As more and more people think of their pets as companion animals and regard them as family members, demands on veterinary hospitals have been increasing.

Did you know that nurses working at veterinary hospitals in Japan were not legally allowed to provide medical assistance while those at human hospitals are responsible for various medical assistance such as blood drawing? There are approximately 25,000 veterinary nurses (private qualifications) working at veterinary hospitals and other facilities (according to a government survey in 2020), and they have become an indispensable part of our modern society.

The Veterinary Nurses Act will be enforced in May 2022, and upon passing the national examination, the veterinary nurse will be licensed by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of the Environment. This enables them to provide medical assistance to companion animals and other pet animals under the direction of a veterinarian.　 

The World Dog Alliance (WDA) welcomes the new legislation associated with the aging of companion animals and the improvement of their quality of life, and looks forward to the realization of ever more advanced and higher quality veterinary care.