Veterinarians are commonly exposed to occupational stressors, including excessive workload and financial constraints. These stressors can lead to psychological distress, which typically results in mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and burnout and can even culminate in suicide attempts or suicide deaths. Risk factors associated with poor mental health and high rates of suicide in veterinary practitioners include continuous exposure to challenging scenarios, such as interpersonal conflicts, performing euthanasia, and easy access to lethal means of suicide, such as opioids and anesthetics. The previous studies highlight the urgent need for a better understanding of predisposing factors, mental health-related improvements in the professional environment, and the subsequent establishment of primary mental health-related care policies. Effective ways to promote mental health and prevent suicide may include social support, resilience, developing coping skills, promoting a healthy work environment, and discouraging perfectionist behaviors. This review aimed to summarize findings in studies that have investigated mental health and suicide in veterinarians and veterinary students and highlight measures that could be implemented as options for mental health promotion and suicide prevention. Keywords: burnout, depression, mental health, occupational stress, veterinarians.

Background: Polyarthritis has been associated with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanVL), and co-infection with Ehrlichia canis is common and may alter clinical manifestations. Methods: A total of 89 dogs presenting CanVL were subdivided into two groups: (1) G1, consisting of 46 dogs seronegative to Ehrlichia spp., and (ii) G2, consisting of 43 dogs seropositive to Ehrlichia spp. Eight joints (carpal, tarsal, stifles and elbows) from each dog were evaluated by radiography and synovial fluid (SF) cytologic analysis. Results: Overall, 74 of the 89 (83.1%) dogs presented joint abnormalities suggestive of osteoarthritis by radiography (G1: 40/46 [86.9%]; G2: 34/43 [79.0%]), with no statistically significant between-group difference. All dogs with abnormal joint X-ray images presented radiographic lesions bilaterally, independent of the characteristics of the lesion. Soft tissue swelling around the joint and joint space narrowing were more commonly observed in G1 than in G2 dogs. There was no significant between-group difference in terms of other radiographic abnormalities suggestive of osteoarthritis (evident trabecular pattern, subchondral bone sclerosis, osteolysis, osteolytic–proliferative lesions or bone proliferation). SF from 174/315 (55.2%) and 152/307 (49.5%) joints from G1 and G2 dogs, respectively, presented an inflammatory infiltrate, but there was no significant association between the presence of inflammatory infiltrate and group. There was also no statistical difference between groups in either of the evaluated joints in terms of the percentage of neutrophils or mononuclear cells. Leishmania spp. amastigotes were found in 69/315 (21.9%) joints from G1 dogs and in 100/307 (32.5%) joints from G2 dogs (Fisherʼs exact test, P = 0.002, odds ratio = 0.5, 95% confidence interval = 0.4–0.8). The neutrophilic infiltrate was significantly higher in joints with amastigote forms in both G1 (Mann–Whitney U-test, U₍₁₈₎ = 817, Z = -3.76, P = 0.0001) and G2 dogs (Mann–Whitney U-test, U₍₁₈₎ = 6543, Z = − 5.06, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: A high prevalence of arthritis in dogs with CanVL was found, and all dogs presented involvement in multiple joints. Although no difference was observed between groups in terms of the number of dogs with polyarthritis and the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate in SF, Leishmania spp. amastigotes were found more frequently in joints from G2 dogs. Further studies evaluating SF in dogs co-infected with L. infantum and E. canis should be performed to evaluate this finding. Graphical

