Veterinary
Medicine

Veterinary medicine is the branch
of medicine that deals with the
prevention, management, diagnosis, and
treatment of disease, disorder, and injury
in animals.

Topics in This Course

General Medicine


1. Clinical Examination and Making A Diagnosis
  • Clinical examination of the individual animal
  • Making a diagnosis
  • Making a decision on therapeutics
  • Assessing the prognosis
  • Examination of the herd
2. General Systemic States
  • Hypothermia, Hyperthermia, Fever
  • Septicemia, Viremia
  • Toxemia and Endotoximea
  • Hypovolemic shock
  • Allergy and Anaphylaxis
  • Edema and acid-base imbalance
  • Pain and stress
  • Localized infections
  • Inappetence
  • Weight loss
  • Care of recumbent animals
  • Sudden and unexpected death
3. Diseases of the newborn
  • Perinatal and Postnatal diseases
  • Physical and environmental causes of diseases
  • Diseases of cloned offspring
  • Neonatal infection
  • Care of clinically ill newborns
4. Antimicrobial Therapy
  • Principles of antimicrobial therapy
  • Practical usage of antimicrobial drugs
  • Antimicrobial resistance

Livestock Diseases by Body Systems


Diseases of the Digestive System
  • General principles of digestive tract dysfunction
  • Manifestation of digestive tract dysfunction
  • Principles of treatment
  • Diseases of the buccal cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach and intestines
  • Diseases of the digestive system in ruminants
Diseases of the Liver and Pancreas
  • General principles of liver dysfunction
  • Manifestation of hepatic and biliary dysfunction
  • Principles of treatment of hepatic dysfunction
  • Diseases of the pancreas
Diseases of the Cardiovascular System
  • General principles of circulatory failure
  • Manifestation of circulatory failure
  • Diseases of the heart
  • Diseases of the blood vessels
Diseases of the Cardiovascular System
  • General principles of circulatory failure
  • Manifestation of circulatory failure
  • Diseases of the heart
  • Diseases of the blood vessels
Diseases of the Immune and Lymphatic System
  • Abnormal concentration of plasma protein
  • Hemorrhagic diseases
  • Diseases of red blood cell numbers and function
  • Disorders of white blood cells
  • Diseases of spleen and thymus
  • Immune deficiencies
  • Amyloidoses
  • Porphyrias
Diseases of the Respiratory System
  • Principles of respiratory insufficiency
  • Manifestation of respiratory insufficiency
  • Examination of the respiratory system
  • Treatment and control of respiratory tract diseases
  • Diseases of the lungs
  • Diseases of the pleura and diaphragm
  • Diseases of upper respiratory tract
Diseases of the Urinary System
  • Principles of renal insufficiency
  • Manifestation of urinary tract disease
  • Examination of the urinary system
  • Treatment of urinary tract diseases
  • Diseases of the kidney
  • Diseases of the bladder, ureters and urethra
  • Congenital defects of the urinary tract
Diseases of the Nervous System
  • Principles of nervous dysfunction
  • Manifestation of nervous system disease
  • Special examination of the nervous system
  • Treatment of diseases of the nervous system
  • The pathophysiology of nervous system disease
  • Diseases of the brain
  • Diseases of the meninges
  • Encephalopathies
  • Psychoses and Neuroses
  • Epilepsy
  • Diseases of the spinal cord
  • Diseases of the peripheral nervous system
  • Congenital defects of the nervous system
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System
  • Manifestation of musculoskeletal disease
  • Diseases of muscles
  • Diseases of bones
  • Diseases of Joints
  • Congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system
Diseases of the Skin, Conjuctiva and the external ear
  • Principles of treatment of skin disease
  • Diseases of hair, skin glands, horns and hooves
  • Cutaneous neoplasms
  • Congenital defects of the skin
  • Diseases of the Conjuctiva
  • Congenital defects of the eyelids and cornea
  • Diseases of the external ear
Diseases of the Mammary Glands
  • Mastitis
  • Defects of teats and udder
  • Mastits-Metritis-Agalactia in sows

