Predicting caregiver burden in general veterinary clients: Contribution of companion animal clinical signs and problem behaviors

Several signs/behaviors correlated with burden, most prominently: weakness, appearing sad/depressed or anxious, appearing to have pain/discomfort, change in personality, frequent urination, and excessive sleeping/lethargy. Within patient-based risk factors, caregiver burden was predicted by frequency of the companion animal's signs/behaviors (P < .01). Within client-based factors, potentially modifiable factors of client reaction to the animal's signs/behaviors (P = .01), and client sense of control (P < .04) predicted burden. Understanding burden may enhance veterinarian-client communication, and is important due to potential downstream effects of client burden, such as higher workload for the veterinarian. Supporting the client's sense of control may help alleviate burden when amelioration of the companion animal's presentation is not feasible.