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Tag: welfare

The camelid conundrum

Llamas are social animals.

Despite expecting a purely equine placement, I’ve had a bit of a crash course in camelids over the past two weeks.

As alpacas and llamas continue to increase in popularity throughout the UK, more and more first opinion vets are having to apply their knowledge from other species to these slightly odd creatures.

Having had no previous experience with either of them, even just handling and trying to read their behaviour was a bit of a challenge.

Being social animals who get extremely upset when alone, one in-patient (a llama) was accompanied by two of his friends to minimise stress levels.

Sadly, said llama didn’t make it, but his acquaintances were able to travel home together, considerably less stressed than a lone llama forced to leave its dead friend behind.

Drugs done different

I also accompanied two of the vets to go and castrate eight alpacas, which thankfully went smoother than expected. In addition to learning the procedure itself – which is very similar to castrating a dog, apart from leaving the incision open and only using local anaesthetic – I learned how some drugs must be used differently in these animals. For example, lidocaine has to be mixed with sterile water rather than used straight.

Luckily, we had plenty of help and most people involved were experienced handlers, which made the whole operation run fairly smoothly, even if everyone did get splattered with blood and alpaca spit.

I found out the hard way that alpacas have extremely powerful legs and sharp claws, having had one narrowly miss my face but leave a considerable scratch along my neck, and another tear straight through a pair of very hardy waterproof trousers, in addition to leaving me with numerous bruises.

The point of an alpaca

What’s the point of an alpaca?

Having also been to castrate a llama that day, this sparked a discussion about the purpose of camelids in this country.

Llamas are sometimes kept as guard animals for flocks of sheep, and alpacas for their wool – but, other than being expensive pets or “field ornaments”, what is the end market for breeders?

A breeder present for the mass emasculation expressed his support for castration since, as the popularity of these South American natives grows, so does the number of unwanted individuals.

This discussion on the welfare of unwanted animals reminded me of Princess Anne’s suggestion that a UK horse meat market would decrease the number of unwanted horses.

Could the same be said for camelids? Would an alpaca meat market in this country help the problem, and would it ever take off anyway? Being a very lean meat, I think there could be a market in a nation of people yearning for a healthy lifestyle.

Having visited South America in 2013, I’ll admit I was more inclined to try alpaca steak than another of their native dishes – and believe it far more likely to take off in the UK than guinea pig.

July 31, 2015
Represent, support, engage!

The AVS committee poses for an official photograph at the association’s annual ball.

The AVS (Association of Veterinary Students) Congress marks one year since my involvement with the association began.

Last year, in Nottingham, I stood up at the AGM and gave a hustings speech. Before long, I found myself elected the editor of JAVS (the Journal of the Association of Veterinary Students), which is sent out to students in all of the nine veterinary schools. More importantly, this meant I had joined the AVS committee, which has allowed me to gain an insight to the workings of veterinary education and the profession as a whole.

The first full AVS meeting I attended at BVA headquarters in London was a bit overwhelming, but I soon realised how much capacity AVS has to reach out to students and implement changes in order to maximise the veterinary student experience.

Since then, in addition to the annual congress and the infamous AVS sports weekend, the committee has accomplished many things, with just a few outlined below.

The policy sub-committee announced the AVS Workforce Policy, which outlines the concerns over the impact of rising numbers of veterinary schools for the future of the profession. This has been viewed more than 2,000 times on the website and, ultimately, impacted on a national policy.

The marketing sub-committee has been extremely successful this year too, especially with the new website and push on the committee’s part with social media, which has encouraged members to engage with AVS more than ever before.

The equine rescue practical from AVS Congress 2015, held in Glasgow.

A direct example of this is the RCVS consultation on the use of the courtesy title of “Dr” – while members of the BVA MSG (members services group) committee were indifferent or against the proposal, the AVS junior vice president, who was present at the meeting, was able to respond with evidence of the student opinion.

AVS posted about the consultation on the website, Facebook and Twitter. The initial post was seen by more than 22,000 people, 1,719 of which followed the link to the RCVS website. AVS then carried out a quick poll, in which 290 people voted, and 281 of these were pro using the title. Hence, there was an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the consultation and the use of social media has widened the ability for AVS to engage with their members and accurately represent the veterinary student body.

