Occupational injury, disease and stress in Australian veterinarians

Scant attention has been given to occupational health hazards of veterinarians. Major risk factors for occupational injury, disease, emotional health and suicide among veterinarians were identified using qualitative and quantitative methods. Forty-five veterinarians were interviewed to determine their rates of occupational injury, zoonotic disease and stress. Responses from 419 veterinarians from a self-administered questionnaire revealed significant stress as well as injury and disease from working as a veterinarian. Many veterinarians expect to be injured and/or contract zoonotic diseases as an integral part of their work. Many injuries sustained from working with large animals were attributable to poor farm facilities and a lack of competent support for restraining animals. Some examples of injuries incurred were fractured skulls and concussion from being struck by horses, fractured limbs from cattle, repetitive injuries from pregnancy testing cattle and horses, cuts to the hand from calving hooks and knives. Back injuries were common among large animal veterinarians while dog and cat bites were the most common injury for small animal veterinarians.