Este estudo correlacionou os tempos de jejum sólido pré-anestésico com alterações nos níveis de glicemia plasmática, cortisol sérico, estado clínico e equilíbrio ácido-base em cães submetidos a anestesia geral inalatória. Utilizaram-se oito animais, adultos, sem raça definida, distribuídos de acordo com o período de jejum sólido: Grupo 1 (12 horas), Grupo 2 (18 horas) e Grupo 3 (24 horas). Foi acompanhado o esvaziamento do conteúdo gástrico e em seguida, todos animais foram submetidos ao mesmo procedimento anestésico. Freqüência cardíaca e respiratória, temperatura retal, tempo de reperfusão capilar, grau de hidratação e pressão arterial não-invasiva foram mensurados previamente à administração de acepromazina, 10 minutos decorridos da mesma e a cada 10 minutos durante a manutenção anestésica, incluindo-se ETCO2; valores hemogasométricos (pH, PaCO2, PaO2, HCO3, CO2 total, SatO2, déficit de base), glicêmicos e de cortisol sérico foram avaliados previamente à MPA e a cada trinta minutos durante a manutenção anestésica. No período de recuperação anestésica, novas dosagens glicêmicas e de cortisol foram realizadas. Constataram-se poucas alterações cardiocirculatórias e respiratórias durante a anestesia, não havendo interferência dos diferentes tempos de jejum. Os animais com 12 horas de jejum pré-anestésico apresentaram glicemia mais elevada do que os demais grupos, no período de recuperação anestésica. As concentrações de cortisol não foram afetadas pelo jejum. O jejum pré-anestésico sólido, independente do tempo de duração, caracterizou um quadro de discreta alcalose respiratória. Todos os animais apresentaram-se em bom estado clínico nos três grupos. Recomenda-se jejum pré-anestésico sólido de 18 horas para garantir ausência completa de conteúdo alimentar sólido no estômago.

Background and Aim: Veterinarians experience disproportionately high levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation compared with other professional groups. Occupational stress (OS), compassion fatigue, workplace environment (WE), and coping strategies have been identified as relevant risk or protective factors; however, their interrelationships remain insufficiently explored, particularly in Brazil. This study aimed to examine the direct and indirect pathways linking occupational psychosocial factors to suicidal ideation among Brazilian veterinarians working in companion-animal practice, with psychological distress conceptualized as a central mediating mechanism. Materials and Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and July 2022 involving 1,472 veterinarians exclusively engaged in small animal practice in Brazil. Participants completed validated self-report measures assessing psychological distress (Kessler-6), suicidal ideation, coping strategies, compassion fatigue, OS, and WE. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with 5,000 bootstrap resamples. Direct, indirect, and mediating effects were estimated, and model fit, reliability, and validity were assessed. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of Inspirar College (protocol no. 31645220.4.0000.5594). Results: Psychological distress emerged as the strongest predictor of suicidal ideation (β = 0.40; p < 0.001), explaining 20.6% of its variance. OS showed a substantial positive association with psychological distress (β = 0.47; p < 0.001), followed by compassion fatigue (β = 0.15; p < 0.001) and WE (β = 0.07; p = 0.028). Coping strategies exerted a significant protective effect on psychological distress (β = −0.26; p < 0.001) and suicidal ideation (β = −0.08; p = 0.013). Indirect effects confirmed that psychological distress mediated the associations between OS, compassion fatigue, WE, and suicidal ideation. Younger age and female gender were indirectly associated with higher suicidal ideation through increased psychological distress. Conclusion: Psychological distress plays a central mediating role in the relationship between occupational psychosocial factors and suicidal ideation among Brazilian veterinarians. Interventions targeting OS reduction, emotional support, and the promotion of adaptive coping strategies may substantially mitigate suicide risk in veterinary clinical practice. Keywords: compassion fatigue, coping strategies, occupational stress, psychological distress, small animal veterinarians, structural equation modeling, suicidal ideation, workplace environment.

Veterinary professionals are exposed to intense emotional and occupational demands that can compromise mental health. This nationwide cross-sectional study surveyed 1992 Brazilian veterinarians to assess their psychological distress, well-being, and coping strategies. Logistic regression identified that women, early-career professionals, and individuals with low income were more likely to experience psychological distress. Long working hours and professional dissatisfaction were significant risk factors. In contrast, adaptive coping behaviors, such as spending time with the family, sleeping at least eight hours per night, and engaging in leisure activities, were associated with better mental health outcomes. Institutional wellness programs tailored to the veterinary profession should incorporate strategies to mitigate stress and promote resilience. Although the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the large sample size and use of validated measures provide robust insights. Future research should adopt longitudinal and interventional designs to refine the strategies that support veterinarians’ mental well-being.