The impact of a stress‐reducing protocol on the quality of pre‐anaesthesia in cats

Objectives Cat Friendly Practices (CFPs) were compared with non-CFP control practices to determine whether CFPs had an increased proportion of clinical visits, number of visits per cat per year and inclusion of diagnostic testing. To measure diagnostic testing behavior, the numbers and types of tests analyzed and clinically relevant findings were compared. Methods In a retrospective analysis comparing CFPs and non-CFPs, clinic financial data and associated diagnostic tests from a commercial laboratory for 2018 and 2021 were analyzed. Data were stratified based on visit type and included revenue per visit type, revenue per patient, the number of visits per year and the proportion of visits that included diagnostic testing. Analyses of clinical findings for June 2021 to June 2022 examined clinical findings associated with biochemistry, complete blood count, urinalysis and thyroid testing categories at diagnostic patient visits, the proportion of clinical visits in which each finding was observed, the volume of testing categories as a proportion of clinical visits, and the proportion of diagnostic visits with one, two, three or four testing categories. Results The average revenue per feline visit and visits that included diagnostic testing were higher at CFPs. There was no difference in the proportion of wellness visits; however, CFPs had higher mean visits per year per patient. CFPs performed diagnostic testing at 12% more clinical visits, and had higher annual revenue per feline patient for all visits and for visits including diagnostic testing. CFPs had higher odds of patients having >1 visit that included bloodwork or urinalysis. They were more likely to include all four testing categories and less likely to include only one category at a diagnostic visit. CFPs identified a higher number of cats with clinical findings. Conclusions and relevance CFPs exhibited unique diagnostic testing behavior by performing more diagnostic tests more frequently and identifying a higher number of cats with abnormal findings.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cat Friendly Practice improves feline visits, resulting in increased laboratory testing and increased diagnosis of certain common feline conditions

St Denis,

Saffire,

Michael

et al. 2023

“…These interventions to improve cats' experiences with the carrier and during travel have been shown to help reduce both the time required to reach sedation and the induction dose of propofol in cats requiring general anes- thesia. 29 Caregivers can use positive reinforcement training at home to teach their cats to enjoy handling that mimics or approximates that conducted during health examinations by the veterinarian. See 'Cooperative care, the future of cat friendly' for further information.…”

Section: Caregiver Rolementioning

confidence: 99%

2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques

Rodan¹,

Dowgray

Carney³

et al. 2022

Practical relevance: The ‘2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques’ (hereafter the ‘Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines’) support veterinary professionals with feline interactions and handling to reduce the impact of fear and other protective (negative) emotions, in so doing enhancing feline welfare and In implementing these Guidelines, team satisfaction and cat caregiver confidence in the veterinary team will increase as the result of efficient examinations, better experience, more reliable diagnostic testing and improved feline wellbeing. Veterinary professionals will learn the importance of understanding and appropriately responding to the current emotional state of the cat and tailoring each visit to the individual. Clinical challenges: Cats have evolved with emotions and behaviors that are necessary for their survival as both a predator and prey species. A clinical setting and the required examinations and procedures to meet their physical health needs can result in behavioral responses to protective emotions. Cat friendly interactions require understanding, interpreting and appropriately responding to cats’ emotional states and giving them a perceived sense of control while performing the required assessment. Evidence base: These Guidelines have been created by a Task Force of experts convened by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine, based on an extensive literature review and, where evidence is lacking, the authors’ experience. Endorsements: These Guidelines have been endorsed by a number of groups and organizations, as detailed on page 1127 and at catvets.com/interactions and icatcare.org/cat-friendly-guidelines .

“…39 Cats exposed to a less stressful transport protocol took less time to reach sedation and needed a lower dose of propofol than control cats in one study. 61 Meanwhile, research in humans and rat models suggests exposure to stress and low mood perioperatively can increase com-plications 62 – for example, affecting wound healing, 63 and both postoperative and chronic pain 62,64 – and the same may be true in cats. Therefore, areas of the clinic where cats are sedated or anaesthetised, and where they recover, should be kept quiet, with minimal staff movement, and no (or minimal) exposure to the sight, sound or smell of other animals, as impacts may be far reaching for each patient.…”

Section: Other Clinic Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines

Taylor¹,

Denis

Collins³

et al. 2022

Practical relevance: The ‘2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines’ (hereafter the ‘Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines’) describe how the veterinary clinic environment can be manipulated to minimise feline patient distress. Many components of a veterinary clinic visit or stay may result in negative experiences for cats. However, much can be done to improve a cat’s experience by making the veterinary clinic more cat friendly. Exposure to other cats and other species can be reduced, and adjustments made with consideration of the feline senses and species-specific behaviour. Caregivers can prepare cats for a clinic visit with appropriate advice. Waiting rooms, examination rooms, hospital wards and other clinic areas can be designed and altered to reduce stress and hence encourage positive emotions. Changes need not be structural or expensive in order to be effective and make a difference to the cats and, in turn, to cat caregivers and the veterinary team. Moreover, by improving the all-round experience at the veterinary clinic, there are positive effects on preventive healthcare, identification of and recovery from illness, and compliance with treatment. Clinical challenges: Good feline healthcare necessitates visiting the veterinary clinic, which, simply by being outside of a cat’s territory and familiar surroundings, may lead to negative experiences. Such experiences can trigger negative (protective) emotions and associated physiological stress, which can result in misleading clinical findings, patient distress, prolonged recovery from illness, further difficulties with handling at subsequent visits and potential veterinary personnel injury. There may be a mistaken belief that veterinary clinics must undergo significant renovation or building work to become cat friendly, and that, if species cannot be separated, then clinics cannot improve their care of cats. These Guidelines aim to dispel any such misconceptions and provide detailed practical advice. Evidence base: These Guidelines have been created by a Task Force of experts convened by the International Society of Feline Medicine and American Association of Feline Practitioners, based on an extensive literature review and, where evidence is lacking, the authors’ experience. Endorsements: These Guidelines have been endorsed by a number of groups and organisations, as detailed on page 1161 and at icatcare.org/cat-friendly-guidelines and catvets.com/environment .