Back pain, or pain associated with the thoracolumbar spine and, to some extent, the sacroiliac region, is not uncommon in horses. It is widely accepted that back pain can be primary or secondary to other conditions, especially lameness or neck pathology.

In some instances, back pain may also result from behavioral changes. Therefore, one of the most challenging steps in treating back pain is obtaining an accurate and complete diagnosis that incorporates all the different pathologies involved in the clinical signs so they can be addressed to obtain the best outcome.

First, a thorough history should be obtained. Common complaints that may lead to investigation of back pain are usually nonspecific and may include reluctance to move forward, bucking under the saddle, refusing to jump, or becoming disunited. It is always important to ask about the signalment and current use of the horse, the onset and duration of the clinical signs, whether there was a specific trigger, what the management/routine for the patient is, and whether any treatment was implemented, and if so, the response. It is also important to ask whether a certified saddle fitter checked the tack; this should also include checking the bridle and bit used on the horse.

A thorough clinical examination should include visual assessment of the horse’s conformation and muscular distribution, as well as palpation of the neck, back, and limbs, looking for any signs of pain on palpation, decreased/ increased mobility, swelling, or heat. This should be followed by a full orthopedic and ridden assessment to rule out any concurrent lameness that may affect treatment and prognosis. In some cases, a neurological examination may also be needed. A pain scale of 0 to 10 has been established based on the degree of pain, muscle hypertonicity, joint stiffness, and overall functional ability.

Diagnostic anesthesia remains one of the most important tools for diagnosing the source of the pain, but, similar to the distal limb, careful interpretation should be made depending on the amount of local anesthetic used, the repeatability of the clinical signs, and confounding factors. There may be some false-positive and false-negative results.

Once the source of the pain has been localized, diagnostic imaging can be used to try to obtain a more refined diagnosis. This should include ultrasonography of the back to rule out articular or spinous process pathology and evaluate soft tissues, including the supraspinous ligament and the epaxial musculature.

Radiographs, including lateral views of T2 to L4 and, in some instances, obliques, should also be made to see evidence of fractures (

). Unfortunately, it has recently come to attention that the degree of changes seen on radiographs may not accurately reflect the clinical presentation. Nuclear scintigraphy, especially when associated with radiographs, may increase the sensitivity of back pain diagnosis.

 Finally, the increased availability of advanced diagnostic imaging, such as CT, shows great promise in increasing our diagnostic ability for the pathology of the thoracolumbar and sacroiliac region in the coming years.

Common osseous causes of thoracolumbar pain in horses include conformational/developmental abnormalities, impinging dorsal spinous processes, osteoarthritis, vertebral fractures, spondylosis, discospondylitis, and spinal neoplasia. Soft tissue causes may include epaxial muscle strain, supraspinous ligament/dorsal sacroiliac strain or desmitis, or exertional rhabdomyolysis. Primary back pain can also be idiopathic, associated with poor tack fitting, or caused by neurologic disorders such as equine protozoal myeloencephalopathy or equine herpesvirus type 1. Treatment will be surgical (

) or medical and guided by the primary problem.

Impingement of the dorsal spinous process can be treated surgically if the clinical signs are attributed to the radiographic changes (clinical signs, diagnostic anesthesia, trial treatment, additional imaging modalities).

 Surgical treatment for impinging dorsal processes was first described in 1968,

 and since then, the technique has evolved. Currently, surgical procedures commonly offered to clients are cranial or caudal resection of the affected spinous processes or interspinous ligament desmotomy.

 A minimally invasive technique for resecting the cranial aspect of the affected spinous process has also been described recently.

