Definition

The medical science concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in animals. (MeSH)

Discussion

The field of veterinary medicine correlates with broader disease prevention and control, particularly diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans or affecting human welfare.

Scope and emphasis

The Library's collecting emphasis is on veterinary medicine as it relates to human health, animal health, biomedical research, and advances in the life sciences. The Library comprehensively collects works on animal genetics, animal nutrition (physiological, biochemical, and biological aspects), animal models of disease, comparative medicine, veterinary aspects of space medicine, veterinary clinical sciences, veterinary immunology, veterinary toxicology, veterinary epidemiology, zoonoses, laboratory animal science and welfare, and most aspects of primatology.

Because of the Library's interest in research at the cellular, molecular and biochemical level and its potential application to humans and human health, NLM also collects animal research literature in such fields as biochemistry, microbiology, parasitology, and molecular biology.

NLM collects major publications that are likely to be widely used in U.S. veterinary practice on the health care of any species, including exotic animals. NLM also collects works on veterinary medicine as a health profession.

NLM selectively acquires research works on animal behavior and other zoological topics, when they are relevant to human health or life sciences research.

The Library has an extensive collection of works on the history of veterinary medicine. NLM holds many rare veterinary books and manuscripts from the 14th through the 19th century.

NLM generally excludes works about animal reproduction and breeding; livestock management; wildlife ecology, management and rehabilitation; aquaculture and fisheries management; dietary management; and production efficiency, except for those which relate to human health, laboratory animal science, veterinary public health, or advances in life sciences research.

NLM does not collect consumer publications about pets and pet care but provides access to consumer information via its consumer health website MedlinePlus.