Editorial standards
We write about pet health, which means we write about things that can go wrong. This page explains how that content is produced, who checks it, and exactly which pages a vet has read. If a page carries a "Veterinary reviewed by" line, a vet has read that page in full and we made the changes she asked for. If it doesn't carry that line, no vet has reviewed it - and we won't imply otherwise.
How a health page gets written
Drafted in-house
Our team writes the first draft, built around the questions owners actually search for rather than the ones that are easiest to answer.
Reviewed by a qualified vet
A registered veterinary surgeon reads the full page and comments on it - clinical accuracy, terminology, and whether any advice could be read as "it's fine to wait" when it isn't. We apply those changes.
Signed off, then published
The reviewer confirms the applied version before the byline goes on. Her name goes on that page only - never carried across to pages she hasn't read.
Re-checked when it changes
If we materially edit a reviewed page afterwards, the byline comes off until it's been looked at again. A review date that no longer matches the words on the page isn't worth much.
Dr Jo de Klerk BVetMed (Hons) MSc PhD MRCVS
Veterinary surgeonDr Jo de Klerk is a qualified veterinarian, writer and public speaker with more than 12 years of clinical experience in the UK and internationally. As well as her vet degree, she holds a PhD in Life Sciences (Veterinary Epidemiology), a Master's degree in Tropical Animal Health and a Certificate in Pain Management.
Alongside her veterinary work, Jo starred in BBC's Young Vets and has authored more than 10 books, including two in collaboration with HarperCollins, as well as several books on dog behaviour and husbandry. Her professional interests include animal welfare, pain management, disease control, and global and charitable animal care. Outside of work, Jo enjoys horse riding, spending time with her family and getting out for walks with her dog.
Qualifications
- BVetMed (Hons), Royal Veterinary College, 2014
- MSc Tropical Animal Health
- PhD Life Sciences (Veterinary Epidemiology)
- PGCert Transferable Skills in Science
- Certificate in Companion Animal Pain Management and Therapy
- Trained in Western Veterinary Acupuncture; Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- MRCVS — Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, registered 16 July 2014. Also registered with the South African Veterinary Council.
Check it yourself
MRCVS is a protected title with a public register, so you shouldn't have to take our word for it. Jo is listed under her full registered name, Joanna Nevison De Klerk, as RCVS member 7088779 — currently registered as practising outside the UK. View her entry on the RCVS register.
Elsewhere
What a review does and doesn't mean
A veterinary review means a registered vet has read that page and we've made the changes she asked for. It does not make the page a diagnosis, and it is not a consultation. Our reviewer has never met your pet.
General information can tell you what a sign usually means and when it's worth acting. It can't tell you what's wrong with your animal. If your pet seems unwell in any way, or something just feels off, contact your own vet - they have the history and can actually examine them.
In an emergency, don't read - ring
Collapse, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, suspected poisoning, a cat straining with nothing passing, or a swollen, hard abdomen: call your vet or an out-of-hours emergency service immediately. Don't wait to finish an article.
Think we've got something wrong?
Tell us. If something on this site is inaccurate, out of date, or reads more confidently than the evidence supports, we want to know - particularly if you're a vet or vet nurse. We'll check it, fix it, and if the fix is material we'll send the page back for review.
Email info@pawtag.com with the page and what looks wrong.
A healthier pet starts with noticing early.
One tag: lost-pet recovery, a full health profile, and Nova in your pocket.