The main consideration when choosing a surgical technique is the extent and severity of the lesion. Unless they are minimally invasive, ostectomies involve a large incision of the midline and therefore are associated with a longer recovery time and rehabilitation period. Preference has recently been given to more minimally invasive techniques, such as interspinous ligament desmotomy, when possible, which may decrease the recovery time and improve long-term prognosis (

Medication of the joint facets, the interspinous region, or mesotherapy (Figure 4) of the thoracolumbar region can be performed to relax the epaxial musculature, both as a treatment and a trial diagnosis. Additionally, rehabilitation modalities such as shockwave therapy, laser therapy, kinesio tape, active mobilization, water treadmill, elastic resistance bands/training aids, dynamic mobilization exercises, or functional electrical stimulation have been incorporated in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with back pain. They can be used as sole treatment modalities and rehabilitation tools following surgical treatment, as well as for maintaining back health, especially in sports horses. Back pain is usually best addressed and treated using a multimodal approach.

Back pain is a commonly recognized problem in equine patients that is often multifactorial and can be a serious cause of poor performance in horses. Successful management of horses with back pain starts with obtaining a complete and accurate diagnosis, and treatment relies on a multimodal approach that should include all parties involved, including the veterinarian, owner, trainers, rider, physiotherapist, and farrier.

Marshall-Gibson ME, Durham MG, Seabaugh KA, Moorman VJ, Ferris DJ. Survey of equine veterinarians regarding primary equine back pain in the United States. 

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Shokry M, Ali LB, El-Sharkawy M. Relationship between back pain and poor performance in show jumping athletic horses. 

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Mayaki AM, Abdul Razak IS, Adzahan NM, Mazlan M, Rasedee A. Clinical assessment and grading of back pain in horses. 

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Domańska-Kruppa N, Wierzbicka M, Stefanik E. Advances in the clinical diagnostics to equine back pain: a review of imaging and functional modalities. 

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Walmsley JP, Pettersson H, Winberg F, McEvoy F. Impingement of the dorsal spinous processes in two hundred and fifteen horses: case selection, surgical technique and results. 

. 2002;34(1):23-28. doi:10.2746/042516402776181259

Coomer RP, McKane SA, Smith N, Vandeweerd JM. A controlled study evaluating a novel surgical treatment for kissing spines in standing sedated horses. 

. 2012;41(7):890-897. doi:10.1111/j.1532-950X.2012.01013.x

Jeffcott LB, Hickman J. The treatment of horses with chronic back pain by resecting the summits of the impinging dorsal spinous processes.

. 1975;7(3):115-119. doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.1975.tb03245.x

Jacklin BD, Minshall GJ, Wright IM. A new technique for subtotal (cranial wedge) ostectomy in the treatment of impinging/overriding spinous processes: description of technique and outcome of 25 cases. 

. 2014;46(3):339-344. doi:10.1111/evj.12215

de Souza TC, Crowe OM, Bowles D, Poore LA, Suthers JM. Minimally invasive cranial ostectomy for the treatment of impinging dorsal spinous processes in 102 standing horses. 

. 2022;51(suppl 1):O60-O68. doi:10.1111/vsu.13736

Connaughton MT, MacDonald EJ, Ireland JL, Rocchigiani G, Stack JD. Experimental comparison of caudal wedge ostectomy to cranial wedge ostectomy for surgical treatment of overriding/impinging spinous processes in horses. 

. 2025;57(5):1395-1404. doi:10.1111/evj.14498

Prisk AJ, García-López JM. Long-term prognosis for return to athletic function after interspinous ligament desmotomy for treatment of impinging and overriding dorsal spinous processes in horses: 71 cases (2012-2017). 

. 2019;48(7):1278-1286. doi:10.1111/vsu.13298

Derham AM, O’Leary JM, Connolly SE, Schumacher J, Kelly G. Performance comparison of 159 thoroughbred racehorses and matched cohorts before and after desmotomy of the interspinous ligament. 

. 2019;249:16-23. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.05.004

Sayers E, Tabor G. An exploration of clinical reasoning and practices used by physiotherapists in the rehabilitation of horses following interspinous ligament desmotomy surgery. 

. 2022;38(7):897-907. doi:10.1080/09593985.2020.1809044

Tranquille C, Tacey J, Walker V, et al. Effect of water depth on limb and back kinematics in horses walking on a water treadmill. 

