2026 Pet Holidays and Key Veterinary Awareness Dates – UK & EU 

Welcome to the ultimate 2026 Pet Holiday Guide — your complete, month-by-month guide to important veterinary awareness dates, annual events, pet celebrations, and animal appreciation days throughout the year in the UK and EU.

Whether you’re a veterinary practice, pet parent, or animal advocate, this guide helps you plan, promote, and participate in every festivity.

Why Bookmark the 2026 Pet Holiday Guide?

✔️ Perfect for veterinary marketing campaigns
✔️ Engage pet parents with social media content ideas
✔️ Celebrate awareness days and strengthen client relationships
✔️ Promote pet wellness, safety, and preventive care all year

Your 2026 Pet & Veterinary Calendar: UK and EU Key Dates

Use this chronological guide to plan your pet health reminders, awareness campaigns, and celebrations throughout the year!

January

• Walk Your Dog Month
• January 10–16: National Obesity Awareness Week (Mid-month)
• January 1: New Year’s Day
• January 21: Squirrel Appreciation Day
• January 30: National Fun at Work Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for January and download freebies!

Teach pet owners about pet weight management and the dangers of extreme cold temperatures with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

February

• Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
• Pet Dental Health Month
• February 4: World Cancer Day
• February 11: International Day of Women & Girls in Science
• February 11: Valentine’s Day
• February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
• February 20: Love Your Pet Day
• February 24: World Spay Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for February and download freebies!

Teach pet owners on how to keep their pets safe from the dangers of extreme cold temperature, pet dental disease and how to brush their pet’s teeth with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

March

• Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
• Pet Poison Prevention Month
• March 5–8: Crufts (Specific dates vary, typically early/mid-March)
• March 16–22: Nutrition & Hydration Week
• March 3: World Wildlife Day
• March 8: International Women’s Day
• March 14: Dog Theft Awareness Day
• March 15: Mother’s Day
• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
• March 20: International Day of Happiness

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for March and download freebies!

Teach pet owners about toxic food, how to be aware of common household poisons and how to protect pets from theft with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

April

• National Pet Month
• Stress Awareness Month
• Great British Spring Clean
• April  19–25: Veterinary Receptionist Week
• April 3: Good Friday
• April 4: World Stray Animals Day
• April 5: Easter Sunday
• April 7: World Health Day
• April 22: Earth Day
• April 23: St George’s Day
• April 25: World Veterinary Day
• April 25: World Penguin Day
• April 29: International Guide Dog Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for April and download freebies!

Teach pet owners how to keep their pets safe during Easter with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

Thank your Veterinary Receptionists with our free appreciation cards.

May

• National Walking Month
• Veterinary / Nursing Awareness Month
• International Respect for Chickens Month
• May 11–17: Mental Health Awareness Week
• May 4: International Respect for Chickens Day
• May 4: Bank Holiday
• May 8: World Donkey Day
• May 13: National Receptionists Day
• May 20: World Bee Day
• May 23: World Turtle Day
• May 25: Spring Bank Holiday

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for May and download freebies! 

Veterinary Receptionists are the heart of your clinic, managing chaos and client communication every day. Download our free appreciation cards now to celebrate your dedicated Veterinary Receptionists! 

Vetstoria recognises the importance of mental health in the industry. To support your team’s well-being, download our detailed report, Alleviating Psychological Stressors in Veterinary Clinics, which highlights the causes and impacts of clinic stress. In this report, we’re supporting Vetlife—a leading veterinary mental health charity—to explain how you can have more peace of mind.

June

• National Microchipping Month
• Pride Month
• June 1–7: National Volunteers Week
• June 4: Hug Your Cat Day
• June 5: World Environment Day
• June 8: National Best Friend Day
• June 9: World Pet Memorial Day
• June 21: Father’s Day
• June 24: Cat World Domination Day
• June 26: Bring Your Dog to Work Day
• June 27: World Day Against Pet Abandonment

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for June and download freebies! 

Teach pet owners how to microchip their pet, the dangers of extreme hot temperatures and heatstroke with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

July

• Sarcoma Awareness Month
• July 19–25: Veterinary Assistant Week
• July 5: Pet Remembrance Day
• July 16: World Snake Day
• July 30: International Friendship Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for July and download freebies!

Download our free appreciation cards now to celebrate your dedicated Veterinary Care Assistants! 

Help pet owners care for their pets during extreme heat and educate them on the signs of heatstroke with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and social media accounts.

August

• Itchy Pet Awareness Month
• National Immunisation Awareness Month
• August 2–8: International Assistant Dog Week
• August 1: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
• August 8: International Cat Day
• August 15: International Homeless Animals Day
• August 19: World Photography Day
• August 26: International Dog Day
• August 30: National Holistic Pet Day
• August 31: Summer Bank Holiday

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for August and download freebies!

Teach pet owners about the dangers of extreme heat and heatstroke with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

September

• Happy Cat Month
• Animal Pain Awareness Month
• Urology Awareness Month
• National Pet Health Insurance Month
• September 11–13: Rosh Hashanah
• September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
• September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
• September 15: World Lymphoma Day
• September 19: Responsible Dog Ownership Day
• September 26: International Rabbit Day
• September 28: World Rabies Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for September and download freebies!

Educate pet owners on the importance of pet insurance with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

October

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• October 18–24: Veterinary Technician Week 
• October 19–25: National Adoption Week 
• October 1: Veterinary Receptionist Appreciation Day
• October 4: World Animal Day
• October 6: National Badger Day
• October 8: World Octopus Day
• October 10: World Mental Health Day
• October 21: National Reptile Awareness Day
• October 24: United Nations Day
• October 27: National Black Cat Day
• October 31: Halloween

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for October and download freebies!

Download our free appreciation cards now to celebrate your dedicated Veterinary Technicians and Receptionists. 

Vetstoria recognises the importance of mental health in the industry. Download the Alleviating Psychological Stressors in Veterinary Clinics report to understand the causes and impacts of clinic stress, and learn how to better support your staff’s well-being.

Teach pet owners about Halloween dangers with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

November

• Adopt a Senior Pet Month
• Pet Diabetes Month
• National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
• National Senior Pet Month
• November 3–7: International Stress Awareness Week
• November 15–21: Practice Manager Appreciation Week
• November 1: International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
• November 1: Cook for Your Pets Day
• November 5: Guy Fawkes Night
• November 13: World Kindness Day
• November 26: Thanksgiving

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for November and download freebies!

Teach pet owners how to prepare their pets for fireworks with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

Download our free appreciation cards now to celebrate your dedicated Veterinary Practice Managers. 

December

• National Cat Lovers’ Month
• December 4-12: Hanukkah
• December 9: International Day of Vet Med
• December 10: International Animal Rights Day
• December 21: First Day of Winter
• December 24: Christmas Eve
• December 25: Christmas Day
• December 26: Boxing Day
• December 31: New Year’s Eve

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for December and download freebies! 

Teach pet owners how to keep their pets safe from fireworks, dangerous Christmas foods and decorations and the dangers of extremely cold temperatures with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

Celebrate, Communicate, and Succeed!

Now that you have the complete roadmap for 2026, it’s time to put these dates into action! Effective internal and external communications built around these key holidays can significantly boost client engagement and drive preventative care.

Remember, you don’t have to start from scratch. We have free marketing materials available for your teams to use across social media, emails, and in-clinic displays for many of the awareness months and days listed above. Utilise these ready-to-go resources to save time and amplify your message about pet wellness and safety.

Start plugging these essential dates into your clinic’s content calendar today to make 2026 the most proactive and celebrated year yet!

Grow Your Practice, Not Your To-Do List

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