Veterinary Resolutions for 2025

As we step into 2025, it’s time to embrace fresh veterinary resolutions that help us grow as veterinary professionals while staying ahead of trends in animal care. Growth in this field means adapting to change, tackling challenges head-on, and committing to clinical excellence. Last year, I focused on antibiotic usage, mobility, behavior, and returning to the foundational skills every veterinarian needs. This year, my goals include debunking diet myths, mastering cytology, navigating new medications, revisiting reproduction guidelines, and advocating for non-core vaccines.

1. Taking a Closer Look at Pet Nutrition

Food is one of my love languages, and I’m sure many pet parents feel the same. When it comes to pet food, kibble has been the long-standing staple—easy, convenient, and balanced. However, as we all know, pet food trends tend to mirror human diet fads, and right now, functional, whole foods are all the rage.

Social media platforms are filled with influencers touting the benefits of homemade and raw diets. While these trends are often fueled by good intentions, they can lack the balance pets need. Nutritional imbalances can lead to serious health issues like osteopenia, cardiac problems, and malnutrition.

Our role as veterinarians is to educate and advocate for evidence-based nutrition. A good starting point is to ask:

• Why are they choosing a homemade diet?
• Have they consulted a board-certified veterinary nutritionist?
• Are they aware of the risks of unbalanced diets?

For clients set on homemade diets, we can recommend reputable tools and resources to formulate complete and balanced recipes. When it comes to raw diets, it’s essential to discuss the risks of bacterial contamination, such as Salmonella and E. coli, and offer safer alternatives, like commercial diets with tested safety profiles.

Key takeaway: Nutrition is medicine. Take the time to discuss dietary choices with clients and provide practical, evidence-based solutions to ensure pets get the balanced nutrition they need.

2. Facing My Fear and Improving Cytology Skills

I’ll admit it—I’ve always dreaded microscopes. Fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) and cytology have never been my strong suit, but this year, I’m determined to change that. Cytology is one of the most efficient, cost-effective diagnostic tools we have, and it can be a game-changer in identifying issues like cancer or infections early on.

While telecytology and digital tools are becoming more accessible, foundational cytology skills are still vital. A confident cytology interpretation can mean the difference between catching a serious problem early and providing much-needed peace of mind to an anxious pet parent.

Action steps: This year, I’m committing to attending CE courses focused on cytology and looking through the microscope at every opportunity. I want to make the microscope my new best friend!

3. Redefining All Things Reproduction

The WSAVA guidelines for reproductive control published in 2024 emphasize a shift away from “one-size-fits-all” spay/neuter recommendations. Decisions should be individualized based on factors like breed, size, and age to prevent long-term orthopedic and reproductive issues. For instance, large-breed dogs benefit from delayed spay/neuter to reduce the risk of conditions like hip dysplasia, while early spay/neuter may still be the best choice for other pets.

On the breeding front, unethical practices and social media misinformation continue to harm animals. Popularity-driven breeding of brachycephalic breeds or dogs prone to hereditary conditions often results in unnecessary suffering. Instead of an “us vs. them” approach, we should aim to be collaborators and trusted advisors.

By educating clients about genetic testing and ethical breeding practices we can help improve breed health and minimize preventable health issues in our furry friends.

Key takeaway: Be a collaborator, not a critic. Take the time to educate clients about responsible breeding and spay/neuter decisions to promote healthier outcomes.

4. Navigating New Veterinary Drugs

The recent pace of veterinary pharmacological advancements is astounding. In the past year or so alone, we’ve witnessed the introduction of groundbreaking medications like Librela and Solensia for osteoarthritis, Bexacat for feline diabetes, and Zenrelia for atopy. These medications are revolutionizing how we manage chronic conditions, improving quality of life for pets and their owners.

Innovation is wonderful, but old habits die hard and change is never easy. We often prefer treatments with proven track records and convincing pet owners to try a new treatment can be challenging, especially if the owner is skeptical. However, these innovations can offer significant benefits, and we should lean in to understand their potential and find where they fit in best. To ensure success, we must monitor for potential side effects, stay updated on clinical feedback, and educate pet owners on proper usage.

Key takeaway: Embrace new tools in your veterinary toolkit, but stay vigilant. Share successes and challenges with colleagues to help build a collective knowledge base.

5. Advocating for Non-Core Vaccines

Vaccination protocols are evolving, and so is disease prevalence. Leptospirosis is now considered a core vaccine, and Lyme disease continues to spread into new regions. More cat owners are allowing their pets occasional outdoor adventures, which increases the need for FeLV vaccinations. 

These shifts highlight the importance of discussing vaccines beyond the puppy and kitten stages. A middle-aged or senior pet may experience lifestyle changes—like travel or increased outdoor exposure—that require updated vaccine recommendations. 

Key takeaway: Prevention is key. Revisit vaccine discussions regularly to ensure pets remain protected as their circumstances change.

Moving Forward Together

Growth as veterinary professionals means staying curious, learning continuously, and prioritizing compassionate care. Whether it’s mastering a microscope, debunking diet myths, or navigating new medications, our resolutions for 2025 can create meaningful change for the pets and people we serve.

What’s on your resolution list this year? Share your goals with colleagues, and let’s inspire each other to keep improving—one patient at a time.