Another example is BVA’s stun before slaughter campaign, which AVS was involved in the initiation of when the reality of non-stun slaughter came into the public eye last March (following the ban of slaughter without stunning in Denmark).

The stun before slaughter e-petition gained an immense amount of support, and has just passed the 100,000 signatures mark – the target required in order for the subject to be considered for parliamentary debate. AVS has been supporting and promoting the e-petition online and, as a result, many of those signatures have come from veterinary students.

Our MSG (members services group) sub-committee has produced a preclinical EMS guide for first year students, which advises many things including what to expect on different types of placement and how to find placements. Having been produced and written by students, it is hoped that the guide will be relatable and useful to help support freshers embarking on EMS for the first time.

AWF (Animal Welfare Foundation), the BVA’s charity, has been hosting talks and debates in each of the universities throughout the year, allowing students to engage with hot animal welfare topics.

Student welfare is also integral to the role of the welfare sub-committee. Just discussing different methods of promoting student welfare and support allows the AVS representatives to share ideas and take those back to their respective schools. As a result, Glasgow has followed in the footsteps of Liverpool and recently set up its own network of peer supporters within the vet school, who have had intensive training to allow them to be proficient in their roles.

In one year, we have achieved so much, and yet there is so much potential for long term aims too, such as the production of an AVS app, consultations on EMS provision and involvement in the Vet Futures project run jointly by the BVA and RCVS.

The AVS marketing sub-committee came up with a “tagline” for AVS: represent, support, engage – and after reviewing all we have done over the last year, you can see this accurately and concisely sums up what AVS stands for.

Since I stood up and shakily gave my plea to become an editor, not only have I made great friends across all of the vet schools, but I have also felt part of a community that has the ability to really stand up and make a difference for our students; and I have not regretted it for one second.

January 30, 2015
What makes a good vet?

Vets aren’t superheroes… or are they?
Original image ©iStock.com/VasjaKoman

As a student on placement, I’m often in awe of the vets I’m working with. The ability to take a history, examine an animal, run through differentials and come up with a diagnosis or action plan within 10 minutes – all while listening to an owner commenting on the weather or traffic – seems superhuman.

This may seem an exaggeration (after all, vets aren’t superheroes), but when considered like that, it is pretty impressive.

While seemingly intangible at the moment, I know the ability to do this with such ease comes with practice – and clearly some presentations are far more complex than that.

However, while I find this impressive, others have a different opinion…

A family friend recently commented on their own vets, claiming they would avoid seeing the partners if possible because – in their opinion – they see an animal for five minutes and see it as a money making exercise, whereas the younger vets spend a bit more time with the clients.

Obviously I can’t comment on the vet/client rapport, which may have a huge influence on this opinion, but I can’t help but think that a younger, newly qualified vet would spend more time during consultations purely due to experience, or lack thereof.

It has become evident recently that the profession has an image problem and we must try to change that for the better. But what do the public consider as a “good vet”? Apparently the opinion differs depending which side of the table you’re on.

This is just one example, but in general, do clients want the vet to spend more time with their animal? They probably do – but, at the same time, they don’t want to be kept waiting and they want to be able to get an appointment. There has to be a balance between the three.

As for cost, I’ve seen some vets charge meticulously, whereas others would try and keep prices as low as possible to please customers. In the clients’ eyes, the cheaper the better. But a vet practice has to function. It’s no good offering neutering for £10 because the practice would be bankrupt within a week.

“The most highly qualified and experienced surgeon in the practice might not be the best at client communication,” claims Jordan.

Surgical skills and experience are perhaps something that the client will never fully appreciate. For a start, the vet seen in the consultation room may not be the same one who performed the operation, particularly if it’s something fairly routine. Also, the most highly qualified and experienced surgeon in the practice might not be the best at client communication.

A vet can have such a diverse set of skills and knowledge that it is difficult to pinpoint which of these defines a “good vet”. Many vets have certain areas of expertise and will be better than others in certain situations, but not all.

