DonateCareer CenterLogin
DonateLogin

What is Veterinary Pathology?

Learn more about ACVP’s expertise in animal disease and diagnostics.
Our members drive the discoveries that enhance outcomes in both anatomic and clinical veterinary pathology.

Veterinary Pathology is:

  • The study of animal disease in a variety of species, often with human implications
  • Pathology provides the scientific foundation for the practice of medicine by studying the etiology and pathogenesis of disease at all levels
  • Crucial in determining cause of animal disease and its risk to human health (at the forefront of the One Health concept)
  • Studies range from live animals to specific proteins involved in disease

Why is Veterinary Pathology Important?

Veterinary pathologists advance animal and human health through:

 
  1. Disease diagnosis in companion, food-producing, and zoo/wildlife animals is central to the discipline of veterinary pathology and is essential to the health of our pets and our food supply as well as to conservation of wildlife species 
  2. Veterinary pathologists serve as key members of drug discovery and development teams which aim to bring safe and effective drugs to the market for both human and animal use
  3. Because veterinary pathologists have a deep understanding of the diseases of multiple species, they are uniquely qualified to perform research that advances our knowledge of disease pathogenesis and leads to development of new methods to treat and prevent diseases

Examples of Contributions of Veterinary Pathologists 

 

  • Recognized that West Nile Virus had invaded North America                                                                                                         
  • Conducted experiments on the Space Shuttle!                                                                                                                                                   
  • Responded to environmental disasters such as the nuclear accident at Chernobyl and the Exxon Valdez oil spill                                               
  • Performed pioneering stem cell research                                                                                                                                     

Where Do Veterinary Pathologists Work?

  • Chart taken from the 2012 ACVP Salary Survey 

Veterinary pathologists work in academic and government research institutions, public and private diagnostic labs (including those at zoos), government regulatory agencies (such as FDA, USDA, CDC, and EPA), industry (pharmaceutical and biotech companies, chemical companies, contract research organizations), and in the military (U.S. Army Veterinary Corps and Joint Pathology Center)