鼠,雪貂被排除在研究之外。2020年7月至8月间进行的兽医专业人员在线调查提供了爱尔兰的第一个经验数据。在这项试点研究(本主题系列的第二个)中,我们旨在从兽医专业人员的角度描述向异国宠物提供兽医服务的情况。探索兽医专业人员对异国情调的宠物所有权的主要担忧,以及他们的建议,以支持负责任的异国宠物所有权。
结果:通过一项在线调查,这项试点研究从目前在爱尔兰私人执业的63名兽医专业人员那里收集了证据。在爱尔兰,外来宠物的兽医服务的患病率被确定为82%的受访者的小型和混合动物诊所的实践范围为9.1%至100%,适用于不同类别的外来宠物。在异国宠物的实践中遇到的最常见问题与营养有关,环境,和行为,其次是临床疾病,如呼吸道,传染性,和胃肠道问题。兽医专业人员最常见的问题是与缺乏主人知识以及缺乏兽医知识和可访问资源有关的异国情调的宠物所有权。兽医专业人员指出的最常见的战略举措包括黑名单或白名单(分别禁止和允许饲养外来宠物物种),为业主发放许可证,并为兽医专业人员增加CPD的可用性。
结论:在接受调查的小型或混合动物实践中,超过五分之四的兽医专业人员愿意对待外来宠物,在许多情况下,他们已经愿意。需要一个最佳实践的脚手架来支持异国宠物的健康和福利以及负责任的所有权。基石包括兽医教育,以支持兽医专业人员的日常实践,建立一个适合作为宠物的外来物种的白名单,在购买时进行注册,以实现生物安全目的的可追溯性,并进行研究以确定护理标准,以支持外来宠物的健康和福利。
BACKGROUND: There has been increasing concern expressed about the welfare of exotic pets worldwide. For the purposes of this article, an exotic pet is considered to be a non-domesticated species, where there are knowledge gaps on good practice (minimum standards of care), veterinary diagnostics and treatments. The categories of exotic pets included in this study were: small mammals (< 20 kg), large mammals (> 20 kg), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, and ferrets were excluded from the study. An online survey of veterinary professionals conducted between July and August 2020 provides the first empirical data for Ireland. In this pilot study (the second in this thematic series) we aim to characterise the provision of veterinary services to exotic pets from the veterinary professionals\' perspective, explore the main concerns of veterinary professionals towards exotic pet ownership, and their recommendations to support responsible exotic pet ownership.
RESULTS: Using an online survey this pilot study gathered evidence from 63 veterinary professionals currently working in private practice in Ireland. The prevalence of veterinary services for exotic pets in Ireland was determined to be 82% of small and mixed animal clinics of respondents\' practices ranging from 9.1 to 100% for different categories of exotic pets. The most common issues encountered in practice with exotic pets were related to nutrition, environment, and behaviour followed by clinical diseases such as respiratory, infectious, and gastrointestinal issues. The most common concerns veterinary professionals had with exotic pet ownership related to the lack of owner knowledge as well as the lack of veterinary knowledge and accessible resources. The most common strategic initiatives indicated by veterinary professionals included black or white lists (to prohibit and permit the keeping of exotic pet species respectively), licensing for owners and increased availability of CPD for veterinary professionals.
CONCLUSIONS: More than four in every five veterinary professionals in small or mixed animal practices surveyed were willing to treat exotic pets and in many cases they already were. A scaffold for best practice is required to support the health and welfare of exotic pets and responsible ownership. Keystones include veterinary education to support veterinary professionals with daily practice, establishing a white list of exotic species that are suitable as pets, registration at the point of purchase to enable traceability for biosecurity purposes and research to identify care standards to support the health and welfare of exotic pets.