Veterinary students’ perspectives of their relationship with animals used in veterinary education

This thesis explored the perspectives of veterinary students regarding their interactions with animals used for teaching. I aimed to understand how the quality of life of animals used for teaching affected students’ emotional well-being and learning, and conversely, how students' emotional well-being influenced the care they may provide for animals. The literature review in Chapter 1 indicated that veterinary students have a high level of acceptance of using animals for educational purposes; however, veterinary education may negatively shift their attitudes and empathy towards animals. Chapter 2 described original research that utilized qualitative methods to conduct focus groups and interviews of 4th-year veterinary students (n = 43) at two Canadian veterinary institutions. Four key themes were identified, including 1) experiences of moral distress from ethical and moral conflicts in veterinary education, 2) the connection between students’ emotional well-being and animal welfare, 3) the impact of teaching approaches on students’ emotions, and 4) students’ perspectives on re-defining the role of animals and alternatives in veterinary education. Participants described particularly benefitting from performing purposeful procedures on non-institutionally owned animals, such as shelter animals, which positively influenced their learning experiences. However, the generalizability to a broader population of veterinary students is limited due to the study's focus on a single cohort and the use of qualitative methodologies. Future research should further explore how moral distress is experienced in veterinary students and, given the increasing representation of women in the profession, the impact of gender identity on their experiences during veterinary education. Overall, this thesis emphasizes the need for veterinary education to adopt more compassionate practices that prioritize both student well-being and animal welfare, fostering a more ethical veterinary culture.