The government in April will start a new national qualification system for nurses assisting with some veterinary practice, in a bid to improve the quality of medical care and reduce the burden on animal doctors, as the pet boom has led to increased medical needs.
According to the Environment Ministry, there are about 30,000 privately certified pet nurses in Japan, but they are not allowed to perform in a veterinary capacity.
In recent years, the number of pets with chronic diseases of the heart, kidneys and other organs has increased as the animals now generally live longer lives under the care of human owners who pamper them as much or more than their family members.
