The recent Big Chill survey*, carried out by NVS Group has revealed that 43% of vets and vet nurses believe staff wellbeing could be improved within their practice. While 93% of respondents agreed that it is important for staff wellbeing to be taken seriously, the survey reveals there are still improvements to be made in the face of a challenging landscape. The survey also asked vets on their approach to anxious animals. It revealed that 92% of vets encounter nervous or stressed animals daily. Along with appropriate handling techniques 82% of vets will also use medications and supplements to support nervous animals.
The Big Chill survey was intended to raise awareness of how veterinary professionals manage stress in both their animal patients and in their own lives. It asked respondents to offer their tips and advice for how to handle anxious animals and what they do the manage their own wellbeing. The advice given by vets on how owners can help their nervous pets has also been collated into a handy downloadable resource that is free to all veterinary professionals. This resource, along with all the survey responses have been made available on https://nvs-group.com/big-chill-owner-resource
Gemma Vardy, Senior Category Specialist at NVS Group, says “The responses we received have been very thought provoking. There are some strong common themes that run through all the answers, such as the need for open communication and a supportive team. We hope that veterinary teams find these results useful and think about how these techniques can be incorporated into daily working life.”
The most common answers to how respondents improved their wellbeing at work, included ensuring they took regular breaks, had a manageable workload, a supportive environment, and a positive team culture often involving out of work team activities. Personal self-care, such as fitness and other hobbies, was also cited as a positive wellbeing mechanism, as was expressing gratitude and recognition of others’ hard work.
The survey highlighted that handling stressed and nervous animals is an almost daily occurrence for most vets and vet nurses. When asked for their techniques on how to handle such animals, respondents most often used treats, taking their time, staying calm and quiet and using pet remedy. Medications and supplements are used by 82% of vets surveyed. Supplements are widely used and other responses mentioned environmental interventions including pheromone sprays, thunder shirts and dark quiet spaces.
Gemma continues, “It is interesting to see how different vets and nurses approach nervous or anxious animals. The use of supplements, such as our NVS Select Calming Chews, clearly have a place, alongside excellent animal handling skills and clinician’s patience and expertise.”
NVS Group recently attended the Vets for Pets Wellness exhibition (February 1st), where they presented the Big Chill results. The event sparked conversations surrounding the responses given and Gemma explains, “We are proud to be asking these questions and supporting veterinary professionals in thinking about ways that both staff and patient wellbeing can be improved.” The interactive NVS stand had a “wellness tree” with some of the responses from the survey attached as leaves, for delegates to pick and keep.
More information on the Big Chill including survey results and the downloadable owner resource can be found at Big Chill – National Veterinary Services.
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