American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

The AVMA is one of the largest and oldest not-for-profit associations for veterinarians. The AVMA represents veterinarians who use their professional training in a variety of ways — from private practice to public health, agriculture, food safety, academia and the military.

What does the AVMA do?

    * The AVMA is designated as the accrediting body for the 28 schools of veterinary medicine in the United States. The AVMA educational standards of excellence are recognized worldwide as the "gold standard" in veterinary education.

    * The AVMA produces animal-related scientific and medical information that benefits veterinarians, governments, regulatory agencies and the public.

    * The AVMA works closely with allied organizations and entities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Academy of Sciences, to accomplish its work in protecting animal and human health.

    * The AVMA has a broad network of animal and public health experts who constantly monitor the environment for the early signs of health risks to pets, people and wildlife.

    * The AVMA regularly updates veterinarians on the most effective medical treatments available.

    * AVMA members in veterinary research work tirelessly to discover causes and cures of animal diseases.

    * The AVMA is an active participant in state and federal legislation regarding animal care, animal abuse and other important issues affecting animals and public health.

    * The AVMA's Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams provide onsite emergency medical care to animals that are the victims of local, regional or national disasters.

    * The AVMA Web site, www.avma.org, contains a wealth of information on animal health issues and timely articles on animal-related public health concerns.

    * Educators will find information and resources on the AVMA Web site to help encourage students to pursue careers as veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

    * The AVMA-sponsored National Pet Week Web site, www.petweek.org, features sample lesson plans for elementary school teachers that support national science standards and foster a life-long love of science in students.

What resources does the AVMA offer to pet owners?

The AVMA Web site, www.avma.org, contains a library of information (in English and Spanish) covering a variety of animal health topics such as vaccinations, rabies, heartworm disease, spaying and neutering, household hazards, foreign animal diseases, disaster preparation and zoonoses. Available in a brochure or text format, the information can be easily downloaded and saved to your computer for future reference.