Veterinary bibliotherapy: awe

 

An awesome creature resting next to a book about awe.

“Something happens when you dive into a world where clocks don’t tick and inboxes don’t ping. As your arms circle, swing and pull along the edge of a vast ocean, your mind wanders, and you open yourself to awe, to the experience of seeing something astonishing, unfathomable or greater than yourself.” Julia Baird, Phosphorescence, p23

It wasn’t until I read Julia Baird’s bestselling biography/meditation on photoluminescence, that I really reflected on awe. What is awesome? What generates awe within us?

According to Jonah Paquette, author of Awestruck: How embracing wonder can make you happier, healthier and more connected, awe is a feeling of perceptual or conceptual vastness, combined with experience that transcends our understanding, and forces us to accommodate new information from a different, perhaps bigger, perspective.

Emerging research on awe shows that it makes us feel less alone, diminishing the ego and giving us a sense of the greater forces that surround us.

Awe can be negative – its origins relate to fright or terror, particularly in relation to a divine being – or positive. That negative type of awe can be a powerful driver for change, and even ethical conduct. Awestruck focuses more on positive awe.

Research has shown that awe makes us kinder, more generous, and more curious about the world. Studies have shown that awe has a number of psychological benefits, including increasing satisfaction, making us less materialistic, reducing stress, helping us grow and change and making us more humble.

At a biological level in humans, awe may be associated with reduced levels of inflammatory interleukins – could it have an anti-inflammatory effect?

Could awe be anti-inflammatory?

If all this is true, that seems a good reason to cultivate awe, which is what the second half of Awestruck is devoted to.

First, it is helpful to understand the many forces that can blunt or crush awe: anxiety, multi-tasking, addictive technology, habits, routine, desensitisation…the same forces that nibble away at our wellbeing.

Paquette discusses strategies to minimise the awe-crushers, for example limiting exposure to addictive technology.

But he and Baird also talk about strategies to deliberately seek out awe: for example, disrupting our habitual existence, doing small things differently, and being mindful of the world around us.

According to Baird, “One of the more surprising findings of recent research is how commonly awe can be found: in museums, theatres, parks, ponds, while listening to a busker, or even, surprisingly, in microdoses, while watching a commercial or reading a story.”p31

There are so many potential sources of awe, but a strong theme emerges from both Awestruck and Phosphorescence: one of the most common and powerful sources of awe is the natural world.

The natural world is a consistent source of awe.

And that is probably what resonates with me the most. When I think about awesome experiences, the common factor is animal life. Whether its hearing the exquisite soft snoring of a cat in a deep sleep, or observing a horse grazing in a paddock, animals are a constant source of awe. Neither of these books are written with a veterinary audience in mind, but when I talk to friends and colleagues about what drove us into the profession, and what sustains it, there is often a sense of awe.

These books provide compelling arguments for seeking and cultivating awe, and provide some -practical suggestions about how to do so. Awe-chasing seems like a very valuable use of one’s time.

They also provide compelling reasons for protecting these sources of awe, most of which are threatened by our unsustainable lifestyles.

Mental wellbeing for veterinarians - two conferences and a fundraising initiative

When I finished reading Nadine Hamilton's fantastic book, Hero used it as a pillow.

Have you noticed all the talk about well-being and veterinary professionals lately? There has been an explosion of publications about exodus from the profession, but equally there have been new resources like psychologist Nadine Hamilton’s book Coping with Stress and Burnout as aVeterinarian. 

Animal welfare, human well-being and environmental sustainability are inextricably linked. This idea is the foundation of the “OneWelfare” concept but also one that I have come to subscribe to because of my experiences as a veterinarian.

The good news is that finally society, and our profession, are coming to understand that you can’t do good animal husbandry if the humans looking after those animals aren’t looked after. You can’t look after humans and animals if the environment that supports all life is being harmed.

In October this year the Centre for Veterinary Education is hosting a two-day conference on One Welfare at the University of Sydney.

This is the perfect opportunity to meet solutions focused colleagues who want to tackle some of the bigger picture issues that will impact us all – and by us I mean humans, other animals and the environment.

For more info and to register, click here: https://www.cve.edu.au/conference/one-welfare-conference-ii

On Wednesday October 16 there is a one-day symposium on Mental Wellbeing for Veterinary Teams. This is a not for profit event facilitated by funds-raised by the Vet Cookbook. Registration is very cheap and covers catering.

For more info and to register, click here: https://www.cve.edu.au/symposium/mental-wellbeing-veterinary-teams-symposium

Speakers include those from within but also many from outside of our profession. This day promises an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate, network and gain a sense of perspective about the current “mental health crisis”.

Please come along and contribute your ideas and energy.