. 2022;115:104025. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104025

Fair N, Blake S, Blake R. Four weeks of incline water treadmill exercise can contribute to increase epaxial muscle profile in horses. 

. 2023;2023:9090406. doi:10.1155/2023/9090406

Nankervis K, Tranquille C, Tacey J, et al. Kinematic responses to water treadmill exercise when used regularly within a sport horse training programme: a longitudinal, observational study. 

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Stubbs NC, Kaiser LJ, Hauptman J, Clayton HM. Dynamic mobilisation exercises increase cross sectional area of musculus multifidus. 

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Pfau T, Simons V, Rombach N, Stubbs N, Weller R. Effect of a 4-week elastic resistance band training regimen on back kinematics in horses trotting in-hand and on the lunge. 

. 2017;49(6):829-835. doi:10.1111/evj.12690

Zielińska P, Soroko-Dubrovina M, Dudek K, Ruzhanova-Gospodinova IS. A preliminary study of the influence of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on skin surface temperature and longissimus dorsi muscle tone changes in thoroughbred racehorses with back pain. 

. 2023;13(5):794. doi:10.3390/ani13050794

Śniegucka K, Soroko-Dubrovina M, Zielińska P, Dudek K, Žuffová K. The effect of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) on the skin surface temperature of the longissimus dorsi muscle in clinically healthy racing thoroughbreds: a preliminary study. 

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Trager LR, Funk RA, Clapp KS, et al. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy raises mechanical nociceptive threshold in horses with thoracolumbar pain. 

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Caure S, Dendauw P, Thesee L, et al. Effects of different shoeing conditions on equine cervical and back kinematics during walking and trotting on a soft surface. 

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Brink P. Subtotal ostectomy of impinging dorsal spinous processes in 23 standing horses. 

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Ericson C, Stenfeldt P, Hardeman A, Jacobson I. The effect of kinesiotape on flexion-extension of the thoracolumbar back in horses at trot. 

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Articles

This common problem in equine patients is often multifactorial, requiring a complete and accurate diagnosis and a multimodal management approach for successful treatment.

Managing equine back pain

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) recently shared that the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) approved "Resolution 2025-4: Veterinary Technician Representative—Member Board Composition." The resolution was adopted at the AAVSB’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Conference, now encouraging veterinary regulatory boards to include credentialed veterinary technicians as voting members alongside public members and veterinarians.

According to NAVTA, the association submitted the proposal to AAVSB in April 2024 to highlight the essential role that credentialed technicians play in animal health, public protection, and the entire veterinary team.

Currently, more than 20 state boards already include veterinary technicians, but the representation is inconsistent, with many serving in roles that are advisory or nonvoting. The AAVSB took the NAVTA’s resolution for member consideration, which urges all state boards overseeing the licensing and regulation of technicians to create and then fill a voting seat for a credentialed veterinary technician.

“This resolution is a milestone for the profession. Veterinary technicians bring valuable expertise to issues of regulation, licensure, and public safety. Ensuring that our voices are represented at the decision-making table will strengthen the profession and improve outcomes for veterinary teams, patients, and the public,” Beckie Mossor, RVT, NAVTA president, said in a news release.

The AAVSB will be working with its member boards to help promote the inclusion of veterinary technicians on those boards, including through the AAVSB Practice Act Model, and will provide support to states that do not yet have an established voting seat for veterinary technicians.

“NAVTA looks forward to partnering with AAVSB to encourage broader adoption of this resolution and to provide resources to help state boards implement veterinary technician representation,” NAVTA stated in their release.

Along with this win for veterinary technicians, NAVTA also announced that it is now accepting nominations for its Veterinary Technician of the Year Award. The award is given to a credentialed veterinary technician who meets the following criteria

Outstanding contributions and impact of the following:

Development of ground-breaking techniques or ideas that improve team culture, animal health care, or well-being

Development of a body of knowledge that did not exist previously or that needed to be updated

Distinguished service to or leadership of the profession on a local, state, or national level

The chosen winner will receive appreciation, praise, and recognition from the entire NAVTA community, plus free membership for a year. Anyone interested in nominating a veterinary technician can do so on the NAVTA website before November 7, 2025.

