Animal Medicines Australia

24/12/2025

As we gather for the festive season, it’s important to take a moment to acknowledge the many people who continue caring for animals every single day, even on Christmas.

To the veterinarians, vet nurses, farmers, animal health professionals, wildlife carers, and everyone who works tirelessly to keep Australia’s livestock, wildlife and 31 million pets healthy and safe - thank you.️

Your dedication ensures the wellbeing of animals and supports the communities and industries that depend on them.

From all of us at Animal Medicines Australia, we thank you for your commitment and wish you a safe and happy holiday season. 🎄👩‍⚕️🐮🐶🐱👨‍⚕️

24/12/2025

As we gather with family and friends to celebrate the holidays, don’t forget to include your four-legged (and other) family members too. Our pets bring us joy all year round, and Christmas should be no different.

AMA’s latest Pets in Australia report shows that one in five pet owners give their pets human food and leftovers, but many may be unaware that some of our favourite festive treats can be dangerous for our furry companions. Avoid treats like chocolate, cooked bones, avocado, macadamia nuts, grapes, onions, garlic and raisins, which can be toxic to animals.

Some other risks to consider during the festive season include:
🎁 Keeping decorations, tinsel, and ribbons out of reach of curious paws and mouths,
☀️ Making sure they have a quiet space to relax away from the excitement,
🚗 Planning ahead if you’re travelling – ensure your pet is safely restrained and has access to water and shade,
💉 Keeping up with regular medications, parasite prevention, and vaccinations so your pet stays happy and healthy through the holidays, and;
🚨👩‍⚕️‍ In case of emergency, know where your after-hours or emergency vet is.

This Christmas, take a moment to show your pets a little extra love by taking these steps. After all, they’re family too.

Find out more about Australia’s pets and pet owners in AMA’s Pets in Australia report. https://shorturl.at/7KQWA

18/12/2025

As families across Australia gear up for the holidays, it’s important to remember that tick season is well underway, and our pets rely on us to keep them safe.

Paralysis ticks can cause life-threatening illness in dogs and cats, even with just one bite, while brown dog ticks (ehrlichiosis), a potentially fatal tick-borne disease that is proving remarkably adaptable to Australian conditions, is one of the most significant emerging threats to dogs in Australia. The disease occurs in the northern regions of Western Australia and South Australia, all of the Northern Territory and north-western Queensland.

🚗People travelling with their dogs into areas where paralysis ticks and brown dog ticks are present need to be aware of these parasites and know how to protect their dog.

This summer, make tick prevention part of your holiday plan:

✔️ Use veterinarian-recommended tick preventatives / parasiticides to protect your dog
✔️ Check your pets daily – pay attention to the head and neck, inside their ears, on their chest, between their toes and around their mouths and gums
✔️ Keep yards tidy and avoid long grass where ticks thrive
✔️ Seek urgent veterinary care if you notice weakness, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or unusual behaviour and seek advice from the relevant state veterinary authority before moving potentially infected dogs to other parts of Australia
✔️ Ensure you know where the local emergency vet / after-hours veterinary clinic is

The DAFF website has information on travelling with your dog in Australia - https://shorturl.at/9WBOS

For further information or FAQs on parasite control, visit AMA’s website: Parasite Control - https://shorturl.at/eqw6l

08/12/2025

Today, we join the global community in celebrating International Day of Veterinary Medicine - a day where we recognise the remarkable contribution veterinary medicines make to the health and wellbeing of animals, and in turn people, and our shared environment.

Veterinary medicines are essential tools used by veterinary professionals to keep the nation’s 31.6 million pets and livestock healthy, maintain biosecurity, and protect wildlife. These products underpin good animal health and welfare, forming a critical part of a One Health approach for human and animal health within a shared healthy environment.

AMA members supply approximately 80 per cent of the veterinary medicines used in Australia, improving animal health and welfare and supporting Australia’s $31.4 billion livestock industry with the tools needed for preparedness and rapid response.

In any biosecurity emergency, veterinary medicines, including vaccines, are essential to managing risk and limiting the spread of disease.

