Veterinary Medicine's Role in Environmental Health: Integrating Care for Animals and Ecosystems

Dr. Karyn Bischoff, the Chr of the American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA Committee on Environmental Issues, shares her insight about how veterinary medicine can contribute to environmental health and discusses some of the committee's work with the Journal of the AVMA JAVMA News.

In her role as a veterinary toxicologist and senior extension veterinarian at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Bischoff on integrating veterinary practice and knowledge with environmental sciences. She illustrates how veterinarians can play various roles in enhancing sustnable practices:

1. Veterinarians working with livestock: They advise farmers on responsible waste management to reduce environmental impacts from manure runoff that can lead to nitrogen and oxygen depletion in water systems, which might foster harmful algal blooms or affect aquatic ecosystems.

2. Wildlife conservation veterinarians: Veterinarians contribute to wildlife conservation by engaging in practices that minimize conflicts between s and wildlife populations e.g., providing livestock guardian dogs for protection agnst predators like cheetahs.

3. Clinic-based veterinarians: They ensure responsible use of veterinary drugs, which are often found in animal waste and carcasses after the drug's useful life s. This practice helps prevent environmental hazards such as barbiturate poisoning affecting wildlife or domestic animals.

4. Fisheries veterinarians: They play a crucial role in promoting animal health and reducing risks associated with waste management and antibiotic use in aquaculture settings.

5. Bees and beekeeping veterinarians: Veterinarians contribute to the health of apiaries, which are vital for pollination services that benefit both wild and domestic ecosystems.

6. Policy-making veterinarians: They influence state-level decision-making processes concerning wildlife populations through collaboration with agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and others focused on environmentally sustnable food production methods.

Dr. Bischoff highlights some relevant policy issues discussed by the Committee:

• Feral cats: This issue is complex as feral cat populations can affect local ecosystems but also help control rodent populations that might pose risks to health like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Lyme disease. The committee considers both ecological impacts and public health concerns while advocating for e solutions.

• Lead poisoning: An environmental problem impacting wildlife, domestic animals, and s where veterinarians play a pivotal role in identifying and mitigating sources of lead exposure.

• Harmful algal blooms: The committee emphasizes the need for veterinary expertise in preventing and managing these blooms which are exacerbated by warmer temperatures linked to climate change.

• Bees and colony collapse disorder: Veterinarians contribute to addressing threats like Colony Collapse Disorder affecting bee populations, a critical aspect of pollination services.

How does Climate Change Factor In?

Climate change is acknowledged as a potential threat multiplier in environmental health challenges. It influences various aspects:

1. Worsening harmful algal blooms: Warmer temperatures are likely to increase the frequency and intensity of these blooms that can affect water quality and marine life.

2. Vector-borne diseases: Climate change predicts changes in geographic ranges of insect vectors carrying diseases such as Lyme, West Nile virus, or Zika. This highlights the evolving risk landscapes for health.

3. angered wildlife management: Increased challenges are anticipated for veterinarians managing angered species as they adapt to changing climates and may require more sophisticated health care strategies due to their vulnerability.

4. Mycotoxin production: Extreme weather events and changes in crop quality might influence mold growth on grns, forage, or feed supplies, increasing the risk of mycotoxins affecting livestock health.

5. Responding to natural disasters: Veterinarians may be called upon more frequently to address animal welfare issues in response to increased frequency of severe weather events like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.

The Role of Veterinary Medicine in Environmental Health

Veterinary medicine, through its specialized knowledge on ecosystems, animal physiology, and health management, offers a unique lens for addressing environmental challenges. By integrating veterinarians into discussions about sustnable practices and policy-making, solutions that benefit both animals and the environment can be developed.

This collaboration not only enhances our understanding of how actions impact wildlife but also promotes the development of more holistic approaches to conservation efforts, public health, and animal welfare policies.
This article is reproduced from: https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2018-04-15/environment-chair-sees-strong-veterinary-connection

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