Bem estar animal aplicado à clínica médica de cães e gatos domésticos – Revisão de literatura

Abstract

The human-animal relationship dates back thousands of years with the process of canine and feline domestication, featuring a close and intense interspecies bond. Currently, dogs and cats are the preferred pets of the majority of the population and are acquiring more significant roles within the new family dynamics, which has led to changes in the exercise of veterinary medicine regarding the evaluation of this interaction, as it directly affects welfare of these non-human animals. Thus, welfare is defined as the physical, psychological, social and environmental welfare of animals. To identify whether the level of welfare is high or low and the main factors that interfere with the quality of life of these animals, several indicators recognized worldwide are used. In view of this, a hospital environment focused on the welfare of dogs and cats allows an improvement in the human-animal bond that is built daily between the clinician, the guardian and the animal. Therefore, this study demonstrated the importance of implementing friendly management for the welfare of dogs and cats. In general, a veterinary service based on friendly management promotes a positive perception of clinical care. The choice of theme arose from the need to broaden the debate on ways to promote the welfare of dogs and cats within the veterinary clinic in order to alleviate any stressor to the animal and provide a more welcoming environment.