Abstract

Forensic Veterinary Pathology is a young and fast growing discipline, which mainly follow the example of Human Forensic Pathology but it is also characterised by substantial differences. The activity of the veterinary forensic pathologist is not different in substance from the “traditional” pathologist, despite a higher degree of accuracy is needed. Most common categories of cases that need a forensic pathology approach include trauma (physical, thermal) and neglect. Veterinary Forensic pathologist will have to produce evidence in Court and this evidence will be object to scrutiny, therefore care should be taken in collecting, storing and presenting evidence. At present there is a substantial lack of specific literature that can produce a “lawyer-proof” body of evidence in Veterinary Forensic Pathology, and specific experimental studies in the most relevant areas, such as wound age determination, are desperately needed.