Veterinarians are uniquely positioned to advance animal welfare through clinical practice, policy advocacy, research, and public education. The veterinary profession's welfare role is expanding.
Veterinarians occupy a unique position in the animal welfare ecosystem - they have professional credibility, direct access to animals in vulnerable situations, and ethical obligations that explicitly include welfare. However, veterinary welfare advocacy is constrained by professional relationships with clients who may resist welfare-improving advice, and by economic pressures that prioritize clinical service delivery over welfare consultancy. The veterinary profession is increasingly recognizing its welfare mandate more expansively - from individual patient care to population-level advocacy for farming practices and policy change. Veterinarians who engage publicly with welfare issues have outsized influence relative to other advocates.