I am of the firm belief that its one thing to participate in dialogue online about these issues, but meaningful action tends to come from face-to-face meetings where people have a chance to learn about each other. This is a rare chance to get a lot of members of our profession - vets, nurses, practice managers, groomers, kennelhands, stablehands, animal carers and students - into one space. That's how the magic happens.

Its great to see companies like Zoetis coming on board. Last week they announced a partnership with Beyond Blue in which they hope to raise up to $100,000 to support mental health in Australia. These kind of initiatives are important and should be encouraged.

Hopefully, with the encouragement of our profession, companies like this will put funds behind initiatives to help improve our sustainability - both in terms of human and animal welfare but also the environment. 

According to a company statement (slightly edited here for length):

  

“Whilst vets can be seen as the heroes of our community for treating and saving the lives of some of our most treasured family members, it can often be at significant cost to their mental health...

Day in day out, vets undergo a great deal of stress, not only caring for sick animals, but compassionately and knowledgeably working with the owners to provide the best care and treatment. Entering the profession because of their love for animals, they are often not prepared for the emotional pressures of the job. Whether it’s counselling a family through the decision process to euthanize, or having to carry out the procedure on a pet they have been treating regularly, vets suffer with grief every day. “We are very passionate about improving mental health and are proud to partner with Beyond Blue to tackle these very real issues affecting our vets, who suffer as a result of supporting our community,” says Lance Williams, Zoetis Vice President, Australia and New Zealand.

Beyond Blue Lead Clinical Adviser Dr Grant Blashki explains, “From my experience as a GP, people working in high pressure environments like veterinary services tend to experience more stress than people working in some other areas. “Things like long hours, financial worries and the emotional aspects of the job can start to pile up and impact their mental health. People working in such a caring profession often feel like they can’t justify time to look after their own mental and emotional wellbeing, but it’s incredibly important that they do.”

Natasha Wilks, a veterinarian for 20 years and Beyond Blue volunteer says, “There are so many things which weigh on our minds; the long hours, financial struggles, and the difficult situations we are placed in.
 “During my final and seventh year of study, I was feeling exhausted and burnt out, I had spent the last seven years working every weekend and weeknight. It all came to a head when I had a rotation where we lived at the veterinary hospital to monitor all the patients overnight. I was very teary and didn’t want to do it. This was my turning point to seeking help.
 “For me to reach out and admit that I wasn’t coping was a massive step. I’d been brought up to soldier on and to deal with things myself. I realised I couldn’t keep doing it anymore. I was exhausted, depressed and I needed help.” Natasha has experienced many ups and downs throughout her veterinary career in different working environments adding, “Nowadays I recognise when I’m becoming exhausted and I’ve learned to slow down.”
 “For me, the signs are when I become more negative, frustrated and judgmental, less willing to spend time with friends and I let things get to me.”

“My identity isn’t tied to my veterinary career anymore, so when I have challenges in practice I try not to take it personally and focus on the things I can control.”

Part of taking control for Natasha has been about finding what she loves and making time to enjoy them.  “Exercise is really important in helping me stay well. I don’t pound the pavement, but I walk with our old retriever who still has a lot of energy. I walk and smell the air, notice all the new flowers and listen to the birds,” she said. 

Zoetis is committed to helping offer greater support to our vets and will be raising $100,000 from sales of their companion animal products, as well as livestock products, from 15 July to 31 October, with funds being used by the Beyond Blue Support Service, to provide advice and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 “The Support Service, entirely funded by generous donations, is a free, life-changing and sometimes life-saving service, there for people day and night – via phone, web chat or email – whenever they need someone to talk to,” said Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman.
 The Beyond Blue Support Service costs on average $48 per contact with counsellors available by phone, webchat or email, meaning Zoetis’s kind donation will help over 2,000 people get the support they need through the service. For more information on how you can help Zoetis to raise vital funds and support mental health through its partnership with Beyond Blue please visit www.zoetis.com.au Mental health professionals are available 24/7 at the Beyond Blue Support Service – 1300 22 4636 – or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat (3pm-12am ADST) or email (within 24 hours).”

What does plastic in the ocean have to do with companion animals?

Bosca models the AniPal collar, made from recycled plastics (NB harness is not related).

What does plastic in the ocean have to do with companion animals? Quite a bit, actually. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish (although there are a coupleof key steps we can take to slow this down) That will destroy the ocean we enjoy, impacting aquatic and terrestrial environments. It will also remove one of the world’s major food sources. 

Microplastics ingested by fish have already made their way into the food chain, the consequences of which we don’t fully understand.

Veterinarian Stephanie Stubbe was horrified by these figures, and spent over twelve months setting up her own company to repurpose plastic ocean waste, converting this into dog collars and leads which are now available in Australia.

