Bushby Philip A
Marcia Lane Endowed Chair of Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, MS 39762, USA.
J Feline Med Surg. 2020 Mar;22(3):208-215. doi: 10.1177/1098612X20903600.
Low-cost spay-neuter clinics were first established nearly 50 years ago in response to the numbers of dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters. Since then, high-quality, high-volume spay-neuter (HQHVSN) clinics have been established throughout the USA and have contributed to a significant reduction in animal euthanasia in shelters. These clinics, specializing in efficient systems and surgical techniques, provide an avenue for clients who cannot afford surgery to sterilize their pets. These clinics have also helped animal shelters with limited financial resources implement spay-neuter prior to adoption policies.
The veterinary profession's reaction to HQHVSN clinics has been mixed; some practitioners question the quality of care provided or fear the loss of clientele, while others recognize the need for such clinics and support their development.
As veterinary education has become more expensive and veterinary care more sophisticated, the cost of veterinary care, including spay-neuter surgery, has risen. With increasing costs, the numbers of pets that receive little or no veterinary care has increased. Indeed, a 2018 survey by the Access to Veterinary Care Coalition documented that more than 25% of pet-owning households in the USA experienced difficulties obtaining veterinary care for their pets and the most frequent barrier was financial.
This review looks at the reality of HQHVSN clinics and what this means for the private practitioner. By adopting similar systems and techniques that lower the cost of spay-neuter surgery, practitioners could potentially pass on cost savings to clients. Moreover, the same principles may be applied to other aspects of basic care to further address access to care issues.
低成本绝育诊所最早于近50年前设立，以应对动物收容所中被安乐死的猫狗数量。从那时起，美国各地建立了高质量、高产量的绝育诊所（HQHVSN），并为显著减少收容所中的动物安乐死做出了贡献。这些诊所专门采用高效的系统和手术技术，为无力承担手术费用的客户提供了为其宠物绝育的途径。这些诊所还帮助资金有限的动物收容所在实施领养前绝育政策。
兽医行业对HQHVSN诊所的反应不一；一些从业者质疑所提供护理的质量，或担心失去客户，而另一些人则认识到此类诊所的必要性并支持其发展。
随着兽医教育成本越来越高，兽医护理越来越复杂，包括绝育手术在内的兽医护理成本有所上升。随着成本的增加，很少接受或根本没有接受兽医护理的宠物数量有所增加。事实上，兽医护理获取联盟2018年的一项调查记录显示，美国超过25%的宠物主家庭在为其宠物获得兽医护理方面遇到困难，最常见的障碍是资金问题。
本综述探讨了HQHVSN诊所的实际情况以及这对私人执业兽医意味着什么。通过采用类似的降低绝育手术成本的系统和技术，从业者有可能将节省的成本转嫁给客户。此外，相同的原则可应用于基本护理的其他方面，以进一步解决护理获取问题。