The key to time and money is striking the balance between what the client desires and what is realistic.

Communication, however, doesn’t need to be compromised and can be the difference that alters the client’s opinion. For example, the manner in which an examination is conducted and the attitude of the vet during a 10-minute consult could leave the client feeling rushed, whereas a different vet with a different approach could leave the client with a far more positive impression.

Client opinion is important, but at the end of the day, the welfare of the animal in front of you is your priority, whether or not the client values you highly.

While the profession as a whole should take heed of what clients want, the customer is not necessarily always right, and at the end of the day, it is the welfare of the animal in front of you that should be paramount.

January 15, 2015
Helping the hounds of the homeless
Image ©iStock.com/artefy

The homeless come with a certain stigma – particularly those with pets at their side.

Should we be concerned for the welfare of those animals, whose owners cannot afford to feed themselves so surely cannot adequately care for a companion?

Of course we should.

However, instead of claiming these pets should be removed from their owners, Ruby Shorrock (a fourth year vet student at the University of Glasgow) took a different approach.

Being homeless can be extremely isolating and lonely. For some of these people, their dog is their only companion, and can often be the only thing keeping them going. A dog can also provide a connection to home, and so the reluctance to give them up is understandable.

Despite this, many shelters refuse to accommodate dogs and so the help available can become increasingly restricted for homeless dog owners.

In light of this, Ruby founded Trusty Paws, a non-profit organisation that hosts free clinics and provides preventative care for hounds belonging to the homeless. The clinics involve a free health check (a clinical examination performed by veterinary students, supervised by a qualified vet), microchipping, flea and worming treatment and vaccinations. Dog food packages and other supplies such as leads and dog coats are also given out at the clinics.

Trusty Paws: a vaccination clinic for dogs belonging to the homeless, run by fourth year vet students at the University of Glasgow.

There have been three Trusty Paws clinics in Glasgow so far, with several grateful clients being able to benefit from the supplies donated and the services provided by the students. Everyone involved is delighted with how the clinics have been received.

Plans for 2015 include registering as a formal charity and organising public fundraisers. The Trusty Paws team also intends to tackle the problem of local shelters and hostels not allowing dogs.

Trusty Paws relies entirely on donations and sponsorship and the response to requests for both has been exceptional. The concept has really taken off and looks to gain popularity and success in the future.

The work of Trusty Paws is a fantastic way of not only actively ensuring quality care for homeless pets, but also raising awareness within the community to tackle public perception. If these misconceptions can be eliminated, others will be willing to accept that pets are a huge part of the lives of homeless people too and, perhaps, be encouraged to help the situation instead of avoiding eye contact with that person sitting in a doorway on a rainy evening.
- For more information, or to donate, visit the Trusty Paws Facebook page or follow @Trusty_Paws on Twitter.
December 30, 2014
Hitting the third-year wall

Jordan and her peers, not even halfway through their course, feel they are fighting to keep their heads above water – Image: ©iStockphoto/Anton_Sokolov

Everyone had heard rumours third year at veterinary school was the worst. On coming back to university after a long summer of extra-mural studies and relaxation, we were nervous. Two weeks in, things didn’t seem too bad and we were sceptical.

We were indifferently meandering through the bewildering world of Latin names and impossible-to-spell drugs, resigned to a fate of an increased workload and new subjects, but not overwhelmed just yet. It happened to different people at different times, but, seemingly out of nowhere, the third-year wall hit. And it hit hard.

Whether it was the hours of straining to make sense of indiscernible pinky-purple mess under the microscope, or trying to differentiate one parasite from the next by the subtlest of morphological changes, or even just trying to fathom the hideous amount of Latin that had forced itself into our lives, veterinary school suddenly got the better of most of us.

While drowning under the sheer amount of information to take in, the realisation we’re not even halfway there really seemed to set in this term, making it almost impossible for us to keep our heads above water.

A week of very little sleep, long hours studying and eight exams will mark the halfway point for my year group. The most disturbing part of this revelation is the feeling we’ve been at vet school for a long time (can anyone even remember freshers’ week?), and yet we still have that same length of time left to go.