I learned about Dr Stubbe when colleagues began sharing an ABC news article about a young vet who had decided to tackle something many of us think is too hard. We later spoke when I was writing an article about the animal welfare impacts of plastic in the ocean.

Bosca models his recycled plastic collar (harness not related).

We tend to think about companion animals as living in homes, protected from the wider environment. But as we deplete and damage our environments, we need to appreciate that they, like us, are part of a bigger picture and animal welfare, human wellbeing and environmental sustainability are interdependent. 

And thinking about reducing the “plastic footprint” of pets might challenge some of us to think about our own plastic footprint. We can also reduce that of others by participating in initiatives like Take 3 (a campaign that encourages people to take home at least three bits of litter every time they hit the beach).

Initiatives like this are based on the premise that small choices we make in our everyday lives have the power, collectively, to make a difference. It will be interesting to see what other initiatives animal health professionals develop to tackle these wicked problems.

You can follow Dr Stubbe on Instagram or facebook. 

Declaration: The collar modeled was purchased from AniPal and this is not a paid post, not has it been reviewed or endorsed by AniPal.

One Welfare: animal welfare, human well-being and environmental sustainability

What does One Welfare have to do with donkeys? Quite a bit actually. (You can read more here)

Happy New Year! If 2018 taught us one thing, its that there is much to do to address some of the world’s greatest challenges: improving animal welfare, human well-being and environmental sustainability. It can all seem a bit too hard, but the good news is there are plenty of capable people swimming against the tide and working to facilitate environmental, human and animal flourishing.

“One Welfare” is the term used to describe the interdependent relationships between all of the above. It is based on the premise that we need to address all stakeholders – human, animal and environment – rather than focusing on one or two at the cost of another.

In 2019 the University of Sydney is hosting the Second International One Welfare conference. Keynote speakers include Professor David Fraser, from the University of British Colombia (hear him talk about One Welfare here), Rebeca Garcia Pinillos, founder of One Welfare World (read her book about One Welfare here), and Dr Mark Schipp, Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer and President of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) (read the OIE's Global Animal Welfare Strategy here).

If you are working in this space, you can submit an abstract for consideration by January 31. For details, check under the “submit an abstract heading” here. 

Or if you’re just keen to come along and meet others, including veterinarians, in this space, you can register here. 

Declaration: I am one of the volunteer co-organisers of the One Welfare Conference. I also volunteer with the CVE and present veterinary CPD for them from time to time.

What's the environmental impact of pet food?

According to a recent report, we should be concerned about the environmental footprint of pet food.

Should we be concerned about the environmental, and indeed animal welfare footprint, of pet food? A recent paper based on US figures argues that we should. Gregory Okin, from the University of California, Los Angeles, set out to determine how much energy and animal derived products pets consume, and the environmental impact.

The paper is, necessarily, based on a lot of assumptions – from the average sized American dog (22kg +/- 1.2kg) and cat (4.2kg +/- 0.2kg), and their energy requirements (544kJ/kg per day), to the amount of food consumed (the calculations were based on dry foods, as the author states these outsell wet foods by 3:1) to the proportion of animal vs plant derived energy in each food. You can read the methodology in full in the open access paper, published in PLoS ONE.

Assuming these assumptions are correct, the author concludes that in the US, dogs and cats consume 19 +/- 2% of the amount of total dietary energy that humans do, and a whopping 33 +/- 9% of animal derived energy. This is equivalent to the energy consumption of 62 million Americans (about one fifth of the US population). He also concludes that these pets produce a staggering 30 +/- 13% of the faeces that humans do (based on the assumption that humans produce – weight for it – 0.147kg per capita of faeces per day, while cats produce 0.042kg per cat per day, and dogs produce 0.15 +/- 0.07kg  per dog per day.

Because of their diets, Okin conclude that are responsible for 25-30 per cent of land, water, fossil fuel, phosphate, and biocide impacts related to animal production. He estimates that they are responsible for the production of 64 +/-16 million tonnes of greenhouse cases (C0₂-equivalent methane and nitrous oxide).

What can we do? Okin suggests either reducing the numbers of pet dogs and cats, and/or reducing overfeeding, reducing waste, and developing pet foods based on alternative protein sources would help. Given the number of animals that need homes, the latter solution seems to me more palatable than the former, although avoiding overfeeding of animals is important for their welfare as well as reducing their environmental impact. It also makes sense to consider the animal welfare impact of pet food, although it was not touched on in this paper.

It will be interesting to learn how pet food manufacturers digest this information. Certainly, it seems there is a need for pet foods that have reduced environmental impact.

Please read the full paper (link below).

Reference

Okin GS (2017) Environmental impacts of food consumption by dogs and cats. PLoS ONE 12(8):e0181301. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181301