The indiscriminate usage and overuse of antimicrobials in pets or companion animals are underlying causes of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Despite the multi-faceted global challenge presented by antimicrobial resistance, very few studies have appraised pet practitioners’ factors, such as written policy on antimicrobials, dose rate prescribed, use of critically important antimicrobials, and antimicrobial prescription in clean surgical procedures, which can contribute to AMR. In the present study, an online cross-sectional survey among randomly selected pet practitioners (n = 104) of various Indian provinces and union territories was conducted using a questionnaire comprising 33 closed-ended questions on different parameters, viz., the dosage regimen and level of compliance towards guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), other relevant veterinary associations, and their opinion while prescribing antimicrobials. Almost every practitioner of the 104 respondents had revealed the difficulties with owner compliance; i.e., incomplete course of the antibiotics, inappropriate follow-ups, and improper care of the sick animals. The majority of practitioners (95%) reported self-prescription of antimicrobials by the owner before presenting the pet(s) to the veterinary clinic, whereas more than half of the respondents (64%) revealed unavailability of antibiogram facilities. Furthermore, a large number (76%) of practitioners stated empirical treatment based on their experience as the main criteria for antimicrobial choice in the absence of timely results from the laboratory. Although non-necessitated use of antimicrobials in clean surgical procedures has been claimed, surprisingly, the majority of pet practitioners (97%) reported their use to reduce the post-operative complications. The use of the highest priority, critically important antimicrobials (HPCIA) listed by the WHO for humans, particularly quinolones and third-generation cephalosporin, also has been reported for different infections. The treatment durations were nearly as per the recommended guidelines issued by the Danish Small Animal Veterinary Association (DSAVA) for different ailments. Analysis using chi-square tests exhibited a significant correlation between less experienced veterinarians (less than 5 years) and prescription of antimicrobials restricted for critically important infections in human medicine. However, there seems to be no association between the experience of the practitioner and the further studied parameters, namely, antimicrobial regimen prescription, weighing the animals before prescription, dose rate calculation, and antimicrobial selection and use after clean surgical operations. The findings suggest periodic awareness campaigns among practitioners regarding the implementation of the official guidelines, the need for systematic surveillance of AMR, awareness among pet owners about antimicrobial resistance, and the importance of rational use of antimicrobials on their pets.

Veterinary education, being a rigorous professional training programme, exposes students to significant academic and non-academic pressures. Identifying the stressors and evaluating stress levels among veterinary students can help with the development of coping techniques to protect students' mental health. A 44-item based cross-sectional questionnaire survey was prepared and disseminated among veterinary students in India with the goal of identifying the stressors responsible, measuring the amount of stress, and relating stress to characteristics like as gender and family income. The data from the questionnaire was evaluated using a variety of statistical factors. The survey had a high level of internal consistency. More than 95% of pupils were found to be stressed, with levels ranging from moderate to severe. Academic stressors were the primary cause of increased overall stress. In comparison to male students, female students reported higher levels of overall stress, academic stress, and intrapersonal and interpersonal stress. Students from lower-income families experienced increased overall stress as well as stress connected to family expectations. Gender, family income, academic stressors, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and career-related stressors, and social activities-related stressors all positively predicted overall stress among students. These factors should be given special consideration when developing any stress-reduction or stress-reduction strategies for Indian veterinary students. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in India to identify stressors and quantify stress among veterinary students.

Background As an intensive professional training program veterinary education presents high academic and non-academic stressors to students. Identifying the stressors responsible and measuring the stress among veterinary students can prove useful to design any coping strategies to safeguard the mental health of students. Methods With the aim to identify the stressors responsible, measure the level of stress, relation of stress with variables such as gender and family income 44 item based cross sectional questionnaire survey was designed and distributed among veterinary students of India. Results The questionnaire yielded high internal consistency. More than 95% students were found to be under stress. Maximum students reported high stress due to academic related stressors. Female students reported high overall stress, academic stress, and intrapersonal and interpersonal related stress than male students. Students with lower family incomes experienced more overall stress as well as family responsibilities related stress. Conclusions Gender, family income, academic stressors, intrapersonal, interpersonal and conflict related stressors, and social activities related stressors positively predicted the overall stress among the students and thus these factors can be given special emphasis while designing any stress combating or reducing measures for veterinary students of India.

Veterinary education, being a rigorous professional training programme, exposes students to significant academic and non-academic pressures. Identifying the stressors and evaluating stress levels among veterinary students can help with the development of coping techniques to protect students' mental health. A 44-item based cross-sectional questionnaire survey was prepared and disseminated among veterinary students in India with the goal of identifying the stressors responsible, measuring the amount of stress, and relating stress to characteristics like as gender and family income. The data from the questionnaire was evaluated using a variety of statistical factors. The survey had a high level of internal consistency. More than 95% of pupils were found to be stressed, with levels ranging from moderate to severe. Academic stressors were the primary cause of increased overall stress. In comparison to male students, female students reported higher levels of overall stress, academic stress, and intrapersonal and interpersonal stress. Students from lower-income families experienced increased overall stress as well as stress connected to family expectations. Gender, family income, academic stressors, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and career-related stressors, and social activities-related stressors all positively predicted overall stress among students. These factors should be given special consideration when developing any stress-reduction or stress-reduction strategies for Indian veterinary students. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in India to identify stressors and quantify stress among veterinary students.

As an intensive professional training program veterinary education presents high academic and non-academic stressors to students. Identifying the stressors responsible and measuring the stress among veterinary students can prove useful to design any coping strategies to safeguard the mental health of students. The study aimed to identify the responsible stressors, measure the level of stress caused by each kind of stressor, the relation of stress with variables such as gender and family income. For this, 44 items based cross-sectional questionnaire survey was designed and distributed among veterinary students of India. On statistical analysis, the questionnaire yielded high internal consistency. More than 95% of students were found to be under stress. Maximum students reported the highest stress due to academic-related stressors. Female students reported high overall stress, academic stress, and intrapersonal and interpersonal-related stress than male students. Students with lower family incomes experienced more overall stress as well as family responsibilities-related stress. Gender, family income, academic stressors, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and conflict-related stressors, and social activities-related stressors positively predicted the overall stress among the students and thus these factors should be given special emphasis while designing any stress combating or reducing measures for veterinary students of India.