Companion Animal Cadaver Donation for Teaching Purposes at Veterinary Medicine Colleges: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

This article examines factors influencing U.S. dog and cat owners' willingness to participate in companion animal cadaver donation programs for veterinary education. Using a nationally representative discrete choice experiment, the study found that younger owners, those with higher education levels, and those with positive relationships with their veterinarians are more likely to donate, while dog owners and those with strong emotional bonds to their pets are less likely. Among program attributes, the return of pet ashes after cadaver use was the most important factor increasing donation likelihood, followed by the release of medical records and commemorative mementos; monetary compensation had a smaller effect. The findings highlight the importance of client-veterinarian relationships and suggest that veterinary schools should consider these preferences when developing ethical cadaver donation programs to support veterinary training.