Forensische veterinärmedizin

Forensic veterinary medicine is covered by different disciplines because there is no independent discipline comparable to legal medicine. A major area of forensic veterinary medicine focuses on offences against animal protection legislation. Other fields of activities include examination of causes of death and identification of species involved in forensic cases. Interdisciplinary collaboration with legal medicine in criminal cases is a further important aspect of forensic veterinary medicine. Findings in cases of cruelty to animals reveal that expansion and intensification of the existing co-operation between forensic veterinarians and forensic pathologists is necessary. A systematic analysis of cases of cruelty to animals and a correlation with subsequent violence to humans is required. This area should be a task for future interdisciplinary research activities.