Veterinary forensic medicine can be defined as the application of veterinary knowledge to the
purpose of the law, and is a subject that has expanded greatly in recent years. The discipline bears
some similarities to routine diagnosis and treatment of diseases of animals, but veterinary forensic
medicine can be very different in practice—a point often not fully appreciated by those with
training and a background focused on animal health.
The term “forensic sciences” has been used for many decades and refers to the application of
various scientific disciplines to criminal and civil legal investigation. Increasingly, however, the
practice of forensic science and specific aspects of veterinary forensic medicine are being used
with respect to non-legal activities such as insurance claims, appearances at court trials, inquiries,
environmental impact assessments, and allegations of professional misconduct. It is the forensic
method that is important rather than the reason it is being employed.