AVMA celebrates National Pet Week 2025

The AVMA will be celebrating National Pet Week this year from May 4-10.

The week aims to highlight the shared bond with pets and encourage responsible pet ownership.

To do so, the AVMA has chosen a theme for each day of National Pet Week 2025:

Day 1—Choose well: Commit for life.

Day 2— Behavioral health: habits for happy pets.

Day 3—Nutrition and exercise matter.

Day 4—Love your pet? See your vet!

Day 5—Travel with care.

Day 6—Emergencies happen. Be prepared.

Day 7—Plan for their care. Give them a lifetime of love.

The AVMA offers a deeper look into the daily themes and a National Pet Week veterinary toolkit for members. The toolkit provides suggestions for how clinics can celebrate the event. For example, invite clients to celebrate their healthy pets and their own roles as responsible pet owners by hosting a party in the clinic with behind-the-scenes tours. Or have clients share pet pictures and stories, then post the submissions on a “Responsible pet ownership” wall in your clinic, on your social media accounts, or on your website.

The toolkit also has ideas for publicizing National Pet Week–related efforts, resources for each daily theme, and images and posts for social media.

During National Pet Week, AVMA and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) will be sharing results from a recent survey that demonstrate the positive impact pets can have on our mental health.

Created in 1981, National Pet Week aims to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of the value of veterinary medicine.