AMA members remain committed to supporting Australia’s veterinary professionals through ongoing innovation and by ensuring access to safe, effective and science-based animal health products. These products provide veterinarians with the tools needed to diagnose, treat and prevent disease, contributing to a healthier future for all animals.

📄 Read AMA's Media Release: https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/news-and-media/supporting-animal-health-protecting-australia-ama-marks-international-day-of-veterinary-medicine/

07/11/2025

Today is International Human-Animal Bond Day.

This is a day to celebrate the special bond we share with animals - a connection that brings joy, relaxation, companionship and enriches our lives in countless ways.

Animal Medicines Australia’s latest Pets in Australia report shows 73% of Australian households now have one or more pets - that’s around 31.6 million animals. 86% of pet owners say their pet has a positive impact on their physical and mental wellbeing😺😊.

Animal Medicines Australia members play a vital role in supporting this bond by providing the products that keep our animals healthy and happy every day.

To ensure every Australian has the opportunity to embrace and access the benefits from pet ownership, we’re calling for a nationally consistent companion animal policy - one that supports our pets, their owners, and the communities they live in.

Find out more 👇

🔍 Find out more about how Australia feels about their pets in AMA’s latest Pets in Australia report: Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people 2025:
https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/resources/pets-in-australia-a-national-survey-of-pets-and-people-3/

📄 AMA’s Companion Animal Policy: Policy Priorities:
https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/policy-priorities/

15/10/2025

Today is , a day that provides a chance to reflect on the importance of healthy animals to food security, sustainability, and nutrition for a global population.

Healthy animals are necessary for global food production, with livestock supporting the livelihoods of at least 1.3 billion people worldwide¹. Animal health services and products help farmers protect the health and welfare of their animals. Vaccines, parasiticides, antimicrobials, pain relief and other animal health products maintain animal health and welfare, and ensure the food we eat is safe and nutritious.

As we face the dual challenge of feeding a growing population and protecting our planet’s resources, animal health must be recognised as a strategic investment, and one that is essential to responsible and sustainable livestock industries.

A recently released report conducted by HealthforAnimals and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) outlines how innovations in animal health are a cornerstone of sustainable food production. Innovations in vaccines, parasite control, diagnostics, biosecurity, feed, and breeding can reduce emissions, strengthen food security, and improve the livelihoods of our farmers.

📄Download the report below👇:
https://shorturl.at/WeSEl

Home Resources Article The Value of Animal Health Innovations for Sustainable Livestock Transformation This joint FAO–HealthforAnimals publication builds on the FAO report “Pathways to Lower Emissions: A global assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation options from livestock agri...

03/10/2025

100 years of World Animal Day!

Today we recognise the essential role animals play in our lives, communities and industries. From pets in our homes to production animals on farms, their health and welfare are at the heart of everything we - and our members - do.

At Animal Medicines Australia, we’re committed to advancing science, innovation and the responsible use of animal medicines to ensure a healthier future for animals, people and our environment.

26/09/2025

In the face of turbulent times and a cost-of-living crisis, pets have remained a reliable source of love and happiness in the lives of Australians, with 86% of owners saying their pets have positively impacted their lives.

However, in the past year, 12% of pet owners required financial assistance to pay for their pet's veterinary care.

Animal Medicines Australia is calling for a nationally consistent approach to companion animal policy as a key government priority.

Currently, companion animal policy is managed across a fragmented landscape of portfolios, agencies, and jurisdictions. Depending on the issue, responsibility may rest with departments of agriculture, primary industries, environment, health, consumer affairs, or even planning and infrastructure. This disjointed approach leads to inconsistent regulations and outcomes across the country.

These inconsistencies create avoidable challenges for pet owners, breeders, veterinarians, and companion animal industries – impacting animal welfare, responsible ownership, and even access to pets for Australians.

Download the latest Pets in Australia report today.
https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/resources/pets-in-australia-a-national-survey-of-pets-and-people-3/

25/09/2025

🔉And the survey says...

