Vanessa Rohlf
 |
I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology in 2000 at Monash University. I worked as a Veterinary Nurse before starting my Honours degree in Psychology in 2003. Under the supervision of Dr Pauleen Bennett my research project investigated post-euthanasia effects in animal workers. Upon finishing my Honours degree I began working for Dr Pauleen Bennett as a research assistant and also started working as a probationary psychologist specialising in pet loss and bereavement. |
Currently, I am undertaking my PhD on pet owner factors influencing dog obesity. Obesity is one of the most common nutritional disorders in dogs in developed nations and is one of the leading causes of health and welfare problems. Research has indicated that obesity affects up to 40% of dogs. While obesity can, theoretically, be effectively treated by simply shifting the balance between energy intake and expenditure, owner compliance with veterinary advice is generally poor. Ongoing behavioural change is infrequent and recidivism is high with significant negative welfare implications for the canines in question. My intention is to find what factors contribute to companion dog obesity and then to develop interventions to prevent and treat obesity.