Clinical decision-making in veterinary medicine can be highly variable. Most cases we see have a unique set of variables to consider, from patient status and client preferences to available diagnostics and hospital resources.
That’s why we’ve adopted consistent terminology in our Standards of Care monographs to help clarify the level of clinical recommendation behind each diagnostic or treatment pathway.
You’ll see two key terms used throughout these monographs:
“Recommend”
This means the diagnostic test or treatment is strongly recommended to maintain a standard of care—unless there are financial, medical, client, or other practical constraints that prevent it. In other words, it’s the default approach in most cases.
“Consider”
This indicates the test or treatment is suggested in ideal circumstances or in particular case presentations, again with the understanding that real-world constraints may shift your approach.
Why this matters
These terms are designed to support—not replace—your clinical judgment. Our goal is to make it easier to navigate complex decisions with clarity and confidence while acknowledging that flexibility is part of high-quality veterinary care.
If you have feedback or suggestions about how we use this language, we’d love to hear from you. Click on the chat icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen to send our team a message.