The entire veterinary healthcare team should contribute to educating clients on important topics that impact the human–animal bond. Ensure the team is thoroughly trained, hold regular staff meetings for updates and reminders, and empower each team member – from client care representatives to veterinarians – to educate clients when appropriate.
2.15.5 Educational Topics that Promote the Human–Animal Bond
In addition to pet‐specific education, be sure to promote the bond your clients share with their companion animals by educating them on these topics.
Preventive care: it's well established that regular preventive care yields longer lifespans, regardless of species. And when pet owners take exceptional care of their pets, they'll be more likely to enjoy longer, happier, healthier lives together, which strengthens the bond they share and decreases the risk of relinquishment [2]. Veterinary professionals should recommend and promote the highest quality care, including:regular veterinary visitspreventive medicationsappropriate vaccinations (see 9.11 Vaccination)regular oral examinations and professional dental cleanings (see 4.9 Periodontal Disease)reproductive control (see 2.18 Population Control).Your clients should also understand why this level of care is important and how it affects them and their pets.
Fear, anxiety, and stress in pets: fear, anxiety, and stress contribute to health and behavior problems and shorter lifespans in pets [3, 4]. Educate clients on how to reduce stress and anxiety at home, but also take steps to do the same at your practice (see 6.6 Fear Free Concepts). Methods include the following.Create separate entrances, waiting areas, and exam rooms for canine and feline patients.Limit waiting time in the lobby.Use high‐value treats to distract pets during exams and procedures.Create a calm and familiar environment by using pheromone diffusers, infused towels, and wipes.Avoid using traditional exam room tables. Make pets more comfortable by conducting your exam on the floor at their level.Prescribe appropriate medications for pets with extreme anxiety, and instruct pet owners on how to administer the medication prior to the veterinary visit.
Positive reinforcement training methods: dogs who have been trained using positive reinforcement methods are less likely to display behavior problems, including attention seeking, fear, and aggression, than those trained using aversive techniques [5, 6]. When pets develop behavior issues, the human–animal bond suffers, and pets are at increased risk of relinquishment or euthanasia [2]. Provide resources and guidance to help your clients properly train their pets using positive reinforcement methods (see 6.2 How Animals Learn).
Enrichment: bored pets are more likely to develop behavioral problems, and studies show that environmental enrichment improves cognitive functions and reduces anxiety‐related behaviors and neurodegenerative diseases [7]. Encourage your clients to strengthen the bond they have with their pets by enriching their environments (see 6.9 Preventing Behavior Problems). Create literature about ways to enrich an indoor cat's environment, including tips about scratching posts, perches, toys and games, pheromones, and alternative feeding systems. Remind dog owners about the importance of regular walks and play time.
Exercise and nutrition: pets who are overweight or obese live shorter lives and are more likely to experience a number of health conditions, which adversely affect quality of life and the human–animal bond (see 6.15 Approaching Obesity on a Pet‐Specific Basis). Ensure your clients understand the importance of helping their pets maintain a healthy weight through regular exercise and feeding a high‐quality, safe diet that has been tested through research and feeding trials.
Pain in pets: because animals cannot tell us when they are feeling pain, your clients should be aware of the possible signs of pain in pets. Focus on behavioral changes, like decreased activity, loss of appetite, aggression, inappropriate elimination, withdrawing or avoiding interaction, hiding, and changes in grooming habits (see 2.16 Pain and Pain Management). Be sure your clients know to inform you when they notice behavioral changes in their pets so potential pain can be quickly and appropriately addressed.
Pet health insurance: when a pet is facing a medical emergency or a potentially devastating diagnosis, the last thing the owner wants to think about is the cost of care. However, many pet owners are forced to choose substandard care, no care at all, relinquishment, or euthanasia when they cannot afford recommended treatments. Help take the cost of care out of the equation and keep the human–animal bond intact by educating your clients on pet medical insurance (see 10.16 Pet Health Insurance).
Leo, a 5‐year‐old neutered male domestic shorthair, has received regular preventive care since he was adopted as a kitten. Leo has recently begun scratching furniture inappropriately. Frustrated, his owners conduct internet research on potential remedies, including declaw. They visit ABC Animal Hospital's website, where they find a blog post about inappropriate scratching that recommends environmental enrichment, including scratching posts, interactive and engaging toys, food puzzles, climbing structures, and more frequent interaction and play with owners. The blog post also recommends regular nail trimming and pheromone diffusers.
Hoping to avoid declawing their cat, Leo's owners implement several of the blog's suggestions. Within a month, Leo stops scratching the furniture.
Client education is key to the promotion of the human–animal bond.
In the exam room, visual aids and client handouts should be utilized to promote understanding and compliance.
Additional opportunities for client education include brochures, blogs and social media, educational open houses, and community events.
The entire veterinary team should be equipped to educate clients and promote the human–animal bond when appropriate.
To promote the human–animal bond, veterinary professionals should educate clients on the importance of preventive care, fear, and stress in animals, positive reinforcement training, enrichment, exercise and nutrition, pain in pets, and pet health insurance.
Abbreviation
HAB Human–animal bond
References
1 1 American Veterinary Medical Association. (2019). Human–Animal Bond (Policy/Position Statement). www.avma.org/resources‐tools/avma‐policies/human‐animal‐interaction‐and‐human‐animal‐bond
