AHW 2025

Animal Health Week (AHW) is an annual national public awareness campaign organized by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and hosted by veterinarians across Canada. Each year, through AHW, the veterinary community draws attention to an important health-related message.

Celebrating 40 Years of Animal Health Education

This year marks the 40^th Anniversary of the CVMA celebrating Animal Health Week in tandem with veterinary practices across the country. Throughout the past four decades we’ve focused on a myriad of important topics such as the interconnectedness of animal health, human health, and environment health, known as One Health. We’ve highlighted the importance of vaccinations and preventative care. And we’ve stressed the importance of safeguarding the five animal freedoms (providing proper nutrition, ensuring proper socialization, providing adequate shelter, providing appropriate veterinary care, and allowing animals to exhibit normal behaviour).

This year, from October 5 to 11, the CVMA will promote Healing Hands, Caring Hearts: Every Animal Matters. In 2025, we’re celebrating the vital role veterinary professionals play in protecting and maintaining animal well-being with empathy, expertise, and dedication. This theme highlights both the technical skills (healing hands) and compassion and empathy (caring hearts) veterinary teams must implement to ensure every animal – regardless of species, size, or circumstance – matters.

“This year’s theme is at the core of what it means to be a veterinary professional. We are called on to provide care for a wide range of species, some of which we may not have seen until we are asked to help!” shares, Dr. Tracy Fisher, 2025-26 CVMA President. “We also work hard to ensure every animal, and everyone’s animal, can receive care. It is a difficult challenge, and one our profession faces every day. Fortunately, veterinarians and our teams are always looking for creative ways to provide care where needed. 

“We are proud and honoured to have advocated for the best care for animals throughout the last 40 years of celebrating Animal Health Week. Through healing hands, and caring hearts, we are determined to demonstrate that every animal matters.”

Social Media Education Campaign

In alignment with last year’s approach, we are no longer printing/mailing AHW posters in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to sustainability. 

We will share messages directly through our social media channels each day during AHW. We invite everyone to like, comment, and share these key messages directly from the CVMA’s official accounts to help us reach a broader audience with tailored content.

CVMA Social Media Accounts:

• Facebook – CanadianVeterinaryMedicalAssociation
• Twitter – @CanVetMedAssoc
• Instagram – cvma.acmv
• LinkedIn – /company/canadian-veterinary-medical-association

Be sure to use #AnimalHealthWeek when posting on social media to help bring attention to these important messages!

Key Messages:

The 2025 Animal Health Week campaign’s key messages aim to educate the public about the critical role veterinary teams play in providing compassionate and high-quality care that keep all animals across our country safe, secure, and healthy every single day.

1. Every Animal Matters: From household pets to livestock, wildlife, and working animals, every animal deserves compassionate, quality care. Veterinary professionals are committed to the well-being of all animals.
2. Healing Hands at Work: Veterinarians and their teams combine scientific knowledge and hands-on expertise to diagnose, treat, and protect animals every day.
3. Caring Hearts Behind the Care: Animal health care is about more than medicine – it's rooted in compassion, respect, and the belief that every life has value.
4. The Human-Animal Bond is a Lifeline: Veterinary teams support the emotional connection between humans and animals by preserving animal health, comfort, and dignity throughout life.
5. Supporting Every Species: Veterinarians work with a wide range of animals – companion, agricultural, exotic, and wild – to promote health, prevent disease, and respond to emergencies.
6. Compassion in Crisis: Veterinary professionals often work under emotionally challenging conditions – disasters, abuse cases, and end-of-life care – with unwavering commitment to animal welfare.
7. A Career of Purpose and Heart: Animal health professionals choose this path out of a deep love for animals and a passion for healing. Their work is vital, demanding, and profoundly meaningful.
8. Every Animal, Every Day: No matter the setting – clinic, farm, shelter, lab, or field – veterinary teams show up with skill and heart, advocating for animals who cannot speak for themselves.
9. Care that Builds Trust: Animals thrive when they’re treated with kindness and respect. Veterinary care helps build trust between humans and animals, creating safer, more connected communities.
10. A Commitment that Matters: Animal Health Week is a reminder that veterinary professionals do more than treat illness – they elevate the lives of animals and the people who love them.

Support is Generously Provided by:

The 40th edition of Animal Health Week is brought to you by Veterinov – providing you with resources and solutions allowing you to complete your projects with ease.

In Partnership With

Founded in 1989, the Registered Veterinary Technologists and Technicians of Canada’s (RVTTC) mission is to unite, advance, and strengthen the RVT profession across Canada through leadership and advocacy to promote excellence in animal health care.