Peer-review guidance for authors

 

Peer-review process

Manuscripts submitted to Veterinary Evidence undergo a double-blind peer-review process (neither the author nor the reviewers know each other’s identities) and are sent to a minimum of two reviewers. 

The Associate Editor and Editorial Office ensure that the peer-review process is fair, unbiased, and timely. Reviewers are invited to review only if they have suitable expertise in the relevant field.

Authors can provide names, affiliations and contact details of potential reviewers. Suggested reviewers will be used at the Associate Editor’s discretion, and if their contact details can be verified from an independent source.

All disclosures of potential conflicts of interest made by reviewers are reviewed by the Associate Editor in order to determine whether there is any potential for bias. 

For further information please see our Reviewer Hub.

 

Disagreeing with reviewer comments

When revising your manuscript:

Use track changes and address all points raised by the Editor and reviewers within your revision and within the table provided.

If you strongly disagree with a reviewer comment you should provide a polite and scientific rebuttal as to why.

If reviewer comments are conflicting:

Contact us for clarification; in some cases the Editor will prioritise which comments to follow.

Alternatively, follow the comment that most aptly reflects what you wish to convey in your paper. State your decision to go with one comment over the other clearly, logically, and objectively. Your comments will be sent to the reviewer along with your revision for their consideration. 

The final decision rests with the Editor-in-chief.

Blogs

Read our blogs and gain an insight into the peer-review process from the authors', reviewers' and Editors' perspectives:

Peer-review: what is it and why do we use it?

The benefits of peer-review: Q&A with Veterinary Evidence authors 

Peer-review week: Q&A with Veterinary Evidence reviewers

Pros and cons of different models of peer-review 

 

View our Author Hub