Several of us have been questioning our aspirations of late – why did I want to be a vet? Why am I putting myself through this? Is it worth it? Is this as hard as it gets? These are just some of the whispers heard around vet school.

Image ©iStockphoto/pick-uppath

It’s often comforting in itself your classmates are feeling as fed up as you are, but you also need to find a way to combat your doubts and climb the wall, or punch right through it. Veterinary students are particularly susceptible to stress and mental health issues – we’ve all heard the statistics, which is why it’s vital to know how and where to access support should you need it.

The student-run welfare system at Glasgow’s veterinary school has boomed this year, with multiple welfare talks and the start up of many new clubs and societies aimed at stress relief, including relaxing yoga classes to help you reboot or a high-energy Muay Thai sessions to help you release all that pent-up stress. Following in the footsteps of Liverpool, Glasgow vet school is also currently developing a peer-support network to provide an ear for those students who need someone to turn to in times of need.

Of course, your own interests can distract you from the stress of vet school, and while it’s tempting to entirely prioritise your studies, it’s really important to ensure they don’t consume your entire life. For me personally, writing, editing and riding keep me afloat.

One lesson I’ve learned this term is you also need to keep on top of your own health. You may have a persisting issue that you keep putting off because you haven’t got time to see a doctor and have too much work to do. But it doesn’t pay off in the end. I allowed back muscle pain to get to the point of me being barely able to walk before shaking some sense into myself and seeing a physio. After a couple of sessions, I felt a million times better and regretted putting it off for so long. Just remember you need to look after your body to keep your mind on top form.

On the upside, by the time our “halfway ball” comes around in February, we’ll be over the hump, and just a little bit closer to graduation. Or in other words – a little bit closer to fulfilling our ambitions or dreams that many of us have had from a very young age. We just need to find a way to hold on to the light at the end of the tunnel, so we don’t run out of steam.

December 17, 2014
Only the best will do

“In an ideal world, welfare should always come before cost. The truth is that it often doesn’t” – Image ©iStockphoto.com/SimonJamesLBIPP

All too often the deciding factor in an animal’s veterinary treatment is cost.

It has to be a factor because there is no NHS for pets. But it is unfortunate that, when undertaking the care of an animal, many people underestimate this cost or even seem to give it no consideration at all – although this is a crying shame because, in an ideal world, welfare should always come before cost. The truth is that it often doesn’t.

Countless times on placements I’ve seen owners arrive in an expensive motor, or flash a handbag worth more than my own car, and yet grumble about the cost of treatment for their pet. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the total selflessness of one particular client I had the gratification of meeting recently.

From appearance (and sadly smell) this client evidently doesn’t have much in the way of spare cash, but comes into the practice frequently throughout the year to add what money is around to their account, ensuring they are always in credit.

This client owns numerous cats, every one of which is up to date with vaccinations, worming etc and receives any other veterinary attention as and when required, despite that none of them are insured.

Some people will do everything they can for their pets, whatever their own situation. Image ©iStockphoto.com/DLeonis.

During one consultation, the vet asked what food the cats all eat, to which the client answered “Sheba”.

As one of the premium brands on the market, this came as a surprise, but cemented the notion that this client really does put their animals before themselves and will provide nothing less than the very best for them.

It was so refreshing to meet someone who genuinely prioritises their pets over anything material in their life – and while this client is an extreme example of dedication to animals, there are other clients who will do all they can with the funds they have for their animals.

The unfortunate reality that so very few people have this mentality can often be disheartening and enraging, but it is the clients that really care and genuinely put their animals first that make the less grateful ones bearable.

September 2, 2014
How far is too far?

Noel Fitzpatrick runs one of the most advanced veterinary practices in the UK.

In my interview for Glasgow vet school, I was asked the question “how far is too far?”, and recent episodes of The Supervet on TV had me musing on the topic again, particularly as I had used The Bionic Vet as an example in my answer.

At the time I discussed kidney transplants in cats in the US and, in the UK, the inspiring work and pioneering techniques being carried out at Fitzpatrick Referrals.

