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UNDER REVIEWPregnant sow housing
Pregnant sows are kept in a variety of housing systems. View the AVMA's recommendations for sow housing and management systems.
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UNDER REVIEWRelocation of pets for adoption
Careful planning is needed to ensure animal welfare, animal/human safety, and avoid disease spread when dogs and cats are transported for purposes of…
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UNDER REVIEWRemoval of antlers (velveting)
If amputation of living, growing antlers of cervids is performed, it must be done humanely and within the bounds of a veterinarian-client-patient…
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Removal or reduction of teeth in nonhuman primates and carnivores
The AVMA opposes removal or reduction of healthy teeth in nonhuman primates and carnivores, except when required for medical treatment or approved…
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UNDER REVIEWResearch dogs and cats adoption
The following factors should be considered when developing a research institution adoption program and determining an animal's potential for adoption.
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Safe non-commercial transport of pets in motor vehicles
The AVMA is committed to educating pet owners about the safety of pets in motor vehicles. AVMA encourages development of evidence-based crash testing…
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Safety testing
The AVMA supports research to discover and develop safe and efficacious drugs, vaccines, biologicals, and medical devices that benefit animals and…
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Service animals
If an animal meets this definition, it is considered a service animal regardless whether it has been licensed or certified by a government or an…
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Surgical procedures for nonveterinary students
AVMA does not advocate for the instruction of nonveterinary students in surgical procedures.
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Swine castration
The AVMA recommends using swine castration procedures and practices that reduce or eliminate pain, including the use of approved or AMDUCA-permissible…
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Tail docking of cattle
The AVMA opposes routine tail docking of cattle. Current scientific literature indicates it provides no benefit to the animal, and it may cause…
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Tail docking and teeth clipping of swine
The AVMA recommends the use of procedures and practices that reduce or eliminate pain associated with tail docking and teeth clipping of pigs. This…
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Tail alteration in horses
The AVMA endorses this American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) policy on Tail Alteration in Horses.
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The veterinarian’s role in supporting appropriate selection and use of service, assistance and therapy animals
The AVMA encourages veterinarians to be familiar with the legal status and protections accorded to service, assistance, emotional support, and therapy…
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The IAHAIO Geneva Declaration
The AVMA endorses the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations' Geneva Declaration.
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The IAHAIO Prague Declaration
The AVMA endorses the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations' Prague Declaration.
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The IAHAIO Tokyo Declaration
The AVMA endorses the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations' Tokyo Declaration.
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Therapeutic medications in racehorses
Health care decisions for individual horses are the responsibility of the veterinarian, trainer, and owner and must have the best interests of the…
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Therapeutic medications in competition equids
The AVMA condemns the administration of non-therapeutic or unprescribed medications to competition equids. Health care decisions regarding individual…
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UNDER REVIEWTransport, sale yard practices, and humane slaughter of hoofstock and poultry
The AVMA supports science-based guidelines for transport and humane slaughter of hoofstock and poultry, developed in collaboration with experienced…
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Transportation of research animals for the purpose of research, testing, and education
Transportation of animals for research, testing, and education should be conducted humanely and assure the animals are handled appropriately for their…
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Trapping and steel-jawed leghold traps
The AVMA opposes the use of conventional (non-padded, non-offset) steel jawed foothold traps, also called leghold traps.
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Unregulated horse racing (Bush tracks)
The AVMA condemns unregulated racing of equids. All horse races should comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as well…
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USDA/APHIS animal welfare program
The AVMA supports enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act to protect animals used for nonagricultural research, testing, teaching, or exhibition.
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Use of animals in precollege education
The AVMA encourages the use of alternatives to live animals for precollege classroom instruction.