Study will examine barriers to care for Spanish-speaking pet owners

Researchers at Colorado State University are conducting a multi-year study examining linguistic and cultural barriers between veterinary professionals and Spanish-speaking pet owners.

Using a grant from PetSmart Charities, the study team will conduct a comprehensive language needs analysis alongside veterinary professionals in predominantly Spanish-speaking communities.

The United States has an estimated 52 million Spanish speakers, the largest population of Spanish-speaking residents in any country where Spanish isn’t the majority language, according to Colorado State. And while many companies, organizations and government agencies now offer products and services bilingually, there remain significant barriers to care for pet owners who speak Spanish.

Principal investigator Shannon Zeller and her team will partner with veterinary clinics and shelters along Colorado’s Front Range to observe daily routines and communication among veterinarians, technicians, customer service representatives and Spanish-speaking clients.

The researchers will examine “how the communication takes place, where it takes place, where it stumbles and what we need to address that gap,” Zeller said.