Livestock Diseases by Etiology


Bacterial Diseases
  • Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
  • Blackleg (Clostridium chauvoei)
  • Botulism (Clostridium botulinum)
  • Tetanus (Clostridium tetani)
  • Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis)
  • Brucellosis (Brucella spp.)
  • Salmonellosis (Salmonella spp.)
  • Colibacillosis (Escherichia coli)
  • Leptospirosis (Leptospira spp.)
  • Strangles (horses, Streptococcus equi )
  • Johne’s disease (Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis)
  • Actinomycosis ("lumpy jaw" in cattle, Actinomyces bovis )
Viral Diseases
  • Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD, Picornavirus)
  • Rabies (Rhabdovirus)
  • Newcastle Disease (poultry, Paramyxovirus )
  • Canine Distemper (Morbillivirus )
  • African Swine Fever (Asfarvirus )
  • Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR, Morbillivirus )
  • Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR, Bovine Herpesvirus-1 )
  • Equine Influenza (Orthomyxovirus )
  • Feline Panleukopenia (Parvovirus)
  • Avian Influenza (Orthomyxovirus)
  • Swine Influenza (Orthomyxovirus)
Chlamydial Diseases
  • Enzootic Abortion of Ewes (Chlamydia abortus)
  • Psittacosis/Ornithosis (birds, Chlamydia psittaci )
  • Feline Pneumonitis (Chlamydia felis)
Prion Diseases
  • Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) – “mad cow disease” in cattle
  • Scrapie – sheep and goats
  • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) – deer, elk
  • Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy – farmed mink
  • Kuru / Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) – humans (zoonotic relevance)
Fungal Diseases (Mycoses)
  • Ringworm (Dermatophytes: Microsporum, Trichophyton)
  • Aspergillosis (Aspergillus fumigatus)
  • Histoplasmosis (Histoplasma capsulatum)
  • Blastomycosis (Blastomyces dermatitidis)
  • Candidiasis (Candida albicans)
  • Cryptococcosis (Cryptococcus neoformans)
Protozoan Diseases
  • Coccidiosis (Eimeria spp. , poultry, cattle, small ruminants, rabbits)
  • Babesiosis ("redwater," Babesia spp. )
  • Trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma spp.)
  • Theileriosis (Theileria parva, T. annulata)
  • Trichomoniasis (Tritrichomonas foetus)
  • Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii)
  • Leishmaniasis (Leishmania spp.)
Diseases Associated with Helminth Parasites
  • Fasciolosis (liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica )
  • Haemonchosis (barber’s pole worm, Haemonchus contortus )
  • Ostertagiasis (Ostertagia ostertagi)
  • Ascariasis (Ascaris suum , pigs)
  • Strongylosis (horses, Strongylus spp.)
  • Trichuriasis (whipworm, Trichuris spp. )
  • Hydatidosis (Echinococcus granulosus)
  • Cysticercosis (Cysticercus bovis, C. cellulosae)
Diseases Associated with Arthropod Parasites
  • Mange (mites: Sarcoptes, Demodex, Psoroptes )
  • Tick infestation (Rhipicephalus, Ixodes, Boophilus)
  • Flea allergy dermatitis (Ctenocephalides felis)
  • Lice infestations (Haematopinus, Linognathus, Damalinia)
  • Warble fly infestation (Hypoderma bovis)
  • Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax)
Metabolic Diseases
  • Ketosis (dairy cows, negative energy balance)
  • Milk Fever (hypocalcemia, parturient paresis)
  • Pregnancy Toxemia (ewes, does)
  • Hypomagnesemic Tetany (grass tetany)
  • Acidosis (ruminal acidosis)
  • Urolithiasis (urinary stones in ruminants)
  • Laminitis (linked to carbohydrate overload in horses/cattle)
Nutritional Deficiency Diseases
  • Rickets (calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D deficiency)
  • Osteomalacia (adults, similar to rickets)
  • White Muscle Disease (selenium/vitamin E deficiency)
  • Grass Tetany (magnesium deficiency)
  • Anemia (iron deficiency, especially piglets)
  • Pica (phosphorus deficiency)
  • Goiter (iodine deficiency)
  • Night blindness (vitamin A deficiency)
Diseases Caused by Physical Agents

