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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / The demand for veterinary services in western Canada.
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2009; 50(9); 949-953;

The demand for veterinary services in western Canada.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the number of hours veterinarians in western Canada work per week, how they apportion their time by species, and clinics' hiring intentions for new veterinary associates. Of 1099 clinics contacted, 706 (64%) responded to the survey, representing 80% (1774/2227) of private practitioners in western Canada. Practitioners devoted 73% of their time to small animals (SA), 11% to beef practice, and 9% to horses. Sixty-four percent of clinics and 66% of practitioners were devoted exclusively to companion animal (SA and horses) practice; only 4% of clinics and 4% of practitioners were devoted exclusively to food animal practice. A total of 230 clinics were seeking to hire another veterinarian, representing 223 full-time equivalents (FTEs). When adjusted for clinics that did not respond, the total number of vacancies in western Canada could be as high as 347 FTEs with 57% of vacancies in companion animal practice. The survey, however, did not assess how determined the clinics were in their attempts to hire another associate. L’objectif de cette étude consistait à déterminer le nombre d’heures travaillées par semaine par les vétérinaires dans l’Ouest canadien, comment ils répartissent leur temps selon l’espèce et les intentions d’embauche des cliniques pour les nouveaux vétérinaires salariés. Parmi les 1099 cliniques contactées, 706 (64 %) ont répondu au sondage, ce qui représente 80 % (1774/2227) des praticiens privés dans l’Ouest canadien. Les praticiens ont consacré 73 % de leur temps aux petits animaux, 11 % à la pratique bovine et 9 % aux chevaux. Soixante-quatre pour cent des cliniques et 66 % des praticiens se consacraient exclusivement aux animaux de compagnie (petits animaux et chevaux); seulement 4 % des cliniques et 4 % des praticiens se vouaient exclusivement à la pratique pour animaux de consommation. Un total de 230 cliniques cherchaient à embaucher un autre vétérinaire, ce qui représente 223 postes équivalents temps plein (ETP). Avec un rajustement pour les cliniques qui n’ont pas répondu, le nombre total de postes vacants dans l’Ouest canadien pourrait être aussi élevé que 347 ETP avec 57 % des postes vacants en pratique des animaux de compagnie. Cependant, le sondage n’a pas évalué à quel point les cliniques étaient déterminées dans leurs tentatives d’embauche d’un autre vétérinaire salarié. (Traduit par Isabelle Vallières)
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Publication Date: 2009-12-02 PubMed ID: 19949555PubMed Central: PMC2726021
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research study aims to examine the workweek of veterinarians in Western Canada, how they divide their time across species, and the hiring plans of clinics for new veterinarians. The study found that most vets dedicate their time to small animals, and many clinics are looking to employ more vets, particularly in companion animal practice.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The main purpose of the study was to investigate the working hours of veterinarians in western Canada, how these professionals distribute their time among various animal species, and the hiring intentions of the veterinary clinics for new vets.
  • The researchers contacted 1099 veterinary clinics for this study. The response rate was 64%; 706 clinics responded, accounting for 80% of all private practitioners in the region.

Findings of the Study

  • According to the survey, vets dedicate the bulk of their operational time (73%) to small animals. Beef and horse practices followed, accounting for 11% and 9% of their time, respectively.
  • 64% of the surveyed clinics and 66% of the veterinarians approached exclusively catered to companion animals, which include small animals and horses in this context.
  • In contrast, a minor fraction, 4% of clinics and veterinarians, dedicated their services solely to food animals.
  • About 230 clinics indicated that they were interested in employing an additional veterinarian, which would increase full-time employment opportunities by approximately 223 positions.
  • When the data was extrapolated to include clinics that did not participate in the survey, the researchers estimated that there could be as many as 347 full-time-equivalents (FTEs) of vacancies in western Canada. More than half (57%) of these job openings were projected in the companion animal practice.
  • The survey, however, did not consider to what extent these clinics had attempted to hire another associate vet, which is an important factor that could influence these projections.

Cite This Article

APA
Jelinski MD, Campbell JR. (2009). The demand for veterinary services in western Canada. Can Vet J, 50(9), 949-953.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 9
Pages: 949-953

Researcher Affiliations

Jelinski, Murray D
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4. murray.jelinski@usask.ca
Campbell, John R

    MeSH Terms

    • Alberta
    • Animals
    • Animals, Domestic
    • British Columbia
    • Career Choice
    • Employment / statistics & numerical data
    • Female
    • Humans
    • Male
    • Manitoba
    • Saskatchewan
    • Surveys and Questionnaires
    • Veterinary Medicine / statistics & numerical data
    • Workforce
    • Workload

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    Citations

    This article has been cited 5 times.
    1. Jelinski MD, Schreiner B, Neale A, Townsend HGG. Hiring intentions and remuneration of veterinary practitioners in western Canada. Can Vet J 2022 Oct;63(10):1044-1050.
      pubmed: 36185797
    2. Jelinski MD, Barth KK. Survey of western Canadian veterinary practices: A demographic profile. Can Vet J 2015 Dec;56(12):1245-51.
      pubmed: 26663919
    3. Jelinski MD, Campbell JR, Rosengren LB. Quantitative and qualitative assessment of the demand for veterinarians and animal health technologists in western Canada. Can Vet J 2012 Jun;53(6):673-5.
      pubmed: 23204590
    4. Jelinski MD, Campbell JR. Retrospective analysis of western Canada's veterinary profession for the period 1991 to 2007. Can Vet J 2010 Dec;51(12):1367-72.
      pubmed: 21358929
    5. Lambrou NH, Winder CB, Spence KL. Exploring bison producers' access to veterinary services in Ontario, Canada. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1448216.
      doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1448216pubmed: 39723181google scholar: lookup
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