Practitioners want disease database, survey says

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Ohio veterinarians would do a better job of reporting animal diseases if they had access to an electronic reporting system.

That's according to roughly 70 percent of 343 respondents to a survey conducted last year by The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Preventative Medicine.

Ninety-one percent of respondents, mainly small-animal practitioners, view the ability to see disease trends as valuable to their practice and clients, the results show.

Ohio officials are attempting to develop a single animal-disease reporting reference document specific to the state.

Supported by the Ohio Department of Health, the model Internet-based system collects county and ZIP-code information. Primary- and secondary-disease differentials and/or primary or secondary symptoms can be entered.

The majority of survey respondents considered the core data fields accurate, although 10 percent suggested additional fields be included. Survey respondents also wanted heartworm, parvovirus, distemper, bartonella, strangles, equine rhinopneumonitis, bovine virus diarrhea and Johne's disease added.

Fewer than 6 percent of respondents thought they might lose clients if they reported their animals' diseases. Ninety-six percent of respondents also seek a reference document that outlines where to report disease information, the survey results show.