National Pet Week® celebrates the pets that enrich our lives and encourages responsible pet care every day of the year. Created by the American Veterinary Medical Association, it is observed during the first full week of May each year.
Whether companion, comedian, confidant, or protector, our pets are always there for us. National Pet Week® celebrates this bond and encourages pet owners to provide their best friends with everything needed for a happy, healthy life.
Daily themes
Each day of the week focuses on a different topic essential to responsible pet ownership. Click on the links for more information.
- Sunday – Choose well: Commit for life: Select the pet that’s right for your family’s lifestyle, and make a commitment for that pet’s life. Even if you’ve already welcomed a pet into your home, your veterinarian can help you better understand the social and healthcare needs of your individual pet.
- Monday – Socialize now: Help your pet get comfortable in new situations by exposing it safely to a variety of interactions with other animals, people, places, and activities. Everyone is more comfortable when pets are well socialized!
- Tuesday – Nutrition and exercise matter: Nutrition is important to both weight management and overall health. Your veterinarian can advise you on how much to feed your pet and whether the diet you’re providing is healthful – including both meals and treats!
- Wednesday – Love your pet? See your vet!: Regular preventive care is critical to keep pets healthy and improve both quality and length of life. It also can save owners a great deal of money in the long run. Don’t wait to take your pet to the veterinarian only when it’s visibly sick or injured. Pets often hide signs of illness, and regular check-ups are vital to catching health problems early. Early treatment means better health for your pet.
- Thursday – Travel with care: Traveling with pets requires advance planning and coordination to keep everybody safe. Whether you’re taking a short car trip or flying to another state or country, getting your pet safely to your destination requires special precautions. These range from proper restraints during travel to veterinary exams and travel certificates. Plan ahead, and know exactly what’s needed when you travel with pets of different species.
- Friday – Emergencies happen, Be prepared: We never know when or where an emergency will happen. As a pet owner, you need to plan ahead, and include your pets in your family’s emergency plan. Know what to do in case of an emergency, how to assemble emergency and first aid kits, and how to properly identify your pets so your family can be reunited if you’re ever separated.
- Saturday – Plan for their care, Give them a lifetime of love: Thanks to better care, pets are living longer now than they ever have before—and as pets get older, they need extra care and attention. Regular veterinary examinations can detect problems in older pets before they become advanced or life-threatening. They also can improve your pet’s chances for a longer and healthier life. Learn what’s “normal” and what may signal a reason for concern about an aging pet.