Arguably the most famous patient of Noel Fitzpatrick’s is Oscar the cat who, after having both back paws cut off by a combine harvester, had prosthetic legs specially engineered and fitted (see video below). Oscar’s surgery was the first of its kind, and a huge step for orthopaedic veterinary medicine worldwide.

While this type of surgery was a world first in cats, prosthetic limbs are not an alien concept in human medicine – and, at a time when the emphasis on “One Health” becomes stronger every day, why shouldn’t routine or even rare human procedures extend their applications to our domestic species too?

But at what point do we say that medical advances are not ethically suitable for animals? A person may have a reasonable quality of life in a wheelchair, but that doesn’t mean a dog with wheels for back legs would. Such a “cart” would dramatically effect the quality of life of cats like Oscar, but his new legs have given him the freedom to continue to “be a cat”.

Each individual case is different, and the benefits and risks of undertaking a new, advanced technique would have to be weighed up accordingly. I don’t believe the point at which we draw the line on “going too far” is set in stone – every case is unique.

Kidney transplants in humans are life saving, and yet not seen in the UK in cats. A cat with kidney failure would gain a lot from a transplant, providing the risk of rejection was reduced to minimal. The ethical issue here lies with the health and welfare of the donor cat and the fact the donor can’t consent to its healthy organ being taken.

Answering the question “how far is too far?”, Stephen King’s classic 1989 film Pet Sematary is available to buy from www.amazon.co.uk

In the US, donors are often cats from rescue shelters and the recipient cat not only gains a new organ, but also an adopted friend who will come to live with them after the surgery. I think this is an excellent compromise on the consent dilemma – both cats get a second chance at life.

But it is not just the ethical question of whether we should perform such surgeries on our pets, we also have to consider the practical aspects of these procedures (i.e whether we could carry them out if we decided it was ethically acceptable).

There will be a limited number of vets with sufficient surgical experience to attempt such innovations, especially if a certain type of procedure has never been attempted in a particular species yet (such as Oscar’s legs). Financial constraints are also extremely relevant – owners that would love to give their animals the chance to receive such surgery if needed may be limited by the cost that comes with them.

Personally, I think the work of the surgeons at Fitzpatrick Referrals is exceptional and a real inspiration to vets across the country. I would love to see the day that treatment options for our animals routinely match those available in human medicine, and really hope the work of Noel and his team encourages those interested in such developments to continue and further research in order to make it a possibility – within ethical limits, of course.

July 15, 2014
Glasgow Vet School Rodeo
My responsibilities included poster/flyer design.

The Glasgow Vet School Rodeo is an annual charity event organised by vet students. It is traditional for second year students to make the event happen, and so this year, I was involved in its organisation.

My responsibilities included taking minutes at weekly meetings, correspondence with print media for advertising, compiling the programme and poster/flyer design.

Each year, we support several (usually animal-related) charities with the aim of hosting a fun-filled family day out while raising money for worthy causes. The year, the final total raised came to a huge £16,162.74, which will be split between the charities [see bottom of page for a full list].

The 54th annual Rodeo was held within the grounds of Glasgow Vet School on April 12.

After the committee was soaked to the skin while unloading and directing exhibitors to their pitches in the morning, the rain (but unfortunately not the wind) stopped just in time for the gates to open at 11am – much to everyone’s relief.

The day included falconry, dancing, duck-herding and husky demonstrations in the main arena, with SMAART horse, Trec and horse rescue demonstrations in the horse arena. There was also a dog show, which offered all owners the chance to enter their dog in a variety of classes, as well as an animal tent, reptile tent and pony rides.

Jordan (left) and “friends”

If that wasn’t enough, there were craft stalls in the marquee, bouncy castles, horse and carriage rides, and local animal charities also came along to promote their work.

As has become traditional, we ended the day by drawing our “rodeo raffle”. We had some fantastic prizes, such as a family pass for Blair Drummond Safari Park, afternoon tea at Hilton Glasgow, “Tee Time” at Royal Troon Golf Club and many more – we are grateful to the various organisations for providing these.

