AUSTIN, Texas, April 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- April 26 is World Veterinary Day, a day to recognize the importance of the veterinary profession. Observed on the last Saturday of April, World Veterinary Day celebrates the role of veterinarians, highlighting a different aspect of animal medicine each year. This year's theme is animal welfare. The Texas Veterinary Medical Association aims to raise awareness among Texas pet owners of the contribution of veterinarians to the welfare of our pets, wildlife, food animals, service animals and humans.

The five generally accepted components of animal welfare are freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury and disease; freedom to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress. The veterinary profession is dedicated to providing the means necessary for achieving these components of animal welfare. Veterinarians accomplish this through their daily work, including contributing to disease prevention and veterinary medical treatment, provision of appropriate shelter, good management, proper nutrition, humane handling, humane transportation and humane death.

A constantly adapting profession, the impact of veterinary medicine extends beyond clinic walls, benefiting the welfare of all animals as well as human health. Veterinarians play an important role in public health by diagnosing and preventing many diseases that animals can transmit to humans, including rabies, typhus, anthrax and the plague. "Many people are not aware that veterinarians contribute mightily to public health," said former Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) president Lori Teller, DVM, DABVP, who practices at Meyerland Animal Clinic in Houston, Texas. "As science and technology change and improve, veterinarians are at the forefront for adapting these improvements for an animal's health and welfare."

Furthermore, veterinarians demonstrate their commitment to animal welfare as well as to human safety by caring for working dogs that serve with police officers and the military. Veterinarians also contribute to our society by participating in wildlife conservation, working with government agencies, working to pass animal welfare legislation at the national and state levels and educating students in veterinary, medical and agricultural disciplines.

Take a moment this Saturday to appreciate the veterinary profession's contributions to animal welfare and public health. For more information about animal welfare and World Veterinary Day, visit the World Veterinary Association website at www.worldvet.org.

About the Texas Veterinary Medical Association


Founded in 1903, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is a professional association composed of more than 3,700 veterinarians committed to protecting public health, promoting high educational, ethical and moral standards within the veterinary profession and educating the public about animal health and its relationship to human health. For more information, call 512/452-4224 or visit www.tvma.org.

Contact: Dawn Noufer, Communications Associate
Texas Veterinary Medical Association
8104 Exchange Drive
Austin, Texas 78754
Email: dnoufer@tvma.org
Phone: 512/452-4224
Fax: 512/452-6633

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SOURCE Texas Veterinary Medical Association