EPA 11: Animal welfare assessment and advice

Summary

Perform a welfare assessment of an individual animal or group of animals, and take appropriate action if their welfare is found to be compromised. 

Description

Conduct a clinical examination/inspection of an individual or group of animals, including observation of appearance, behaviour, physiological functions and environment, to assess whether its/their welfare needs are being met.

If animal welfare is found to be compromised, take action, including euthanasia where appropriate.

Assessment of animal welfare is fundamental to veterinary medicine and requires knowledge of animal behaviour and good observational skills. This activity requires assessment against the five freedoms as well as the key welfare indicators above, with understanding of the legislation governing animal welfare.

Success criteria 

To have demonstrated effective welfare assessments and provided appropriate advice on improving welfare conditions for individual animals and groups of animals, including different:

• Animal species
• Environmental conditions
• Clinical presentations
• Degrees of animal and/or client support and co-operation

To have recognised when euthanasia is appropriate.

Required competencies

The RCVS Day One Competences encompass a range of domains that may be relevant to this EPA. However, the key areas involved in performing this activity/practice are as follows:

Veterinary capability

• Clinical reasoning
• Individual animal
• Animal population care and management
• One health/public health

Reflective relationships

• Communication
• Collaboration

Personal leadership

• Adaptability
• Professionalism