Animal Medicines Australia’s Executive Director Ben Stapley sits down with Dr Rob Zammit on The Doggy Pod - with Dr Rob Zammit & Stephen Peters to discuss the latest Pets in Australia report. Did you know that Australian’s are spending over $21 billion annually on their pets, with food accounting for almost half the spend, and that almost three quarters of Australian households now have a pet. Find out more about Australia’s pets and people

Listen to the discussion 🔉
https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/resources/pets-in-australia-a-national-survey-of-pets-and-people-3/

Home Resources Article Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people This report continues our triennial series of reports investigating the pet ownership experiences of Australians. Thanks to our report partners, the Australian Veterinary Association, the Pet Food Industry Association of....

18/09/2025

Animal Medicines Australia’s latest Pets in Australia report shows pet ownership continues to rise💹, with 73% of households now owning a pet, and an estimated pet population of 31.6 million. This is up from 28.7 million pets since the last report. 🐶Dogs remain the most popular pet, owned by 49% of Australian households.

Find out more about Australia's pets in our latest report. 😺

Thank you to our report partners, the Australian Veterinary Association , the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia and the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia for their ongoing support in producing this report series. Thanks also to the team at SEC Newgate Australia for their outstanding work in preparing this report.

🐶📄 Download the latest Pets in Australia report today.
https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/resources/pets-in-australia-a-national-survey-of-pets-and-people-3

18/09/2025

The AVA has today launched Australia’s first nationally endorsed Antimicrobial Prescribing Guidelines for Horses - a landmark step in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and supporting evidence-based prescribing across the veterinary sector.

Developed in partnership with Animal Medicines Australia, with additional funding from AgriFutures Australia, the guidelines provide veterinarians with practical, best-practice recommendations to ensure antimicrobial use in horses is responsible, effective, and aligned with global efforts to reduce drug-resistant infections.

An enormous thank you to the 19 co-authors who contributed to this comprehensive body of work, with many from Equine Veterinarians Australia: Associate Professor Laura Hardefeldt, Dr Leanne Begg, Professor Jacqueline Norris, Professor Glenn Browning, Dr Stephen Page, Dr Charlie El-Hage, Professor James Gilkerson, Dr Allison Stewart, Dr Gary Muscatello, Prof Denis Verwilghen, Dr Gaby van Galen, Dr Jenni Bauquier, Dr Rosemary Cuming, Dr Benjamin Reynolds, Dr Cameron J G Whittaker, Dr Edwina Wilkes, Dr Jennifer Clulow, Dr Chelsie A. Burden, Dr Kellie Thomas.

The AVA has a suite of AMR resources available for veterinarians and livestock owners: https://bit.ly/4nllQMv

Media release: https://bit.ly/3Ig1XHN

| Equine Veterinarians Australia

14/08/2025

Tick Awareness for Your Pet 🛡🐶

As we look forward to spring, it’s a good time to remind pet owners of the serious threat ticks pose to pets across Australia - particularly the deadly paralysis tick.

With tick season beginning in spring, outdoor adventures can quickly turn dangerous for our pets. These tiny arachnids wait in vegetation for a host to pass, making grassy parks, bushland and coastal trails high-risk zones. But the danger isn’t limited to warmer months any longer. With changes in weather and populations shifting, tick activity can occur year-round, with some regions seeing more activity during cooler months.

Recent patterns of heat and rainfall, particularly along the east coast, have seen a surge in tick populations. Areas once considered low risk are now reporting cases, and the traditional paralysis tick continues to shift inland. Pet owners must remain alert and seek up-to-date local veterinary advice to understand evolving risks.

Tick bites aren’t just a nuisance; they can be life threatening. The paralysis tick releases neurotoxins that may cause hind limb weakness, respiratory failure, and death. Other species, like the brown dog tick, spread disease such as , and cause serious discomfort through repeated biting.

Early detection and prevention are critical. Regular tick checks - especially around the head, neck, ears, and feet should be part of your routine. Veterinarians are the best source of guidance for safe, effective parasite control, so speak with your vet about the best tick prevention plan for your pet, tailored to your location and pet’s lifestyle.

By staying informed and vigilant, we can protect the health and wellbeing of our beloved pets all year round.

🔎For more information on parasite control for your pet, visit our page: https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/resources/parasite-control-in-pets-frequently-asked-questions/

📄Download our Fact Sheet: Tick Awareness and Prevention
https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/resources/fact-sheet-tick-awareness-and-prevention-2/