Vetcandy: Seven personality and behaviour traits identified in cats

Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed a new comprehensive questionnaire for surveying feline personality and behaviour. A dataset of more than 4,300 cats representing 26 breed groups revealed seven personality and behaviour traits, with significant differences observed between breeds. Cats are our most common pets, and feline behaviour is increasingly being investigated due to a range of behavioural problems. Another topic of interest in addition to behaviour traits is personality since it can be connected to behavioural problems. “Compared to dogs, less is known about the behaviour and personality of cats, and there is demand for identifying related problems and risk factors. We need more understanding and tools to weed out problematic behaviour and improve cat welfare. The most common behavioural challenges associated with cats relate to aggression and inappropriate elimination,” says doctoral researcher Salla Mikkola from the University of Helsinki and the Folkhälsan Research Center.

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Scholarship Opportunity

HABA, the Human Animal Bond Association is offering a scholarship for a second year student who has been active with human animal bond related activities.

This scholarship goes to a student of an accredited school of veterinary medicine who has demonstrated understanding of and has acted in the promotion of the human-animal bond, with special consideration given to acts of service and leadership.

September 1^st – Accepting Applications
January 15^th – Applications Closed
March 15^th – Winner Announcement

HABA will sponsor a student scholarship of up to $2000/year, with the final amount determined by the board of directors. The board reserves the right to offer more than one scholarship or no scholarship at all. The scholarship is to be used toward tuition/fees and payment for the calendar year and will be made directly to the student’s school. 

You can find more information about the scholarship and apply for it here:

https://www.humananimalbond.net/celebrate/scholarships/

Resilience Webinar

For veterinary students only…take an hour to take care of yourself!

Rockstar Resilience Skills for the Veterinary Professional with Josh Vaisman

Tuesday, November 16 at 8pm ET (1 hour)  

Registration link: https://boehringer.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LbIsAeWMRYqaVD8_uqCZvw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Webinar Speaker

Josh Vaisman, CCFP, MAPPCP (Co-founder, Lead Consultant, and Workplace Wellbeing Strategist @Flourish Veterinary Consulting), believes all veterinary professionals deserve to feel fulfilled and energized in their work, each and every day. Through his company, Flourish Veterinary Consulting, he combines more than 20 years of veterinary experience, a master’s in applied positive psychology and coaching psychology, education in positive leadership and positive organizational scholarship, and a passion for guiding leaders to cultivate workplaces in which people thrive. When he’s not crafting ways to elevate the veterinary community, Mr. Vaisman spends his time with his wife, Greta, and their many creatures in Firestone, Colorado. To fill his bucket, he’s a soccer-playing, weight-lifting, cookie-eating beekeeper.

VIN Rounds: Diagnostic Test Basics

Are you missing out on clinical rotations because of COVID-19? The VIN Student Team has you covered with Tuesday Topic Rounds.  During the month of November, join the VIN Student Team for 30 minute, case-based sessions on different epidemiology concepts. Everyone and all levels of experience are welcome. There will be time for Q&A and discussion following. The next session is on Diagnostic Test Basics: Sensitivity and Specificity November 2, 2021 at 12 ET.

In this rounds: 

• Learn how to explain diagnostic test sensitivity and specificity
• How sensitivity and specificity affect diagnostic testing

TO JOIN THE SESSION, LOG INTO THE VIN STUDENT CENTER AND CLICK THE GREEN BUTTON IN THE TOP RIGHT

The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is here to help you as a vet student – especially during this worldwide pandemic. Membership is always free as a student!

PDF Scholarship Experience: Zachary Schmauch

PDF Scholarship Experience: Zachary Schmauch

During my clinical year at Ohio State University I was able visit VCA University Animal Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii to complete my last externship before graduation. With the help of the PDF scholarship from the SAVMA board I was able to afford this opportunity. VCA university hospital is a very hands-on general practice. There were two doctors on shift at a time, with one doing surgeries while the other doctor would be seeing appointments and the occasional emergency. The entire team at VCA University Animal Hospital were all very welcoming and really loved to teach me while I was there. Even the technicians were constantly helping me with ways to improve my blood draws and catheter placements and encouraged me to keep trying if I was having trouble. Being able to see the different kinds of cases in Hawaii versus somewhere I am used to like Ohio was very interesting. While I was discussing cases and treatment options with the doctors, it made me realize I had to sit back and think of different options that they carry in hospital. For example, they do not have the tick that carries Lyme disease on the island, and so therefore prescribe their patients with different flea and tick preventatives. A few months ago I completed an externship at a specialty dental clinical in Florida. This VCA externship was very heavy on their dentistry and had procedures every day. It was perfect for me to apply the skills and knowledge I learned at my previous externship and really feel confident in that area. I had such an awesome experience during this externship and being able to travel and work in Hawaii for two weeks was the best ending to veterinary school I could have asked for.