Achieving a
Modern Approach
to the Regulation
of Veterinary
Medicine in
Ontario
EVOLVING
VETERINARY
PRACTICE
LANDSCAPE
Evolving Veterinary Practice Landscape
Changes to the practice of veterinary medicine have, of course, also
occurred. In the last 25 years some of the most influential shifts include:
• an increase in veterinarians practicing companion animal medicine,
• a decrease in veterinarians practicing in food animal medicine and/
or equine medicine,
• an increase in complementary and alternative veterinary medicine
– animal chiropractic, animal rehabilitation, animal massage, animal
homeopathy, etc.,
• an increase in trained veterinary technicians,
• the introduction of the Ontario Association of Veterinary
Technicians (OAVT),
• a significant increase in the direct access by the public to all types
of animal health and welfare information,
• an increase in public expectation of choice and access to preferred
animal care options,
• an increase in societal concerns for animal welfare
• the emerging use, and now rapid development, of technology in
animal medicine, and
• an increasing convergence of veterinary medicine and human
medicine, with regard to public health (interestingly, this is where
the profession began).
8 Achieving a Modern Approach to the Regulation of Veterinary Medicine in Ontario