The Role of Comparative Psychology in the Training of Veterinarians

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Comparative psychology is the oldest of the social sciences, and is one of the natural science branches of psychology. This article is the first to suggest that comparative psychology be incorporated into the vet school curriculum. Many aspects of comparative psychology form natural links with the training of veterinary students. These links include the study of ethics, animal behavior, research methodology, and animal welfare. ABSTRACT: This article highlights some of the advantages that comparative psychology offers the veterinary student and veterinary education generally. Comparative psychology is the oldest of the social sciences and, as such, has accumulated over three centuries of experience in such areas as research design, animal–human interactions, and animal behavior. To establish whether comparative psychology is taught in veterinary schools, we survey all course catalogs of U.S. veterinary schools. None of the schools surveyed offered a course in comparative psychology, and inconsistencies were noted among the schools in regard to courses in animal–human interaction, animal behavior, and ethics. Suggestions are provided on how to incorporate principles of comparative psychology in veterinary education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.