Background: The suicide rate among veterinarians is alarmingly high, being twice that of other medical professionals and four times that of the general population. This study examined the occurrence of suicidal thoughts, tendencies, and mental health challenges among veterinarians in Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Germany, and from other Northern-European countries (Norway, Denmark and Estonia).Methods: An online questionnaire of 55 items was developed and distributed between July 2021 and February 2022. A total of 724 veterinarians participated: 236 from Hungary, 218 from Finland, 157 from Sweden, 77 from Germany, 26 from Estonia, 5 each from Denmark and Norway. Factors such as country, age, gender, weekly working hours, job position and length of annual leave were assessed. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test.Results: The results showed that work-related stressors significantly contributed to negative mental health across all surveyed countries. Among these stressors, clients’ expectations for prompt diagnosis were rated particularly high, with a mean of 4.34 ± 0.84 points on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, especially in Germany and Hungary, a difference considered statistically significant (ANOVA: p < 0.0001). Many veterinarians also reported high levels of anxiety related to their conscientiousness and punctuality at work, particularly in Hungary. In contrast, the emotional impact of performing euthanasia was ranked low, although this varied significantly by country (ANOVA: p < 0.0001). Younger respondents (aged 23–34 years) more often reported negative effects of their work on their mental health. Female veterinarians were more likely to seek professional counseling compared to men. Older veterinarians and those in leadership positions were more likely to manage their mental health effectively and seek help when needed, compared to younger veterinarians.Conclusion: These results highlight a worrying pattern of emotional distress in the veterinary field. Although the underlying causes of suicide are complex and multifactorial, addressing specific occupational stressors can play a critical role in improving mental health and reducing psychological risk in the profession. This study contributes to the growing research by providing cross-national data from underrepresented Central and Northern European countries, underscoring the importance of mental health strategies tailored to cultural and systemic contexts in the veterinary profession.

In recent years, the veterinary profession has undergone substantial demographic and structural changes, particularly concerning gender distribution, career expectations, and work satisfaction. This study aimed to explore factors influencing income, income expectations, and job satisfaction among veterinarians in Hungary and Germany, with special attention to differences by country, age, and gender. An online questionnaire consisting of 39 items was distributed via Google Forms between October 2022 and October 2023. A total of 282 veterinarians responded, including 203 from Hungary and 79 from Germany. Statistical analyses included Pearson’s chi-square tests with Cramer’s V, one-way and two-way ANOVA tests, as well as ordinal, binary, and multinomial logistic regression models. Findings revealed that most Hungarian veterinarians earned a gross income between EUR 1,178.2–1,570.9. Older veterinarians earned significantly more, with 44.4% of those over 54 reporting earnings above EUR 2,356.3, compared to 11.4% of those aged 23–34 (p < 0.05). A gender gap was also evident, as 32.9% of men earned above EUR 2,356.33 versus only 9.2% of women. This difference may partly be explained by shorter working hours among women. Job satisfaction varied: 49.8% of Hungarian veterinarians strongly disagreed with regretting their career choice, compared to 38.0% in Germany. Younger Hungarian veterinarians were more satisfied (24.7%) than older colleagues (14.8%). Across both countries, a positive work atmosphere, work-life balance, and predictable working hours were considered most important. Significant differences emerged in motivational factors. While 40.4% of Hungarian veterinarians strongly agreed that higher income was important, only 15.2% of German respondents felt the same (p < 0.0001). Professional autonomy was also prioritized more by Hungarians than Germans (47.8% vs. 20.3%, p < 0.0001). Among men in Hungary, 64.7% expressed a strong desire to run their own practice, compared to 35.6% of women (p < 0.05). To strengthen motivation and retention in the profession, financial compensation should reflect the complexity and emotional burden of veterinary work, and greater emphasis must be placed on mental well-being through collaboration across the sector.

