Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Veterinary medical ethics. An ethicist's commentary on animal health and welfare.
- Journal:
- The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Ramey, David & Rollin, Bernard
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Veterinarians who care for racehorses face special challenges because they often have to address very small issues that might affect a horse's performance. Since it's hard to know a horse's true potential, treatments are sometimes based on what trainers think might be wrong rather than clear evidence. This is important because even a tiny difference in speed can mean a lot of money for the trainer and owner, and it could decide whether a horse continues racing or is sold for slaughter. This raises ethical questions about whether helping to improve a racehorse's performance aligns with a veterinarian's promise to promote the health and welfare of animals.
Abstract
Veterinarians working with racehorses face unique challenges. No other type of practice expects veterinarians to "correct" such minute deficiencies in performance. Since the actual performance potential of many horses cannot be known, treatments may be targeted at "perceived" deficiencies in performance. Nevertheless, seconds or fractions of a second determine profit and loss and thus the animal's value for the trainer and owner. One or two seconds may ultimately determine whether a horse continues racing or is sold for slaughter. Is a veterinarian who works to maintain or improve racehorse performance in keeping with the veterinarian's oath to "promote animal health and welfare?"
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24891634/