World Veterinary Day 2025: Celebrating a Team Approach to Pet Health

The last Saturday in April marks World Veterinary Day, a global observance acknowledging the veterinary profession’s impact on animal health, public health, and animal welfare. The World Veterinary Association (WVA) chose the theme “Animal Health Takes a Team” for World Veterinary Day 2025.

The theme is a reminder that quality veterinary care doesn’t happen in a vacuum—the veterinary community depends on collaboration between clinical veterinary teams and researchers, shelter workers, public health officials, and industry partners.

The Shepherd team proudly serves the veterinary field with intuitive and innovative software solutions. Here’s what World Veterinary Day 2025 means to us, and how you can use this year’s observance to recognize the work and partnerships that improve our field.

Teamwork makes the dream work

Whether in a private practice, research lab, shelter, or public health setting, the best outcomes in veterinary medicine happen when professionals work together. World Veterinary Day 2025 highlights teamwork in recognition of the interconnectedness of our roles.

Collaboration in veterinary medicine is everywhere. Here are a few examples:

• Clinical practice — Veterinarians rely on technicians, assistants, managers, and reception teams for almost every aspect of their practice, including customer service, patient care, equipment maintenance, financial management, and more.
• Specialty practice — General practitioners refer patients to specialists when conditions require advanced expertise, ensuring pets receive the highest level of care possible.
• Public health — Public health officials partner with veterinarians and agencies like the AVMA to prevent zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety concerns.
• Pet owners — Veterinary staff members collaborate with pet owners to ensure pets receive the care they need to live the healthiest lives possible.

The big picture: One Health

The One Health concept reminds us that animal, human, and environmental health are deeply connected. Given recent global health challenges, such as the re-emergence of avian influenza and the ongoing battle with microbial resistance, veterinarians have never been more critical to public health. Collaboration between veterinarians, human health care officials, and scientists in multiple disciplines helps to prevent future outbreaks and promote sustainable practices for our global future.

How to celebrate World Veterinary Day 2025

World Veterinary Day is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on ways we can improve collaboration in our daily work. Here are a few ideas.

1. Acknowledge your coworkers

Recognizing colleagues for their contributions to the team’s success can go a long way. A verbal “thank you” or heartfelt note can positively impact morale and teamwork, whether the acknowledgment comes from a peer or a leader. 

2. Promote public awareness of veterinary medicine

Veterinary professionals can promote awareness of World Veterinary Day through client-facing channels like social media, email, and clinic signage. Use this year’s theme to emphasize the collaborative nature of animal healthcare and what that means for pet owners and community members. Try sharing a post about teamwork that happens behind the scenes.

3. Strengthen partnerships

Veterinary staff have connections and partnerships with local organizations, such as shelters, rescues, pet-related businesses, and larger industry players like distributors, insurance providers, and veterinary organizations. World Veterinary Day 2025 is a great opportunity to reinforce those partnerships by offering services, collaborating on future events, or hosting an open house.

4. Advocate for veterinary professionals

Burnout and mental health issues are ongoing problems in the veterinary field. Use World Veterinary Day 2025 to advocate for the well-being of veterinary staff members in your clinic and beyond. Try posting on social media, joining an advocacy group, discussing issues during a team meeting, or even writing to a local lawmaker to push for legislative changes in your state.

The future of veterinary collaboration

Collaboration and teamwork are critical to the future of the veterinary profession. World Veterinary Day 2025 shines a light on the necessity of teamwork in veterinary medicine and reminds us that we must come together across disciplines, physical distances, and political divides to address One Health concerns. 

Shepherd helps to facilitate collaboration among veterinary professionals by providing seamless integrations with leading veterinary providers and easy, cloud-based access from anywhere. Contact us to unlock a new level of teamwork or visit our website to learn more.