Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Access To Veterinary Care: Barriers, Current Practices, And Public Policy, Access To Veterinary Care Coalition

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Small Animal Clinical Sciences

Pets have become an integral part of our families with over 80% of pet owners reporting that they consider their pets to be a member of their family. An estimated 29 million dogs and cats live in families that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. There are also middle-class families that live paycheck to paycheck, with limited funds for veterinary care. These families deserve the companionship of pets to enjoy the mental, physical, and emotional benefits that come from this human-animal bond.

Through a grant from Maddie’s Fund®, the Access to Veterinary Care Coalition (AVCC) commissioned a national …

The Internet And Health Information: Differences In Pet Owners Based On Age, Gender, And Education, Lori R. Kogan, Regina Schoenfeld-Tacher, Ann R. Viera

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Small Animal Clinical Sciences

Objective:

The research assessed the attitudes and behaviors of pet owners pertaining to online search behavior for pet health information.

Methods:

A survey was conducted with a random sample of pet owners drawn from two US metropolitan areas and surrounding cities. Participating clinics were chosen randomly, and each participating clinic was asked to distribute 100 surveys to their clients until all surveys were disbursed.

Results:

Although some perceptions and behaviors surrounding the use of the Internet for pet health information differ based on gender, age, or education level of pet owners, there are many aspects in which there are no …