Veterinary services during the COVID-19 pandemic: less stressful for cats and their carers?

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic saw major changes to small animal veterinary practice, many of which may have had an impact on stress in cats presented to the clinic. The aim of this study was to examine the nature of feline outpatient visits before and during the pandemic, and examine signs of stress noted in cats before, during and after these visits.

Methods

A questionnaire was used to gather data on cat owner experiences of visits to the veterinary clinic. Data were gathered on the owner's most recent experience of a consultation, with consultations occurring in February 2020 or earlier coded as a standard consultation, and consultations occurring in March 2020 or later coded as COVID-19 consultations.

Results

A total of 371 responses were received, with 210 code

SUBMITTER: Caney SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9659692 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature