Veterinary Social Work

Veterinary social work was developed primarily by Dr. Elizabeth Strand in 2002. Veterinary social work has four key pillars, including animal-related interactions & experiences, intentional wellbeing, animal-related grief, and harm to humans and animals. In the United States, with 32 veterinary colleges, many private animal hospitals and clinics, and large animal/human health care companies, veterinary social work is common in both lexicon and practice. However, while a novel field in Canada, veterinary social work has yet to gain significant traction, and most research and grey literature come from the United States. With a Canadian veterinary shortage driving increasing care costs and the prevalence of veterinary desserts, this is a pressing challenge, considering 80% of Canadian households have pets. As veterinary team members experience high levels of suicidal ideation and suicide rates, both the health of workers and the care delivered to animals are at risk. Veterinary social workers are uniquely positioned to support animal owners with difficult decisions and the veterinary team with mental health and well-being. This review is being conducted to examine the current knowledge regarding veterinary social work and gaps in the literature to inform recommendations for future studies and practices in the field from a Canadian context.