When was veterinary surgery first performed?

It's difficult to pinpoint an exact date for the first veterinary surgery. Evidence suggests that surgical procedures were performed on animals as early as ancient Egypt, around 3000 BC.

However, these early procedures were likely quite basic and may have included:

* Treating wounds: Using bandages and salves.

* Castrating animals: For livestock management.

* Removing tumors: With rudimentary tools.

The development of veterinary surgery as a formal discipline took much longer.

* The first veterinary schools were established in 1761 in Lyon, France and 1791 in London, England.

* Formal surgical techniques developed alongside human surgery, with advances in anesthesia and antisepsis playing a major role in the 19th and 20th centuries.

So, while we don't have a definite date for the "first" veterinary surgery, we know that humans have been performing surgical procedures on animals for thousands of years. The field has evolved significantly over time, becoming increasingly sophisticated and specialized.