Suicide is an increasing concern in veterinary medicine. As veterinary students prepare to enter a profession with unique emotional and occupational stressors, maintaining mental well-being is crucial for academic functioning and professional development. This study aimed to assess the self-reported mental health-related experiences of veterinary students in Hungary, focusing on psychological distress, academic strain and emotional exhaustion, attitudes toward mental health, perceived preparedness for professional training, and suicide-related thoughts and help-seeking. Data were collected through using an exploratory, online questionnaire. A total of 194 students (130 international and 64 Hungarian) from the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest completed the survey between July 2021 and February 2022. Factors such as country, age, gender, and academic year were assessed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square tests, and binary and ordinal logistic regression models, with internal consistency assessed by Cronbach's alpha. Students identified fatigue, emotional exhaustion (mean: 4.22 ± 0.92), and burnout-related experiences (mean: 3.80 ± 1.21) as the most detrimental factors affecting their mental well-being on a Likert scale of 1–5, particularly in higher academic years. Female students were more likely to report a diagnosis of mental illness compared with male students. International students expressed higher concern about suicide risk in the veterinary profession ( p < .0001), while Hungarian students rated their current mental status lower ( p < .0001). Notably, 26.9% of international and 6.2% of Hungarian students reported knowing a veterinary student who had died by suicide ( p < .001), highlighting the visibility of suicide-related experiences within the community. Although the overall occurrence of suicidal thoughts was low, slightly higher levels were reported among Hungarian and male students. These results provide insight into the psychological challenges affecting veterinary students and underline the importance of accessible, targeted mental health support within veterinary education.

Work-related stress is an important concern in veterinary medicine because it may affect veterinarians’ work, personal life, and well-being. This study described self-reported work-related stressors and their perceived effects on professional and personal life among veterinarians from selected European countries. Between July 2021 and February 2022, an online questionnaire was completed by 724 veterinarians from Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, and Norway. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling via online channels and professional veterinary networks. The questionnaire assessed 16 stressors, including fatigue, emotional exhaustion, burnout-related symptoms, fear of making mistakes, client expectations, and negative online comments. Mean Likert-scale scores were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s χ² tests. Fatigue and emotional exhaustion were among the most burdensome internal stressors, with the highest mean score in the Hungarian sample (mean: 4.15 ± 1.05) and the lowest in the Finnish sample (mean: 3.68 ± 1.06; ANOVA: p < 0.0001). Euthanasia-related stress was rated lower in Finland (mean: 1.68 ± 0.83) and Sweden (mean: 1.88 ± 0.95) than in Germany (mean: 2.41 ± 1.17) and Hungary (mean: 2.64 ± 1.27; ANOVA: p < 0.0001). In Hungary, younger and female veterinarians reported greater sensitivity to several stressors. The findings are descriptive and exploratory rather than representative cross-country comparisons.

The veterinary profession in Germany is undergoing substantial societal changes, including an ongoing feminization and a pronounced generational shift. This study aimed to examine veterinarians’ perceptions of the causes, relevance, and consequences of feminization within the profession. An online questionnaire was completed by 266 veterinarians in Germany between May and September 2021. The results indicate that feminization is viewed critically by a considerable proportion of respondents (48.8% of male and 41.5% of female participants). Only 7.8% of female respondents, and no male respondents, reported a positive outlook on remaining in the profession for their entire working life. According to the survey, the most important areas requiring improvement to strengthen the profession’s future include work-life balance (87.7%), working conditions and work organization (86.0%), income (80.4%), and the social prestige of the veterinary profession (59.6%). Overall, the findings highlight a broad consensus that feminization is reshaping the veterinary profession and underscore the need for targeted measures to improve work–life balance, salaries, and working hours in order to ensure professional sustainability. Cite this article as: Diez, E., Saur, R., Máté, M., & Ózsvári, L. (2026). Perceptions of feminization in the German veterinary profession. Acta Veterinaria Eurasia, 52, 0019, doi: 10.5152/actavet.2026.26019.

Background: Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is a major viral disease of goats, caused by small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV), associated with chronic arthritis, mastitis, pneumonia, and encephalitis, leading to economic losses and reduced animal welfare. This study aimed to estimate the true prevalence of CAE in Hungarian goat herds, based on nationwide sampling and statistical modeling. Methods: Blood samples from 1218 goats in 53 herds were tested using ELISA, and true prevalence was estimated by Bayesian analysis. Results: The mean herd true prevalence (HTP) was 29.1% (95% CrI: 20.8–38.5%), while within the infected herds, the conditional within herd prevalence (CWHP) reached 58% ± 27.1%. Medium- and large-sized herds (>50 animals) showed the highest mean HTP (77.8% and 74.9%, respectively). No significant regional differences were observed, indicating that CAE is uniformly distributed across the country. Conclusions: Our findings place Hungary among moderately to highly affected European countries and highlight the need for a nationwide control strategy integrating routine serological surveillance, biosecurity improvements, farmer education, and long-term tools such as selective breeding.