2026 Veterinary Observance Days: Creative Celebration Ideas for Your Brand
It’s here! Our updated list of key 2026 veterinary observance days. For the comprehensive list of observance days, head on over to the AVMA’s website. Industry observances are a great content idea starter and a meaningful way to engage with the veterinary community. This post is not a replacement for using the AVMA as a reference, but what it is, is a list of our favorite observance days, complete with some idea starters for how your brand can celebrate them.
January 2026
To be honest…January is kind of a snooze from an industry awareness day perspective. But we’re not complaining. With VMX and WVC planning, who really needs an observance day to come up with things to talk about?
If you’re not attending VMX and need something to talk about on social media here are a few things you can use in January.
Train Your Dog Month If you are focused on B2B marketing like we are, use this month to create pet owner resources that veterinarians can download to share with their clients. These could be dog training safety tip sheets or social media posts.
Walk Your Pet Month This one is also very direct-to-consumer focused but if your product or service can tie into walking pets in the cold winter months…this one might be a good one for you to leverage. Consider offering a coupon or special in celebration.
One Health Awareness Month Create. Connect. Educate. Join the One Health Commission, Louisana One Health In Action and One Health Lessons in raising awareness on the importance of improving health outcomes for humans, animals and plants alike.
January 2 Pet Travel Safety Day
January 5 National Bird Day
January 21 National Squirrel Appreciation Day
February 2026
The big one this month is National Pet Dental Month. If your product supports dental health in any way, this is the month to spread the news. Here are some ideas for ways to celebrate:
Share dental case studies. The market is more in-tune to dental content this month.
Generate lead magnets such as ebooks or webinars to educate veterinarians, and grow your database of leads.
Create a fun social media campaign of pets showing off their pearly whites.
Conduct a giveaway of a dental product.
Provide a National Pet Dental Month promotional offer.
Responsible Pet Owners Month Share educational resources with pet owners to encourage the next generation of responsible pet parents.
February 4 World Cancer Day
February 20 Love Your Pet Day
February 22 National Wildlife Day
February 25 World Spay Day
March 2026
There are no month-long observances in March, but there are a few noteworthy dates:
March 15-21 Poison Prevention Week
Create a poison prevention toolkit for veterinarians to share with their clients, or highlight ways that your products prevent or treat poisonings.
March 1 National Horse Protection Day
March 13 K9 Veterans Day
March 23 National Puppy Day
March 26 National Manatee Appreciation Day
April 2026
This is a great opportunity to launch a month-long educational effort that may include webinars, guides, checklists, pet owner handouts, and videos.
National Heartworm Awareness Month Share educational resources with pet owners to encourage the next generation of responsible pet parents.
Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs Month Educate pet owners on the dangers of Lyme Disease for canine patients.
American Red Cross Pet First Aid Awareness Month Share first aid tips that every pet owner and veterinary professional should know.
April 11 National Pet Day
April 12-18 National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Get more resources from the AVMA here.
April 12-18 National Animal Care and Control Week
April 30 National Adopt-A-Shelter Pet Day
May 2026
For many B2B veterinary marketers May is our Superbowl. Many products have a role in detecting and relieving arthritis-related pain, pet allergies and asthma.
Arthritis Awareness Month
Plan your campaign early for best results. Here are a few ideas:
Launch a combined B2B and B2C campaign to educate veterinarians and pet owners simultaneously. Consider creating pet owner education materials that the veterinarian can distribute.
Launch quizzes so veterinary professionals can test their knowledge.
Create a direct mail campaign to activate the market. This might have a special offer, an arthritis-related giveaway, or an incentive to meet with your team.
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
May 3-9 Be Kind to Animals Week
May 3 National Specially-Abled Pets Day
May 3-9 National Pet Week
May 20 National Rescue Dog Day
June 2026
Consider partnering with feline adoption organizations for campaigns in June to celebrate Adopt-A-Cat Month and Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. Also pro tip, feline content does amazingly well.
Adopt-A-Cat Month Encourage future pet parents to adopt, don’t shop this month.
Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month Shelter cats deserve a little extra love this month.
National Pet Preparedness Emphasize the importance of preventative measures for pets.
June 7-13 Pet Appreciation Week
June 22-28 National Pollinator Week
June 4 Hug Your Cat Day
June 9 World Pet Memorial Day
June 26 Take Your Dog to Work Day
July 2026
July has no monthly observance days. Here are a few days you can throw onto your social media calendar this month though:
July 10 National Kitten Day
July 15 National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 31 National Mutt Day
August 2026
Plan ahead to launch month-long lead generation and educational programs if your products fall into relevant categories.
Itchy Pet Awareness Month Educate pet clients on the importance of pet skin care and allergy management this month.
National Immunization Month
August 2-8 International Assistance Dog Week
August 8 International Cat Day
August 15 Check the Chip Day
August 15 World Honeybee Day
August 22 Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
August 26 International Dog Day
September 2026
Just like May, September is another big observance month for many B2B veterinary marketers.
Animal Pain Awareness Month
Here are a few ways you can engage:
Feature video-based stories to draw awareness to pain-management solutions.
Do an account-based marketing program with a direct mail component to activate relevant buyers.
Launch a lunch and learn campaign.
National Pet Insurance Month Review the importance of protecting pets with animal insurance.
Happy Cat Month You know what always performs well in vetmed? Cat content. Don’t miss this chance to make some noise.
National Service Dog Month The perfect time to thank man’s best friend for all they do.
September 14-20 Telehealth Awareness Week. Get additional resources here.
September 4 National Wildlife Day
September 13 National Pet Memorial Day
September 28 World Rabies Day
October 2026
Even though it only lasts a single week in October, the main event this month is Vet tech Week. Shine a light on pet safety and the people who help us keep them healthy this month.
National Pet Wellness Month "Health is wealth” is the motto this month.
National Animal Safety and Awareness Month Share educational content on the importance of animal safety and what that means for pet owners.
Adopt A Shelter Dog Month Encourage future pet parents to adopt, don’t shop this month.
October 4 World Animal Day
October 14 Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 18-24 Veterinary Tech Week
National Veterinary Technician Week offers a great opportunity to celebrate hard-working veterinary technicians and inject some fun into your marketing campaigns. Consider games, contests, and other social-media-friendly fun. Leverage paid social ads to expand your reach to this influential group.
October 21 National Pets for Veterans Day
October 29 National Cat Day
November 2026
If you’re new to B2B veterinary marketing there are a few things you’ll want to know about November. It’s a short month. It’s a fast month. And it’s typically a high capital equipment purchasing month so make sure you prioritize what’s going to be the most important for your brand this month (it may not be celebrating industry observances).
Senior Pet Health Month Provide resources and health tips to support senior pets this month.
Manatee Awareness Month Niche? Yes, but who doesn’t love a pacifistic sea potato?
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month Provide veterinary clinics with pet owner educational materials this month.
National Pet Diabetes Month Share signs, symptoms, and treatments for pets with diabetes.
November 15-21 Practice Managers Appreciation Week
November 3 One Health Day
December 2026
Like November, December tends to be a quick month full of the hustle and bustle of closing year-end deals. There are a few observances you’ll want to be aware of though.
December 2 National Mutt Day
December 4 Wildlife Conservation Day
December 9 International Day of Veterinary Medicine
December 13 National Day of the Horse
December 15 Cat Herders Day (because why not?)
For a quick and comprehensive list of observances check out the AVMA’s website.
As always, thanks for reading!