A Survey on Companion Animal Owners’ Perception of Veterinarians’ Communication About Zoonoses and Antimicrobial Resistance in Germany

Abstract

The intimate bonds between humans and their pets create favourable conditions that support the mutual transmission of pathogens in either direction. In this context, veterinarians are essential in informing and educating pet owners about health risks linked to zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To effectively convey this information, veterinarians should have strong communication skills. To gather insights on pet ownership, veterinary consultations, and risk communication, an online questionnaire was used to survey dog and cat owners in Germany. The survey evaluated the frequency and perception of communication concerning zoonotic pathogens and AMR, deriving a communication score. The findings showed that pet owners rated veterinarian communication with a high average score, reflecting a high satisfaction level. The longer pet owners had been clients, the more frequently they received information on zoonoses and AMR, and the better they rated the communication. However, the results also indicated that the amount of information on zoonoses and/or AMR provided by veterinarians was still lower than desired by pet owners. Risk factors, including pathogen detection, vulnerable individuals, owning imported animals, and feeding them raw meat, fish, offal, or uncooked bones, were regularly present. These findings underscore the critical role of risk communication in preventing zoonoses and AMR.