NAVTA’s request for veterinary technician representation on state boards approved by AAVSB. News release. National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. September 25, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. 

https://navta.net/news/navtas-request-for-veterinary-technician-representationon-state-boards-approved-by-aavsb/

Larkin M. AAVSB opposes midlevel position, supports in-person VCPR requirement. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. September 30, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/aavsb-opposes-midlevel-position-supports-person-vcpr-requirement

Nominations for NAVTA’s Veterinary Technician of the Year Award now open. News release. National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. Accessed October 17, 2025. 

https://navta.net/news/nominations-for-navtas-veterinary-technician-of-the-year-award-now-open/

The approval will now encourage state veterinary regulatory boards to include credentialed technicians as voting members. 

AAVSB approves NAVTA’s veterinary technician representation request

Canada’s federal health agency has released an updated public health notice identifying a likely source in an ongoing 

 outbreak in the country linked to contaminated dog food and treats. The agency found 

in samples of a Puppy World dog treat product and various Puppy Love products, manufactured by Puppy Love Pet Products. The investigation is still ongoing.

In its most recent announcement, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed 27 cases of 

 As of October 16, 2025, federal health officials have confirmed an additional 4 cases, bringing the total number of illnesses to 31. Fourteen cases have been found in Alberta, 14 in British Columbia, 2 in Ontario, and 1 in the Northwest Territories. To date, 7 people have required hospitalization. Affected individuals are between the ages of 0 to 87 years, with 58% being women.

Health officials found the bacteria in the following samples, some of which are freeze-dried raw

Puppy World Lamb Lung treats (150 gram, 340 gram, 454 gram bags)

Puppy Love Chicken Wing Tip treats (120 gram bags)

Puppy Love Chicken Breast treats (120 gram and 300 gram bags)

Puppy Love Beef Chew 6-inch treats (Value pack, 4 pieces)

Puppy Love "Twisty Jr." beef treats (Value pack, 5 pieces)

Puppy Love "Jr Ribbon" beef treats (Value pack, 5 pieces)

Puppy Love Canadian Beef Curly treats (Value pack, 5 pieces)

Puppy Love Beef Bully 12-inch treats (Value pack, 5 pieces)

Puppy Love Beef Slim treats (Value pack, 5 pieces)

Puppy Love "Jr Bully Mini" 4-5 inch beef treats (Value pack, 10 pieces)

“Additional sources of the outbreak may be identified,” PHAC said in its announcement, adding that it will provide updates as the investigation evolves.

According to the agency, affected individuals fell ill between mid-February and late September 2025. PHAC said more recent cases may continue to be reported during the outbreak, as the reporting period for when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported to public health officials for the current outbreak is between 15 and 101 days.

“This notice only includes laboratory-confirmed cases. The actual number of sick people in Canada is likely much higher,” PHAC said.

 “Many people have mild symptoms and don't go to the doctor, so they aren't tested. Researchers estimate that for each case of 

 reported to public health, there are 26 more cases that are not reported.”

Officials have not identified a single common supplier of dog food or treats responsible for the illnesses reported in the outbreak, but say the aforementioned Puppy Love and Puppy World brand dog treats have been found as a likely source for some of the illnesses reported in the outbreak.

For caregivers, PHAC advises the following to minimize the likelihood of infection from contact with a dog, their food, or treats

Always wash hands immediately after handling any type of pet food or treat.

Educate children to thoroughly wash their hands every time after touching pets, their food, or treats.

Wash and sanitize containers, utensils, and surfaces that have come into contact with pet food or treats before using them again, including bowls, countertops, microwaves, and refrigerators.

Use dedicated bowls and utensils for pets, and wash them separately from other dishes and utensils.

Store all pet food and treats away from where human food is stored or prepared and out of reach from young children.

