Veterian Key

Screening for problems involves only Steps 1 and 2 of welfare assessment. Screening does not involve an overall evaluation but highlights issues for further investigation. It is useful during routine…

There is a danger that palliative therapy perpetuates the lives of suffering ­animals by inhibiting a euthanasia decision from the owner. Firstly, offering palliative care provides owners with an attractive…

Having a healthy animal welfare account requires maximising welfare credit and minimising welfare debt. Harms should be minimised wherever possible (just as it is not sensible to borrow more than…

Figure 4.2 Problems come in different sizes. (Courtesy of James Yeates.) Figure 4.3 Animals may have very different experiences of treatment to human patients. (Courtesy of SPCA Hong Kong.) Sometimes…

Suffering due to frustration may be caused by owners preventing animals ­performing motivated behaviours. Animals can be highly motivated to perform many normal or natural behaviours, and also many learned…

Pre-purchase veterinary advice can help clients to have more realistic expectations and better owner–animal relationships (Kidd et al. 1992; Serpell 1996), and evidence (e.g. Patronek et al. 1996; New et…