Veterinary pathology underpins all aspects of clinical disease management in animals. When a vet requests a diagnostic test for an animal – be it a pet, zoo animal or livestock – it's a veterinary pathologist who will investigate and diagnose.

In the department of veterinary pathology diagnostic investigations are carried out to determine the cause of illness or death in farm animals, companion animals and horses. In case of farm animals these investigations usually involve post mortem examination, with emphasis on infectious diseases. In companion animals investigations mostly relate to examination of cells and tissues using thin needle aspiration biopsies and surgical biopsies, including tumors and skin biopsies. Pathological examination of farm animals serves animal owners, veterinarians, the food animal sectors and the government. Based on the diagnosis, animal owners and their veterinarians can take targeted therapeutic or preventive measures. The animals sectors and the government obtain information to advance animal disease monitoring and surveillance.

Cyto- and histopathology of companion animals and horses is carried out to support clinical follow-up by veterinarians. Results from post mortem examination provide a basis for further evaluation of clinical and therapeutic treatment.