Pick up food and treat containers when the pet is finished.

Follow pet food and treat storage instructions according to the packaging.

Read the labels on the food to learn when the product expires and whether the food is cooked or raw. Raw pet food and treats may be fresh, frozen, dehydrated, or freeze-dried.

Public health notice: outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to dog food and treats. News release. Public Health Agency of Canada. October 16, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. 

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/public-health-notices/2025/outbreak-salmonella-infections-dog-food-treats.html

Bautista-Alejandre A. Canada faces Salmonella outbreak linked to dog food and treats. 

. September 17, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/canada-faces-salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-dog-food-and-treats

Canada investigates a Salmonella outbreak linked to Puppy Love and Puppy World dog treats, urging safety measures for pet food handling.

Canada identifies likely source in ongoing Salmonella outbreak

Vet Tech Summit panelists at the Elmwood Park Zoo in Pennsylvania, discuss opportunities outside small animal practice.

Exploring veterinary technician career options

The Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pennsylvania, hosted its first Veterinary Technician Summit on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in partnership with the Zoetis. The event welcomed more than 50 veterinary technician students from Manor College in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania; Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; and Camden County College in Blackwood, New Jersey. The summit provided students with a tour of the zoo’s veterinary hospital, a panel discussion with industry experts speaking about the variety of career options open to veterinary technicians, and a presentation on monoclonal antibodies, as well as networking opportunities.

Participating experts Michele Goodman, VMD, an attending veterinarian at Elmwood Park Zoo; Alyssa Mages, BS, CVT, FVTE, an owner and educator with 

, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Bailey Donovan, BS, CVT, a specialist in teaching and veterinary learning technology at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison, spoke with 

 about what they would like students to take away from the summit. These professionals all discussed the many opportunities and career paths that the students can take advantage of in their veterinary technician careers.

The following is a transcript of the video:

We're excited to bring veterinary technician students here to the zoo. We just opened a new veterinary hospital, the Frank and Paige Engro Veterinary Health Center. It's been open for about 15 months now, so we're excited to show off our new facility. We want veterinary technician students to know that there's many more opportunities for them in the field in addition to companion animal medicine. We want them to be able to see the work that we do here.

Traditional roles within a general practice or within an [emergency department] and specialty practice are not the only things we can do. Once you get your credentials as a [certified veterinary technician, licensed veterinary technician, licensed veterinary medical technician, or registered veterinary technician], you can do anything—literally anything. I'm included in that, as well, because I'm an entrepreneur. That was not something that, when I went to school, I thought I would ever do. Now I'm speaking, writing, developing, and doing all of the things, just like these other women I was presenting with today.

There are so many wonderful things to do to...give back to the industry and really help make a difference in the veterinary industry and [in both] animals and people's lives that [don't] necessarily involve being at a clinic every day. Keep an open mind. When you're starting to decide what [you want] to do and where you want to end up at the end of school, apply for everything that interests you and take all the interviews that you can get. It doesn't mean that you have to accept that job, but you might learn something about how a facet of the industry works or [find] a different area of clinical practice than you thought you would get into that you really love and enjoy, and [that] might really spark passion for you. You'll never know where you end up, so don't close your mind to those things. Always be open to new experiences.

Videos

Veterinary Technician Summit panelists at the Elmwood Park Zoo in Pennsylvania discuss opportunities outside small animal practice.

Exploring career options for veterinary technicians

With nearly 2 decades of experience in veterinary medicine, Danielle Chesek, CVT, is currently the team lead for the Veterinary Academy at Penn Foster, where she helps train and mentor future technicians. Before transitioning to education, Chesek spent years in clinical practice, including almost a decade as a surgical technician working with a range of animals.

: From your perspective as a vet tech and an educator, what do you think are the most important conversations people should be having during National Veterinary Technician Week?


The 3 biggest things that I would want to talk about this week would be:

Better utilization of veterinary technicians.

