Council on Public Health
The Council on Public Health provides expert advice and consultation on issues related to safeguarding animal and public health.
AVMA Public Service Award
This award honors an AVMA member veterinarian for outstanding public service or unusual contributions to public health and regulatory veterinary…
Animal health advocacy
The AVMA’s advocacy work provides critical support for the work veterinary teams do every day to protect, promote, and advance animal health. Learn…
Veterinarians protect people, animals, and society
When people think of veterinarians, they usually think of doctors for animals, but veterinary medicine also crosses over into public health.
Antimicrobial use and resistance: FAQs for pet owners
AVMA's antimicrobial FAQs provide science-based information to help you make educated decisions about the use of antibiotics and other antimicrobial…
Seek Advice on Backyard Poultry
Advice for small animal veterinarians who are asked to provide veterinary care for backyard poultry flocks. Relates to backyard poultry resource.
Antibiotic use is changing. Talk to your veterinarian.
Talk to a veterinarian about responsible use of antibiotics in animals. Veterinary oversight helps preserve antimicrobial effectiveness in fighting…
Salmonella: Dry pet foods and pet treats (FAQ)
Questions/answers about Salmonella and pet food: How can pet food become contaminated? How can humans and pets become infected? How can you minimize…
Transporting Livestock
Thousands of livestock animals are transported every day across the U.S. When considering interstate or international travel for your livestock, plan…
Avian influenza
Avian influenza appears periodically all over the world, including in the United States.
Traveling with your dog or cat
When considering interstate or international travel for your dog or cat, plan ahead because some preparations may need to start six months or more in…
Transporting Wildlife Species or Their Hybrids
When considering interstate or international travel for captive wildlife species or hybrids of such, plan ahead
Rabies
Rabies remains a major concern worldwide, killing tens of thousands of people every year. These AVMA resources help veterinarians educate pet owners…
Traveling With Pet Birds
When considering interstate or international travel for your pet bird, plan ahead because some preparations may need to start months in advance.
Avian influenza virus type A (H5N1) in U.S. dairy cattle
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was identified in U.S. dairy cattle for the first time in March 2024. Here are important details about this…
Traveling With Your Pet Fish or Other Aquatic Animals
While transporting fish and other aquatic pets across state, territory, or international borders is not as common as transporting other pets,
5 reasons you want a veterinarian on your team in a zombie apocalypse
Under normal circumstances, we'd never recommend that a veterinarian treat a human. But in a zombie apocalypse... physicians might be hard to come by.…
SARS-CoV-2 in animals
Learn about how the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 affects animals, and how to keep pets safe during the pandemic.
Transporting Horses and Other Equids
When considering interstate or international travel for your horse or other equids, plan ahead because some preparations may need to start months in…
Mpox (monkeypox)
Mpox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Its symptoms are similar to smallpox, but the disease is less contagious and less severe.
Traveling With Exotics Such as Rabbits, Ferrets, Small Rodents, and Others
When considering interstate or international travel for your exotic pet, plan ahead because some preparations may need to start months in advance.
African swine fever
African swine fever is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. Prevention is key to keeping pigs safe from it.
Plague
Plague is an infectious disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.
Animal Disease Traceability
The Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Rule, which took effect in March 2013, establishes minimum national official identification and documentation…
Disposal of pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical Disposal has come under increased scrutiny due to detection of human pharmaceuticals in U.S. Waterways.