Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Children facing emotional difficulties turn to pets
beagle and child
"These children not only turn to their pets for support when faced with adversity, they do so even more than they turn to their siblings."
Study suggests children are more likely to confide in pets than siblings

Research suggests children coping with emotional difficulties are more likely to confide in their pets than their siblings, the BBC reports.

Matt Cassels, a postgraduate psychiatry researcher, based his work on a 10-year study of 100 UK families, carried out by Cambridge University's Centre for Family Research.

He found that children dealing with issues such as bereavement, illness, parental divorce and instability placed particular importance on their pets.

Speaking to BBC News, Mr Cassels explained: "The data on pet relationships stood out, as it had never occurred to me to consider looking at pet relationships, although I had studied children's other relationships…

"These children not only turn to their pets for support when faced with adversity, they do so even more than they turn to their siblings.

"This is even though they know their pets don't actually understand what they are saying."

Mr Cassels believes the importance of child-pet relationships is currently underestimated and further evaluation is needed to determine how important pets are to us.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.