Contrasting practices and opinions of UK-based veterinary surgeons around neutering cats at four months old.
cats
clinical practice
companion animals
pets
surgery
Journal
The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
Titre abrégé: Vet Rec
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0031164
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
17 10 2020
17 10 2020
Historique:
received:
29
01
2020
revised:
21
05
2020
accepted:
19
06
2020
pubmed:
9
8
2020
medline:
17
3
2021
entrez:
9
8
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Many cats in the UK are not neutered before reaching potential breeding age. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the prevalence of veterinarians' behaviours around neutering cats at four months of age and to identify any needs of the veterinary profession on this. A sample of 483 veterinarians that completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire were included in quantitative and qualitative analyses. Almost 70 per cent of veterinarians indicated they were comfortable carrying out neutering on cats of four months of age, and approximately half of veterinarians indicated they would recommend neutering client-owned cats at four months of age if practice policy permitted. There was no association found between these practices and geographic risk factors. Instead, neutering at four months was associated with the gender of the veterinarian, their practice policy and whether they routinely neuter unowned cats. Veterinarians have contrasting beliefs on similar themes, depending on whether they neuter kittens at four months or not, including differing opinions on general anaesthetic, surgery risks, owner compliance and their perceptions of neutering practices within the wider profession. Familiarity and experience with the procedure, alongside perceived norms, are central to beliefs. We also highlight informational and learning barriers.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Many cats in the UK are not neutered before reaching potential breeding age. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the prevalence of veterinarians' behaviours around neutering cats at four months of age and to identify any needs of the veterinary profession on this.
METHODS
A sample of 483 veterinarians that completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire were included in quantitative and qualitative analyses.
RESULTS
Almost 70 per cent of veterinarians indicated they were comfortable carrying out neutering on cats of four months of age, and approximately half of veterinarians indicated they would recommend neutering client-owned cats at four months of age if practice policy permitted. There was no association found between these practices and geographic risk factors. Instead, neutering at four months was associated with the gender of the veterinarian, their practice policy and whether they routinely neuter unowned cats. Veterinarians have contrasting beliefs on similar themes, depending on whether they neuter kittens at four months or not, including differing opinions on general anaesthetic, surgery risks, owner compliance and their perceptions of neutering practices within the wider profession.
CONCLUSION
Familiarity and experience with the procedure, alongside perceived norms, are central to beliefs. We also highlight informational and learning barriers.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32764034
pii: vr.105887
doi: 10.1136/vr.105887
pmc: PMC7606499
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
317Informations de copyright
© British Veterinary Association 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. Published by BMJ.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: None declared.
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