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UNDER REVIEWVeterinary end-of-life care
Pet owners facing terminal illness in companion animals may desire veterinary end-of-life care for their pets. The animal's comfort and quality of…
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Veterinary student loans and scholarships
The AVMA recognizes the increasing burden of educational debt on new graduates, and supports innovative methods to achieve student debt resolution.
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Use of action devices and performance packages for Tennessee Walking Horses
The AVMA and the American Association of Equine Practitioners support a ban on the use of action devices and performance packages in the training and…
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USDA leadership in farmed animal health
The USDA is the lead agency for farmed animal health as authorized by the Animal Health Protection Act of 2003.
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UNDER REVIEWTransport, sale yard practices, and humane slaughter of hoofstock and poultry
The AVMA supports science-based guidelines for transport and humane slaughter of hoofstock and poultry, developed in collaboration with experienced…
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The veterinarian’s role in supporting appropriate selection and use of service, assistance and therapy animals
The AVMA encourages veterinarians to be familiar with the legal status and protections accorded to service, assistance, emotional support, and therapy…
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The IAHAIO Geneva Declaration
The AVMA endorses the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations' Geneva Declaration.
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The veterinary profession's role in addressing the opioid epidemic
AVMA strongly recommends that veterinarians, legislators, state veterinary medical boards, and state pharmacy boards work together to create practical…
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Telemedicine
AVMA is committed to ensuring access to the convenience and benefits afforded by telemedicine, while promoting the responsible provision of…
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Surgery or procedures performed on show animals
The AVMA recommends that procedures to correct injury or deformity for an animal’s welfare not be grounds to disqualify the animal from conformation…
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State and local regulation of veterinary medicine
State and local lawmakers should defer to the professional judgment of veterinarians when considering proposals that impact the practice and scope of…
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Service animals
If an animal meets this definition, it is considered a service animal regardless whether it has been licensed or certified by a government or an…
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Safeguarding care for animals with veterinarian-led teams
The AVMA will vigorously defend the practice of veterinary medicine—including the ability to diagnose, prognose, develop treatment plans, prescribe,…
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Safe non-commercial transport of pets in motor vehicles
The AVMA is committed to educating pet owners about the safety of pets in motor vehicles. AVMA encourages development of evidence-based crash testing…
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Restriction of veterinary biologics to veterinarians' use
The AVMA supports USDA efforts to restrict all veterinary biologics used in disease control programs, those with high incidence of reactions, and…
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UNDER REVIEWResearch dogs and cats adoption
The following factors should be considered when developing a research institution adoption program and determining an animal's potential for adoption.
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Reportable disease list
The AVMA supports the development and implementation of a national list of reportable animal diseases.
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Regulation of equine plasma products
The AVMA urges the FDA and USDA to identify a means to regulate all equine plasma products intended for use in horses.
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Recovery of monetary damages in litigation involving animals
The American Veterinary Medical Association recognizes and supports the long-standing legal classification of animals as the property of their owners.…
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Raw diets for dogs and cats
The AVMA discourages the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens…
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Rabies
Rabies is almost invariably fatal for animals and humans. Vaccination of animals is a critical step in preventing infection and protecting public…
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Practice of soring
The AVMA endorses the American Association of Equine Practitioners' position on the practice of soring.
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UNDER REVIEWPet health insurance
The AVMA endorses the concept of pet health insurance that provides coverage to help defray the cost of veterinary care and encourages veterinary…
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Pediatric spay/neuter of dogs and cats
The AVMA supports the concept of pediatric spay/neuter in dogs and cats to reduce the number of unwanted animals. Veterinarians should use their best…
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Ownership and/or possession and appropriate disposition of wild and exotic pet species or their hybrids
The AVMA is concerned with animal welfare, husbandry, infectious diseases, public health and safety, and environmental impacts associated with…