Veterinary teaching hospitals provide clinical care for animals while training the next generation of veterinarians, with welfare obligations to both student clients and teaching patients.
Veterinary teaching hospital welfare involves balancing the educational value of supervised student involvement against the welfare cost of increased handling time, student anxiety, and the busier environment of teaching settings. Cats in particular show significantly elevated stress in teaching hospital environments compared to private practice. Best practice programs use low-stress handling, minimize unnecessary student repetition of procedures, and prioritize patient welfare over educational convenience.