Survey of veterinarians who use pentobarbital for euthanasia suggests knowledge gaps regarding animal disposal.

Objective: To assess (1) veterinarians' knowledge and practices regarding disposal of euthanized animals, (2) the extent to which veterinarians communicate with their clients about potential risks of rendering pentobarbital-euthanized animals, and (3) the extent to which veterinarians communicate potential relay toxicosis and environmental risks of pentobarbital-euthanized animals to clients.

Sample: A stratified random sample of AVMA members.

Methods: Over a 3-week period in early 2021, 16,831 of the AVMA's 99,500 members were surveyed, with 2,093 responses (a 12% response rate).

A literature review on current practices, knowledge, and viewpoints on pentobarbital euthanasia performed by veterinarians and animal remains disposal in the United States.

Sodium pentobarbital and pentobarbital combination products are commonly used by veterinarians throughout the US for euthanasia of their animal patients. The AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition lists barbiturate acid derivatives (pentobarbital) and pentobarbital combination products as an acceptable method of euthanasia for all species when circumstances permit their use. When using pentobarbital products, a veterinarian must consider appropriate handling and disposal of animal remains to avoid the potential for environmental contamination, relay toxicosis in wildlife or domestic animals, and contamination of the animal food supply.

Veterinarian COVID-19 vaccine uptake was widespread, but safety and efficacy concerns held some back: descriptive results from a survey of AVMA members' perceptions of COVID-19.

Objective: Assess COVID-19 vaccine uptake among veterinarians and describe unvaccinated veterinarians' perceptions of COVID-19 disease and vaccines.

Sample: 2,721 (14%) of 19,654 randomly sampled AVMA members.

Procedures: A survey of AVMA members was conducted between June 8 and June 18, 2021.

A comparison of veterinary students enrolled and not enrolled in an animal-welfare course.

An online survey was conducted to compare 46 veterinary students who previously enrolled in a discussion-based animal-welfare elective with 45 veterinary students who did not take the course. Students were asked a series of questions about their attitudes toward animal welfare and were presented with animal-use scenarios that had not previously been discussed in the elective course: greyhound racing, veal calf production, and the use of genetically engineered mice in research. For each scenario, students' actual knowledge was scored on the basis of open-ended factual questions.

Guidelines for animal-assisted interventions in health care facilities.

Many hospitals and long-term care facilities in North America currently permit animals to visit with their patients; however, the development of relevant infection control and prevention policies has lagged, due in large part to the lack of scientific evidence regarding risks of patient infection associated with animal interaction. This report provides standard guidelines for animal-assisted interventions in health care facilities, taking into account the available evidence.