Trauma & Mechanical Injuries

Including Fractures, Wounds, Dislocations, Hematomas and Contusions.

Heat-Related Disorders

Including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, burns and photosensitization.

Cold-Related Disorders

Including frostbite, hupothermia, chilblains

Radiation-Related Conditions

Sunburn (Solar dermatitis), Skin cancer, radiation burns

Pressure & Confinement Injuries

Including Decubital Ulcers (Pressure Sores), Sole Ulcers / Laminitis, Myopathy (“Downer Cow Syndrome”).

Electrical & Lightning Injuries

Electrocution and Lightning Strike Injuries

Drowning & Suffocation

Drowning, Smothering and Aspiration Pneumonia

Other Physical Agents

  • Foreign Body Injuries – traumatic reticuloperitonitis (“hardware disease” in cattle)
  • Choking – feed obstruction in cattle, dogs, horses
  • Noise-Induced Stress/Deafness – dogs (fireworks, gunfire)
  • Physical Restraint Injuries – rope burns, neck abrasions, horn damage
Diseases Associated with Inorganic and Farm Chemicals

Heavy Metal Poisoning (Inorganic Compounds)

  • Lead Poisoning
  • Arsenic Poisoning
  • Mercury Poisoning
  • Copper Toxicity
  • Selenium Toxicity (“Alkali Disease” or “Blind Staggers”)
  • Fluorosis

Fertilizers and Soil Chemicals

  • Nitrate/Nitrite Poisoning
  • Ammonia/Anhydrous Ammonia Toxicity

Pesticides and Herbicides

  • Organophosphate Poisoning
  • Carbamate Toxicity
  • Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Poisoning (e.g., DDT, Lindane)
  • Paraquat/Herbicide Poisoning

Rodenticides

  • Anticoagulant Rodenticides (Warfarin, Brodifacoum)
  • Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D analog rodenticides)
  • Zinc Phosphide Poisoning

Disinfectants & Farm Chemicals

  • Phenol Poisoning
  • Cresol/Creosote Toxicity
  • Formalin/Chlorinated Disinfectants

Other Notable Chemical Toxicities

  • Salt (Sodium Chloride) Poisoning / Water Deprivation
  • Urea Poisoning (Non-Protein Nitrogen Toxicity)
Toxin-Related Diseases
  • Botulism (neurotoxin from Clostridium botulinum)
  • Mycotoxicosis (aflatoxins, ochratoxins, ergot alkaloids)
  • Enterotoxemia (Clostridium perfringens toxins)
  • Snake envenomation
  • Plant poisonings (e.g., Lantana camara, Crotalaria, oleander, cyanogenic plants)
  • Lead, arsenic, and other heavy metal poisoning
Diseases Caused by Allergic Reactions
  • Equine Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO/Heaves) – dust, moldy hay allergens
  • Atopic Dermatitis – dogs and cats (skin allergy due to pollen, dust mites, food allergens)
  • Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) – hypersensitivity to flea saliva (dogs, cats)
  • Sweet Itch (Insect Bite Hypersensitivity) – horses (reaction to Culicoides bites)
  • Milk Allergy in Calves – hypersensitivity to milk proteins
Genetic Diseases in Animals
  • Albinism – absence of pigmentation (all domestic species)
  • Chondrodysplasia (dwarfism forms) – dogs, cattle, sheep
  • Hydrocephalus – multiple species
  • Cryptorchidism (retained testes) – horses, dogs, cats, pigs
  • Polydactyly (extra digits) – cats, chickens, cattle