Despite battling through the fury of Scottish weather in the morning, and relentless wind throughout the day (resulting in many stalls being relocated into one of the marquees), the committee felt the day was a success overall. After eight months of planning, we pulled it off, and celebrated that evening in true Scottish style with a ceilidh open to students at Glasgow Vet School.

The charities being supported this year were:
- World Horse Welfare, which is an international horse charity that ‘improves the lives of horses in the UK and around the world through education, campaigning, and hands- on care’.
- Blue Cross, which “finds the right homes for unwanted pets throughout the UK, treats sick and injured animals at their hospitals when owners can’t afford private fees, promotes animal welfare and provides the Pet Bereavement Support Service”.
- Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, which helps people experiencing hearing loss throughout the UK by creating “life-changing partnerships between deaf people and specially trained hearing dogs”.
- Veterinary Development Fund: the James Herriot Scholarship fund will enable Glasgow Vet School to award scholarships to excellent undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary students who, through financial constraints, may otherwise not be able to study at Glasgow.
- Inti Wara Yassi is a Bolivian charity that works to rescue wildlife by confiscating illegally kept wild animals or by offering sanctuary to animals that are voluntarily brought to the charity. These animals are cared for in one of three parks throughout Bolivia (I also volunteered at two of the parks last summer).
- Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue, is a charity in North Ayrshire, Scotland, that aims to rescue, treat, rehabilitate and release birds and animals back to the wild.
- Students for Animals In Need is a charity made up of veterinary students from the University of Glasgow who work together to provide treatment to sick or injured animals that might not otherwise be treated, due to financial difficulties.
- Riding For the Disabled Association (RDA): Glasgow RDA provides equine therapy to more than 300 children and adults with disabilities from across the greater Glasgow area.
April 30, 2014
Ignorance is bliss

Over the last month there’s been quite an uproar over the reality of the production of halal and kosher meat, which has finally been brought to forefront of the public eye after the controversial decision to ban slaughter without stunning in Denmark.

There has been nationwide outrage and horror at the claims that slaughter without stunning (i.e. slitting the throat of the conscious animal) causes prolonged pain and awareness of aspirated blood before losing consciousness.

I have to say, I’m not as shocked as most people seem to be, including fellow vet students. Religious slaughter was mentioned during anatomy lectures last year with regards to blood supply to the brain. During ritual slaughter, the vertebral artery is not cut (only the common carotid arteries and jugular veins are severed when the throat is slit). In cattle, the vertebral artery is one of the main sources of arterial supply to the brain, and so they lose consciousness more slowly than other species, such as sheep, when slaughtered in this manner.

But after those lectures, nobody in our class expressed the level of disgust and anger that currently seems to be sweeping the nation. Evidently, Denmark’s drastic move to ban all slaughter methods that do not include stunning has brought the facts to public attention. Perhaps many people simply didn’t realise exactly what is meant by halal or kosher meat.

A goat slaughtered at the Kashgar livestock market according to the laws of dhabīḥah ḥalāl. Image © iStock.com/tanukiphoto

This sudden understanding has resulted in many people, including vets, voicing their opinions and calling for the UK to follow Denmark in banning such practices. However this suggestion was more than a little ambitious, and was put to bed unequivocally when Prime Minister David Cameron said, in Israel, that kosher will never be banned in the UK.

Personally, I think it was unrealistic to ever entertain the idea that the UK would do the same as Denmark. This country’s culture is extremely broad and mixed in the present day, and so could never allow for the banning of religious slaughter without offending a considerable proportion of the population. Religion is always a touchy subject and political correctness, along with fear of being labelled as racist means the Government would never allow a complete ban.

Ensuring animal welfare is the moral priority of any current or future vet, and I am no exception. Yes, I do think that slaughter without stunning is cruel. However, I don’t believe that it is entirely unacceptable, because I respect the fact that it’s not quite as black and white as banning these methods outright.

This might seem defeatist, but I’m just being realistic.

Instead of fruitless protests and campaigning for a ban, I feel that it would be more productive to raise awareness of animal welfare issues such as this instead. The vast majority of the UK public would probably still be blissfully ignorant to what goes on in our very own abattoirs if it wasn’t for Denmark’s recent actions. Slaughter without stunning has been happening for thousands of years, and it seems like the general public are only just beginning to understand what is involved.

