Swedish veterinarians’ perspectives on the work with Emergency Animal Diseases: part 2 – Crucial relationships and the position in-between

Veterinarians play a critical role in identifying and managing Emergency Animal Diseases (EADs). In Sweden, this responsibility is embedded within the routine work of clinical and slaughterhouse veterinarians rather than assigned to a dedicated specialist cadre. This article forms Part 2 of a qualitative study drawing on in-depth individual interviews and thematic analysis examining Swedish veterinarians’ work with suspected and confirmed EADs. While Part 1 focused on organisational conditions, workload, and decision-making, the present paper addresses the relational dimensions of this work. The findings show that livestock veterinarians rely heavily on collaborative, trust-based relationships with farmers, which they actively maintain through practical and emotional support, shared decision-making, and efforts to translate regulatory demands into workable on-farm practices. At the same time, these veterinarians occupy an ambivalent position as representatives of state authority, navigating tensions between enforcing legally required measures and sustaining cooperative relationships. Slaughterhouse veterinarians also emphasised the importance of collaboration, but their work is characterised by a permanent supervisory role that limits relational reciprocity and rarely involves emotional support. Across settings, prior experience, institutional communication, and the performance of “in-between” roles shaped veterinarians’ ability to secure compliance and manage conflict. The study demonstrates that effective surveillance and control of EADs depends not only on technical expertise and adherence to legislation but also on veterinarians’ relational labour. These findings advance understanding of the social organisation of disease management and highlight the need to recognize relational competence as integral to veterinary public health practice.