BSAVA publishes WSAVA Animal Welfare Global Guidelines
The guidelines help vets to tackle the moral issues and ethical dilemmas which impact welfare.
The BSAVA has published the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) Animal Welfare Guidelines to encourage its members to “adopt best practice and set the highest standards”.
The Animal Welfare Global Guidelines for Companion Animal Practitioners and the Veterinary Team feature in the May issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice, the official scientific journal of the BSAVA and the WSAVA.
First launched during WSAVA World Congress 2018, the guidelines aim to bridge differing perceptions of welfare around the world and help vets to tackle the moral issues and ethical dilemmas which impact welfare. They also include guidance to ensure that vets can advocate for their psychological, social and environmental wellbeing.
“The BSAVA is very supportive of the comprehensive approach taken by the WSAVA Animal Welfare Guidelines Group,” commented BSAVA President Sue Paterson. "They not only promote the understanding of contemporary animal welfare concepts and related science but also provide important guidance on addressing potential animal welfare challenges across diverse global cultures.”
WSAVA president Shane Ryan added: “As veterinarians, our responsibility extends far beyond the physical health of our patients. Animal welfare as a science is a new and rapidly developing discipline and veterinarians need current, evidence-based information to enable them to maintain the highest welfare standards and to provide knowledgeable, accurate advice for pet owners and communities.
“Our new Guidelines provide recommendations, checklists and other tools to promote optimal levels of welfare throughout the veterinary visit. They also offer guidance on increasing welfare beyond the doors of the clinic through outreach activities.”
He continued: “As levels of pet ownership increase in many regions of the world, including Asia, it is essential that veterinarians champion animal welfare and the WSAVA hopes that these new Guidelines will encourage our members to adopt best practice and set the highest standards.”
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.
