Preparation · reporting · submission readiness
Instructions for Authors
These instructions define the minimum preparation, ethics and reporting information needed for JVHC assessment. Research Articles, Reviews and Short Communications are supported; authors considering another format should obtain editorial confirmation before submission.
- Supported formats
- Research · Review · Short Communication
- Data statement
- Required
- Submission route
- ManuscriptZone
- Licence after acceptance
- CC BY 4.0
Scope and article format
Scope before formattingStart with the veterinary question
A submission should identify the animal-health, clinical, population-health or veterinary-linked One Health question and explain how the evidence fits the journal's approved scope. The title, abstract and conclusions should not extend beyond the study design or data.
The currently supported formats are Research Articles, Reviews and Short Communications. Case reports, trials, perspectives, guidelines and other formats require editorial confirmation before upload.
Manuscript components
Clear · complete · consistentPrepare a complete, reviewable record
- Title pageGive the manuscript title, author names and affiliations, corresponding-author details and available ORCID identifiers.
- Abstract and keywordsSummarise the objective, methods, principal results and supported conclusion. Choose specific terms for species, condition, setting and method.
- Main textUse a structure appropriate to the study design. Describe methods, sampling, outcomes and analysis in enough detail for readers to assess validity and reproducibility.
- Tables and figuresNumber items in order, define abbreviations and units, provide explanatory legends and ensure values agree with the text. Images must not contain unnecessary owner-identifying information.
- ReferencesUse one consistent style, verify bibliographic details and DOI links where available, and cite primary evidence rather than promotional or unverifiable sources.
Methods and statistics
Methods · analysisReport how evidence was produced
Study design
Define the design, setting, species or population, eligibility criteria, interventions or exposures and prespecified outcomes. Explain sample-size reasoning where applicable.
Statistical analysis
Name the analytical methods and software, report effect estimates and uncertainty where appropriate, explain missing data and distinguish planned from exploratory analyses.
Reproducibility
Describe protocols, materials and data processing sufficiently for informed assessment. State where code, data or protocols can be accessed, or why access is restricted.
Interpretation
Separate results from interpretation, address relevant limitations and avoid causal claims when the design supports association only.
Veterinary ethics and consent
Welfare · consent · permitsDocument oversight before review
- Animal-welfare approvalName the ethics or welfare body and approval identifier where applicable. Explain the legal or institutional basis when formal review was not required.
- Humane conductDescribe handling, housing where relevant, analgesia or anaesthesia, welfare monitoring, adverse events, humane endpoints and steps taken to reduce harm.
- Clinical consent and privacyConfirm written owner consent for identifiable animals, case information, images and farm-specific data. Remove information not needed for the scholarly record.
- Wildlife and conservation permitsProvide permit authorities and identifiers for capture, sampling, transport, access or protected-species work.
- Data availabilityEvery submission requires a statement explaining where supporting data can be found or the justified conditions that limit access.
Reporting guidance
Transparent reportingUse the standard that matches the design
- ARRIVE 2.0For animal research and in vivo studies.
- CONSORT 2025For randomised controlled trials.
- STROBEFor observational and epidemiological studies.
- PRISMA 2020For systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
A checklist may be requested during screening or review. Use of a guideline does not replace complete study-specific methods.
Authorship, disclosures and AI
Accountability · transparencyHuman authors remain accountable
- Authorship and contributionsAll authors must approve the submitted version and be accountable for their contributions. Identify contributors who do not qualify for authorship.
- Funding and competing interestsState funding sources and grant identifiers, and disclose financial, professional or personal interests relevant to the work.
- Originality and prior disseminationDisclose related manuscripts, preprints and prior presentation. Submission confirms that the work is not simultaneously under consideration elsewhere.
- AI-assisted technologiesDisclose relevant use in writing, analysis or image preparation. AI cannot be an author; authors remain responsible for accuracy, citations, confidentiality and integrity.
Revision, proofs and licence
CC BY 4.0Complete the record after review
When revision is invited, respond to each comment, identify manuscript changes and explain respectfully when a requested change is not made. Proof review is for production accuracy and should not introduce unsupported new results.
Accepted articles are published under CC BY 4.0. Authors retain copyright and grant the publisher the right to publish the work. Permission is required for third-party material not covered by the authors' rights.
Ready to upload?
Use the journal submission page for the final checklist and the single ManuscriptZone route.