Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski Appointed Editor-in-Chief of Pets

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Pets (ISSN: 2813-9372). With an extensive background in scientific research, he will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this prestigious role.

Pets is an international, open access journal on companion animals. Companion animals typically include dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, ferrets, birds, guinea pigs, small reptiles, and fish. In countries where they may be kept legally and responsibly, domestic-bred farm animals can also be considered as companions.

Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski is a professor and associate director at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University, USA. He graduated with a veterinary degree from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria, in 1997. After working for several years in a small animal specialty clinic, he returned to academia and received his Dr. Med. Vet. degree from the University of Vienna, Austria, recognizing his research on a potential diagnostic marker for canine gastric disease. In 2005, Dr. Suchodolski received his Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology from Texas A&M University for his work on molecular markers for assessing the intestinal microbiota. He is also board-certified in immunology by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM).

His research is focused on gastrointestinal function testing, gastrointestinal pathogens, and intestinal microbial ecology with an emphasis on probiotics and prebiotics and how intestinal pathogens lead to disturbances in the intestinal microbiome of companion animals. Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski has co-authored over 400 scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters (with over 19,000 citations). Please read our newest editorial from the Editor-in-Chief: “A New Journal Focusing on Companion Animals—A Welcome Message from the Editor-in-Chief”.

The following is a Q&A with Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views on the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to become its Editor-in-Chief?
There is a need for a journal that focuses specifically on companion animals. It often remains challenging for veterinary clinicians and scientists to find a journal that welcomes veterinary submissions ranging from cutting-edge research to case reports, repeated studies, and studies with negative findings assessed and reviewed by veterinary experts.

2. What are your plans and vision for the journal?
We aim to provide a forum for high-quality scientific research on veterinary medicine, focusing exclusively on companion animals. Our journal aims to publish original research articles, reviews, case reports, conference reports, and letters to the editor covering various pet-related topics. We also encourage authors to not only submit novel research findings but also to submit studies that aim to reproduce earlier research. This will increase the number of studies and sample sizes on specific topics, allowing meta-analyses to be conducted in the future and promoting high-quality, evidence-based medicine for our companion animals.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
Pets are often considered family members; therefore, owners seek high-quality, evidence-based veterinary care. In line with this increase in pet ownership, there has been a substantial increase in clinical and basic scientific studies published in clinically highly specialized or broader multi-disciplinary journals over the last decades. This trend will continue, and there is a need for a journal like Pets.

4. What do you think of the development of open access literature in the publishing field?
Open access is a particularly important way to disseminate new knowledge to a wider audience.

We warmly welcome our new Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski, and wish the journal every success in the future.