Going back to the utilization of technicians, we are educated professionals, and we should be utilized as such when we go out into the workforce. Right now, many clinics may not be doing that. They may be underutilizing technicians, and that contributes to this mindset with veterinary technicians, where [we're] not really being empowered...to do what we were trained to do.

[Empowering technicians] not only helps the clinic, but [it also] helps the veterinarian. [Veterinarians] are able to focus more on their responsibilities; the technician feels better utilized, more empowered, and they're going to probably seek more advancement opportunities as a result. So, better utilization of technicians is truly No. 1.

Title protection is also a very important conversation to have this week and every week. Right now, anybody could say that they're a veterinary technician, and it's to the point where we really need to be recognized as veterinary technicians. Not only would this help with compensation, but it would also [provide] the title recognition that we deserve. We put a lot of work into having the title of veterinary technician, so it should be protected. And we should be able to do all the duties and responsibilities that we are trained to do and...are educated on.

Then compensation...is something that, for a really long time, wasn't really talked about, but conversations regarding compensation are becoming more widespread. Right now, veterinary technicians are not being paid appropriately, and that makes them not want to advance or take other opportunities if they're not going to be adequately compensated.

With that, I do believe that if we are paying our technicians appropriately, that's going to empower them [and] help them stay in the field. They're not going to have to go find other jobs to make a living; they're going to be able to support themselves, their families, and just have that time they can take to themselves. I know the field is stressful in a way, as far as this career goes, so having the compensation conversation is just really important. That way, everybody knows technicians need to be paid appropriately.

You lead the remote veterinary technician program at Penn Foster. How would you say education is evolving to prepare technicians for today’s veterinary landscape?


When I went to vet tech school for my associate's degree, that was 20 years ago, and a lot has changed since then. I feel like right now, we are definitely attempting to meet the needs of today's workforce, really having practical applications that are based [on] real-world scenarios—a lot more than when I went to school. This is preparing students to do their externships, go into the workforce, and be prepared.

Right now, Penn Foster is...creating accessible, affordable education for students. We are a distance learning program [for] students [who] may not be able to afford veterinary technician programs normally. Maybe it's a nontraditional student [and] they are already working in the field. This makes up a very large part of our student population.... We are really focusing on those things and reaching technicians [who] may not have otherwise had the opportunity.

When it comes to curriculum, there are many changes that have also taken place. We are now focusing on burnout, mental health, and compassion fatigue. When I went to school, those things weren't really discussed, and over the years, you realize how much of a toll [this takes] on technicians. So with that, we are incorporating those topics into our curriculum, making sure that students are aware of what to look for if they are susceptible to burnout, and making sure that their mental health is a priority.

Compassion fatigue is another one—just knowing the signs to look for when they are in practice, and making sure they know the resources available.

: What changes do you think need to happen to make career pathways for veterinary technicians clearer and more rewarding?


Like I said, better utilization of technicians—that’s No. 1. I feel like we can't really get to any of the other stages unless we first recognize that they have to be utilized more appropriately and...[have] roles for technicians that align with their education and experience, and where they are compensated appropriately.

We also want to make sure that technicians are aware of all of their options and [do so] early on—whether they go into a government job, education, research, or practice management. What does that look like for them, and how are they going to obtain that information to make that happen?

I'm also a big advocate of leadership pathways. Some employers do actually have this opportunity for technicians—whether that be training, free courses, tuition reimbursement, [or] anything like that. [We must] allow them to really take that next step into leadership courses to become a leader—not just a veterinary technician—[and] incorporate that into what they're doing and allow them to practice as such.

: Is there anything we didn’t cover that you’d like to add?


I do see so many opportunities right now for veterinary technicians, especially with the new generation of students entering the field with a better understanding of mental health—that’s so important. I would [also] like to see defined roles so that technicians can move forward and pursue their VTS [veterinary technician specialist credential] or whatever options they want.

I’d also like to see clinics be more empowering to technicians. If there is somebody who wants to pursue their [VTS] opportunity, [I would like to see clinics] mentor and empower [the technician] in such a way that they feel successful doing that.

