What Is a Dog Pathologist?

When a veterinarian sends a sample of a dog's blood, urine or tissue, out for testing, it will be sent to a dog pathologist. A dog, veterinary or canine pathologist studies diseases in dogs. Dog pathologists typically work in the areas of diagnostics, teaching and research or pharmaceuticals. Dog pathologists are licensed by veterinary pathology associations.

  1. Pathologist

    • Pathologists study diseases. A dog pathologist studies diseases in dogs. Dog pathologists can diagnose diseases by studying tissue and fluid samples, identify causes of diseases by conducting research and teaching others, and develop treatments for diseases by developing drugs.

    Diagnostics

    • Diagnostic dog pathologists examine every clue from a dog to try and figure out the cause of a disease in an individual dog or in a group of dogs. These clues include blood, urine and tissue samples and post-mortem examinations (necropsies). Figuring out what is wrong with a dog with a tumor, for example, involves a veterinarian removing part of a a tumor and sending a sample of the tissue to a dog pathologist. The dog pathologist examines the sample and determines if the tumor is cancerous. Another example is a dog pathologist running a toxicological test on a blood sample to see if a dog has been poisoned.

    Teaching and Research

    • Some dog pathologists focus their work in the world of research and teaching. They engage in either basic research, studying the cellular and molecular processes of dogs; or they engage in applied research, studying specific problems, such as streptococcal infections or heart defects. Researchers often also teach others about their particular area of research.

    Pharmaceutical Industry

    • Dog pathologists also develop the drugs used to treat certain diseases and the vaccines used to prevent certain diseases. For example, pathologists developed drugs to treat hip dysplasia in dogs and a vaccine to prevent rabies.