Home Veterinary Care, Animal Welfare and One Health in Brazil: Regulatory Framework, Clinical Applications and Research Agenda

Abstract

Home veterinary care for small companion animals was formally regulated in Brazil by CFMV Resolution no. 1.690/2026, which establishes technical, ethical and safety parameters for in‑home practice (CFMV, 2026). At the same time, the animal welfare literature indicates that transport and veterinary clinic visits are major stressors for dogs and cats, affecting behaviour, physiological parameters and diagnostic accuracy, while clinical reports from house‑call and mobile services describe reduced stress and better cooperation when animals are examined at home (SUNYER et al., 2018; VCA HOSPITALS, 2023; MOUNTAIN VETERINARY SERVICE, 2024; VETTOME, 2024; VETCHECK24, 2025). This article proposes an analytical framework for understanding home veterinary care as a welfare‑oriented modality in small animal practice, integrating sentience, low‑stress handling, One Health and professional regulation. Based on normative documents, scientific publications and clinical experience, the paper: (i) examines the concepts of animal sentience and the revised International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) definition of pain; (ii) synthesises evidence on stressors associated with conventional visits and the potential benefits of in‑home care; (iii) discusses applications in geriatric, fearful, chronic pain and palliative care patients; and (iv) analyses the Brazilian regulatory framework, focusing on CFMV Resolution no. 1.690/2026 and earlier regional rules (CFMV, 2016, 2026; CRMV‑AC, 2019). The article concludes that, when performed within technical and legal limits and guided by animal welfare and One Health principles, home care should be recognised as a strategic and complementary modality in small animal medicine rather than as a substitute for clinics and hospitals.