I just really want to continue all those conversations, and I hope that in doing so, we can advance the field. I'm optimistic that with the increased conversations about technician recognition and advancement opportunities, we are going in the right direction as a field in general.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Danielle Chesek, CVT, emphasizes the need for better utilization, title protection, and fair compensation for veterinary technicians during National Veterinary Technician Week.

Q&A with a veterinary technician educator: Continuing the vet tech conversation

Photos courtesy of Arkansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

The final beam has been set in place in the construction of the new College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Arkansas State University (A-State) in Jonesboro. The university recently recognized the milestone with a celebratory ceremony at the site of the CVM, which is expected to welcome its inaugural class of 120 students in the fall of 2026.

“We imagined this college, funded it, and now we’re building it. Every bolt in that beam represents a student’s future. This is not just about a building, it’s about the capacity to care for animals, to support agriculture, help food insecurity, and keep talent right here in Arkansas,”Todd Shields, chancellor for A-State, said in a news release.

A Veterinary Wellbeing Study conducted in late 2021 by Merck Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Association revealed a shortage of qualified staff to be one of the main challenges facing veterinary practices, and Arkansas is one of more than a dozen states that does not currently have an institution offering a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree.

In the absence of a veterinary college, prospective veterinarians living in Arkansas are currently required to leave the state for the education needed to earn their DVM degrees. However, the state is on track to have 2 veterinary schools with Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas, also planning to open to students in fall of 2026. Construction on Lyon’s veterinary education facility began in July of 2025.

An artist's rendering of the planned College of Veterinary Medicine building at Arkansas State University.

Graduates of the A-State program will be qualified to work as veterinarians in Arkansas and elsewhere following a 4-year program of study.

 “Arkansas and this entire region need more animal health professionals,” Todd Shields, chancellor for A-State, said in a news release. “This college will train them, hands-on, from day one, solving problems for producers, clinics, agriculture and communities,” Shields said.

 
Heidi Banse, DVM, founding dean of the CVM, said university has been working diligently to build the animal health education program that will prepare future students for practicing veterinary medicine. The CVM 56,000-sq ft building will be occupied with administrative offices, classrooms, anatomy space, and training spaces for small animal clinical care and surgical skills.

Arkansas is especially in need of rural and mixed animal practices, and the new CVM will address it. “We are building 2 barns at the animal science farm next door that will allow our students hands-on experience with cattle and horses to make sure they are day-one-ready,” Banse said in a news release.


A-State’s Board of Trustees voted to approve the creation of the veterinary school in early 2023. Since then, the university has been working toward accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, a process that is in progress.

During the ceremony on Monday, October 13, 2025, attendees were invited to sign the final beam before it was hoisted and permanently secured into place, a symbolic moment that was not lost on the individuals who helped the CVM reach the milestone. “This structure represents not only just the parts that it is made of, but the spirit of teamwork and doing things the right way,” said Adam Seiter, executive vice president of operations at Nabholz, the contractor for the project, said in the release.

Banse noted that many other partners have contributed to the efforts to get the CVM underway. 


“[These partners include] the Department of Corrections, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Arkansas Department of Agriculture, National Toxicology Research Center, and our over 400 general veterinary practices across Arkansas, Southern Missouri, and beyond that are training our students in their fourth year of their curriculum,” Banse said.

A-State holds topping off ceremony for College of Veterinary Medicine. News release. Arkansas State University. October 13, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. 

https://www.astate.edu/news/a-state-holds-topping-off-ceremony-for-college-of-veterinary-medicine

ASU trustees approve the creation of a new veterinary school. 

. March 23, 2023. Accessed October 17, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/asu-trustees-approve-the-creation-of-a-new-veterinary-school

Lyon College breaks ground on a new veterinary school. 

. June 17, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/lyon-college-breaks-ground-on-a-new-veterinary-school

Arkansas State University celebrated the symbolic milestone in constructing its new facility during a celebratory event.