veterinärvetenskap

Veterinary science, or veterinärvetenskap, is the branch of science and professional practice concerned with the health, welfare, and diseases of animals. It encompasses clinical care of individual animals, preventive medicine for populations, and the scientific study of animal biology and pathology, with strong links to public health, food safety, and ecosystem health. The field covers companion animals, livestock, horses, and wildlife, as well as laboratory and research animals used in biomedical studies.

Education and training in veterinary science typically lead to a professional degree in veterinary medicine and licensure to practice. Curricula integrate basic biomedical disciplines—anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pathology—with clinical subjects such as clinical medicine, surgery, anesthesia, obstetrics, dentistry, and diagnostic imaging. Preventive medicine, pharmacology, toxicology, and epidemiology are essential components, along with ethics and animal welfare.

Key subfields include veterinary clinical medicine; veterinary pathology; preventive and population medicine; veterinary public health and food-animal safety; pharmacology and toxicology; wildlife, zoo, and conservation medicine; theriogenology (reproduction); and veterinary genetics and reproduction. Research in veterinary science often emphasizes translational and comparative medicine, recognizing similarities between animal and human diseases.

Historically, veterinary science emerged in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries with the establishment of dedicated veterinary schools to address livestock health and productivity. Over time, the discipline expanded to address companion animals, wildlife conservation, and zoonotic diseases, becoming integral to public health and biomedical research through the One Health approach.

Professionals in veterinary science balance animal welfare with public health goals, applying evidence-based approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The field contributes to food safety, disease surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and biomedical advances that benefit humans and animals alike.