It’s not just the species or method of slaughter that makes an animal product kosher. Further laws govern which parts of it can be eaten.

If we want to tackle this issue directly, the best result we could hope for would be better labelling of meat products to enhance public knowledge of how they’ve been produced. Perhaps then, those who are not Jewish or Muslim would be more inclined to buy products from animals which have been stunned, allowing a refinement of the market so that minimal animals are subject to the methods used to produce halal and kosher meat.

Looking at the bigger picture, those of us within the veterinary community should take it upon ourselves to raise public awareness of similar welfare issues that those outside of the industry are not necessarily aware of. It can be difficult for us to distinguish between the issues that the public are or are not aware of because we are immersed in the animal produce industry to a much greater level. However, it is our responsibility to realise this, and bring future welfare issues into the public eye, when they otherwise might go unnoticed for years to come.

March 31, 2014
Should I be a vegetarian?

Like the design? Buy the t-shirt

Vegetarianism can be quite the controversial topic, with many people choosing not to eat meat or particular types of meat for varying reasons – be that moral, financial or simply down to taste and preference.

But how should I stand on the matter, from the point of view of a vet student?

While on EMS, I’ve been met with differing opinions. At my lambing placement, the farmer’s mother just could not understand why anyone would be vegetarian and believed that we especially – as future vets – should not even entertain the idea. In stark contrast, the farmer and his family at my dairy placement were quite surprised when I told them that I eat all types of meat, and claimed that every previous vet student they’d had was vegetarian.

These views may simply arise from generation differences, with older generations still firmly sticking to the “you get what you’re given” attitude. But is it more than that? Are we, as vet students, expected to have an opinion one way or the other?

©iStockphoto.com/alle12

Vets contribute massively to the meat industry; they need to be present in abattoirs, and the aim of farm vets is to keep the industry going. On a day-to-day basis the farm vet is likely to undertake routine tasks (TB testing, pregnancy diagnosis or the occasional caesarian or surgical correction of a displaced abomasum), but if you look at the bigger picture, these all contribute to helping the meat and dairy industries run smoothly. The farm vet also plays a vital role in advising on improving production and maintaining high welfare standards in order to produce the optimum quality and quantities of meat.

So, if a farm vet spends their life oiling the cogs in the meat industry, surely it’s entirely counter productive to be vegetarian?

Of course, there is the moral argument against using animals for meat. But, as ambassadors for animal welfare, should vets sit on this side of the fence?

There is the opinion that any type of farming instigates cruelty and unnatural methods of some degree, and that, as vets, we should not stand for this. Dedicated to ensuring good welfare of all species, we, of all people, cannot turn a blind eye because we are faced with the reality of what goes on behind the scenes of the meat industry.

But we are not vets yet. And how much of the “student” in us dictates our diet, whether we like it or not? The hard truth is that meat is expensive to the average student, and a lot of us subconsciously undertake the decision to eat very little meat purely due to finances.

Is this how vets should be expected to think?

While I respect other people’s decisions to become vegetarian, I could never do it. Since we have a pig farm in the family, meat eating has always been a way of life, not a choice – not that I genuinely think I’d be forced to eat meat if I didn’t want to, but vegetarianism is just “not done” in our family (and I always get packed off to uni with enough home-produce to last me the semester).

As for seeing “behind the scenes” of the meat industry, I have very strong opinions on farming, and the reasoning behind methods and techniques that may be deemed as “cruel” to the outsider. These views stem from my farming background, and the ignorance of non-farming folk often frustrates me.

While vets have a much deeper insight into the meat industry than the general public, I’m not convinced that this has a particular effect on our choice in being vegetarian or not – and I don’t think being a vet student changes your opinion in one direction or the other.

However, I do believe that if someone genuinely had very strong objections towards the meat industry, they would find a veterinary course very difficult to handle morally. Even if you’re set on purely becoming a small animal vet, we all get immersed in the meat industry to some extent.

March 14, 2014