Cattle

  • Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (BLAD) – Holstein cattle
  • Complex Vertebral Malformation (CVM) – Holstein cattle
  • Bovine Progressive Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy ("Weaver syndrome") – Brown Swiss cattle
  • Deficiency of Uridine Monophosphate Synthase (DUMPS) – Holsteins
  • Factor XI Deficiency – Holsteins, Japanese Black cattle
  • Arachnomelia (spider calf syndrome) – Brown Swiss, Holstein

Horses

  • Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) – Quarter Horses, American Paint Horses
  • Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) – Quarter Horses, Warmbloods, draft breeds
  • Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) – Arabian horses
  • Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (HERDA) – Quarter Horses
  • Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA) – Arabians
  • Lethal White Foal Syndrome (Overo lethal white, OLWS) – American Paint Horses

Dogs

  • Hip Dysplasia – large breeds (German Shepherds, Labradors, Rottweilers)
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – many breeds (Collies, Irish Setters)
  • Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) – Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs
  • Degenerative Myelopathy – German Shepherds, Corgis
  • Von Willebrand’s Disease – Dobermans, Shetland Sheepdogs
  • Muscular Dystrophy – Golden Retrievers
  • Cystinuria – Newfoundlands, Bulldogs

Cats

  • Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) – Persian cats and related breeds
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) – Maine Coon, Ragdoll
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – Abyssinians, Siamese
  • Hemophilia B – British Shorthair
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) – Maine Coon cats

Sheep & Goats

  • Spider Lamb Syndrome (Hereditary Chondrodysplasia) – Suffolk and Hampshire sheep
  • Hereditary Splayleg – sheep and goats
  • Goat Myotonia Congenita ("Fainting goats") – Tennessee fainting goats
  • Entropion (inward eyelids) – hereditary in some sheep breeds

Pigs

  • Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS) – associated with malignant hyperthermia in Landrace, Pietrain
  • Rectal/Anal Atresia – hereditary defect
  • Congenital Tremors (type AII) – some pig lines
  • Scrotal/Ventral Hernias – hereditary predisposition

Poultry

  • Tibial Dyschondroplasia – broiler chickens, turkeys
  • Crooked Toes – hereditary trait in some chicken lines
  • Hypopigmentation ("Albinism") – rare genetic defect in poultry
Diseases of Complex or Unknown Etiology
  • Colic in Horses – dietary, management, stress, parasites
  • Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) – stress, diet, genetics, environment
  • Lameness in Dairy Cattle – housing, nutrition, infection, conformation
  • Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC) – viruses, bacteria, stress, environment
  • Mastitis (certain chronic or recurrent forms) – pathogens, milking hygiene, cow immunity, environment
  • Sudden Infant Piglet Death Syndrome (SIDS-like) – uncertain, multiple factors suspected
  • Johne’s Disease (clinical progression) – Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection influenced by genetics, nutrition, environment


Take Home

Animal diseases can arise from a wide variety of causes, broadly classified into infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, helminths, arthropods, and prions, as well as non-infectious factors including nutritional deficiencies, metabolic imbalances, toxins, physical agents, and exposure to inorganic or farm chemicals. Infectious diseases often spread rapidly within populations, while parasitic infestations may cause chronic production losses. Nutritional and metabolic disorders usually reflect imbalances in diet or physiology, and toxic diseases result from exposure to poisonous plants, microbial toxins, chemicals, or heavy metals. Physical agents such as trauma, heat, cold, and radiation can also cause significant injury and disease. In addition, some conditions are genetic, allergic, or multifactorial in origin, influenced by complex interactions between the animal, environment, and management. Together, these categories highlight the diverse etiologies of animal diseases and the importance of a comprehensive veterinary approach to diagnosis, prevention, and control.