Clinical Studies

Veterinary clinical studies involve researching new medications, treatments, tests, or devices to determine if they improve the health and well-being of our patients. Veterinary clinical studies are also known as clinical trials or clinical research.

Participation in veterinary clinical studies is voluntary. All studies have specific criteria regarding species, diagnosis, current medications, etc. You may be asked to allow your pet to participate in a study during an appointment or, if you think your pet may qualify for one of our studies, you can contact our clinical research technician by phone at (608) 890-3484 or by e-mail at simons5@wisc.edu. No pet is enrolled in a study without the full understanding and permission of the owner.

Patients participating in a study may receive treatments not otherwise available. A pet may or may not benefit from the study; however, all studies advance scientific knowledge. New drugs and protocols may have side effects. Studies may require frequent visits to UW Veterinary Care for recheck exams and laboratory tests. The School of Veterinary Medicine’s Animal Care and Use committee reviews and approves all studies to assure minimal risk to the patient.

The cost of participation varies with the individual study. Many studies are funded by grants that pay for diagnostic workup and treatment. The clinician and client discuss all fees prior to a patient enrolling in a clinical study.