Karen Fine, DVM, wrote the recently released book, “The Other Family Doctor.” The book’s subtitle, “A veterinarian explores what animals can teach us about love, life, and mortality,” aptly describes Fine’s observations. She shares these experiences and how they relate to the realities of veterinary practice today with Fresh Air’s Dave Davies. The half-hour interview ranges … [Read more...]
Your dog feels your stress
It is proven that dogs and their owners can experience the same emotions and stress levels, especially during highly stressful or exciting activities such as competitions or police work. A new study suggests dogs may be highly sensitive to our stress. Source: NPR Shots, June 6, 2019. Link. “It was the owner’s personality that influenced the dog’s hair cortisol level, rather … [Read more...]
Moral distress is widespread among veterinarians
Sixty nine percent of veterinarians recently surveyed felt moderate to severe distress about not being able to give animals what they believe to be the right care. Nearly two-thirds were bothered by inappropriate requests for euthanasia. These were but two of the findings of a study published October 15 in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Link. Study authors believe … [Read more...]
Pets help people manage mental illness
Anyone who owns a pet knows how it can help us weather rough times. This may be even more so for those with serious mental illness. A United Kingdom study found that some people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder say pets help them manage their condition more than anything else. The study was published December 9 in the journal BMC Psychiatry. Source: NPR Shots, December … [Read more...]