Welfare Science

Animal Welfare in Veterinary Education Reform

Reforms to veterinary education to better equip graduates for welfare assessment and advocacy roles.

Key Facts

Traditional veterinary education focused more on individual animal medicine than welfare science
Welfare science is now a mandatory component of RCVS-approved vet curricula
Clinical welfare assessment skills are essential for modern veterinary practice
Vets play a critical advocacy role in farm, companion, and zoo animal welfare
Graduate competence in pain recognition and assessment needs strengthening

Welfare Considerations

Improving veterinary education in welfare science produces practitioners better equipped to prevent and alleviate animal suffering across all sectors.

What You Can Do

Support veterinary schools developing strong welfare science programmes
Advocate for welfare competencies in veterinary professional standards
Encourage veterinarians to pursue continuing professional development in welfare