Social Prescribing in Vet Med: Expanding the clinical toolbox (#291)

In recent years, social prescribing has gained recognition as a powerful adjunct to traditional medical care in people. Rather than relying solely on pills or procedures, health practitioners are increasingly turning to community-based, non-clinical interventions, like music, the arts, nature walks, and social engagement, to improve mental and physical health.

Social prescribing is a shift that acknowledges the complexity of well being and the importance of connection, creativity, and purpose.

What is social prescribing?

At its core, social prescribing is when a healthcare provider refers a patient to activities or community services that help support health and wellbeing.

Think of a doctor prescribing participation in a choir for someone with depression, art therapy for someone dealing with trauma, or gardening in a community space for someone coping with social isolation.

Social prescribing is not a replacement for medicine. It’s an enhancement.

This approach has parallels with the now well-established idea of prescribing exercise. General practitioners commonly recommend physical activity for conditions like obesity, hypertension, and even mild depression or anxiety. Exercise changes brain chemistry, improves cardiovascular health, and builds self-efficacy.

When someone joins a community choir, picks up a paintbrush after decades, or starts attending weekly storytelling circles, something intangible but powerful begins to happen. They may start to feel seen. They laugh. They remember they’re more than their illness. Creative expression and community connection can reduce stress, build resilience, and offer a renewed sense of purpose.

So, if social prescribing works for humans...

Is There a Place for Social Prescribing in Veterinary Medicine?

At first glance, this might seem like a leap. But it's worth exploring. Animals don’t attend pottery classes or join book clubs (yet!), but the concept behind social prescribing -holistic, individualized care that considers social and emotional wellbeing, can absolutely extend to veterinary practice. Here’s how:

• Environmental Enrichment as Social Prescribing: In zoos, shelters, and even home environments, we already prescribe enrichment: puzzle feeders, novel scents, music, toys, and training games. These aren’t luxury extras; they are essential to mental health. They reduce stress, prevent stereotypies, and improve welfare. One might argue that for animals, enrichment is their version of social prescribing.

• Community Engagement for Pet Owners: Veterinarians can also support human-animal wellbeing by connecting pet owners to community resources. This might include:

  
  

  • Companion pet visitation programs for the elderly.

  • Group puppy training classes to foster bonding and reduce behavior issues.

  • Local walking groups or dog-friendly meetups for new pet owners.

Prescribing community, not just medication, can reduce surrender rates and improve human-pet relationships.

• Music and Calming Therapies in Clinics: There’s growing interest in using music therapy to soothe animals during vet visits or in hospital stays (the Fear Free Movement). Classical music, pheromone diffusers, and low-stress handling are all part of creating a healing environment that recognizes animals are sentient beings, not just patients.

Reimagining the Role of the Veterinarian

Could the future of veterinary medicine include a kind of “social prescribing” tailored to species, context, and community?

Imagine a vet who doesn’t just treat a senior cat’s arthritis with meloxicam, but also suggests:

• Ramps and cozy perches to allow continued exploration.

  
  

• Daily brushing sessions as bonding time.

  
  

• A regular home visitor if the client is elderly and struggles with care.

In a sense, this is already happening in the best clinics, particularly those that subscribe to the Fear Free Movement, where the emotional needs of both animals and their humans are seen as part of the therapeutic plan.

Rick’s Commentary

Whether it’s a human recovering from burnout or a shelter dog adjusting to a new home, wellbeing is multifaceted.

Social prescribing reminds us that healing often comes not just from medicine, but from meaningful connection, expression, and community.

Veterinary medicine, rooted in both science and compassion, has room to grow in this direction. After all, we aren’t just treating a disease. We’re supporting a life.

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