Establishment of 'Standard Veterinary Care Procedures' Including Neutering Surgery and Vaccinations for Companion Animals

Establishment and Enforcement of the "Recommended Standards for Animal Medical Care" Notification
Standardization of 100 Frequently Performed Medical Items Planned by Early Next Year

The government has established standard medical procedures for pet neutering surgeries, vaccinations, and other treatments.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 21st that it has prepared and officially notified standardized recommended medical procedures focusing on frequently performed treatment items at animal hospitals.

The standardization of medical procedures was promoted in cooperation with the Korean Veterinary Medical Association to systematically develop animal healthcare and enhance transparency. Procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and surgery were standardized for 20 common treatment items, including neutering surgeries, otitis externa, conjunctivitis, vaccinations, and abdominal X-rays. By recommending these procedures, the government aims to help veterinarians refer to them during treatment and enable pet owners to easily understand and anticipate the medical process. Research on standardization has been ongoing since 2022.

The Ministry plans to standardize medical procedures for a total of 100 frequently performed treatment items by early next year, including the 20 recommended standard procedures announced this time. However, since the standard medical procedures are generally recommended guidelines for the respective treatments, procedures may be added or omitted depending on the type or health condition of the pet.

Park Jeong-hoon, Director of Animal Welfare and Environment Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Through this standardization of medical procedures, transparency in animal healthcare has increased, and pet owners’ ability to anticipate the treatment process has improved. We will continue to strive for the development of the pet healthcare system and the enhancement of animal welfare through various institutional improvements."