Veterinary education

Veterinary medicine and it's studies

Veterinary education focuses on animal health, diseases, care, and prevention. It covers a wide range of topics, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, infectious diseases, surgery, biosecurity, food hygiene, and animal husbandry. Veterinary education is relevant to both companion animals and livestock industries. Veterinary medicine is a vital field that helps ensure animal welfare and health, as well as public health and food safety.

What does veterinary education look like?

Veterinary school offers a comprehensive curriculum to prepare you for a career in animal care. Here are some of the key subjects you'll explore:

First year

The first year of veterinary medicine focuses on acquiring foundational knowledge. In biochemistry, students learn about the concept of metabolism and how it occurs in the body, along with conducting various experiments in the lab. Anatomy introduces the animal organism for the first time – starting with studying bones and progressing to understanding the digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems.

In cytology, you can study the structure of cells and tissues under a microscope, while general microbiology takes you into the world of bacteria and viruses. Genetics and breeding explore the mechanisms behind the inheritance of traits and teach you how to apply this knowledge in breeding. Finally, physiology introduces you to studying the whole organism, laying the groundwork for later adding knowledge of pathologies.

Second year

The second year continues with anatomy, where you’ll now get insight into the circulatory system, the nervous and lymphatic systems, and sensory organs. The study of healthy animal physiology also continues, covering the central nervous system, kidneys, heart, and digestive organs. Immunology begins as well, showing you how the body defends itself and what potential consequences can arise when it fails to do so.

In the second year, we begin looking more specifically at the living conditions of different animals, such as cattle, sheep, and pigs. In the spring, we visit various livestock farms as part of animal health studies. The course on veterinarian mental health teaches us how to take care of ourselves to prevent burnout. Spring also introduces subjects like pathological physiology and morphology, which provide the first insights into what happens in a diseased organism and how diseased tissue looks. Additionally, there’s a course on animal feeding, where you’ll learn how to create feed rations.

Third year

In the third year, the first clinical courses begin, allowing us to practice our learned skills on real animals. During both the autumn and spring semesters, we study clinical and laboratory diagnostics, learning to perform clinical examinations on cattle, horses, dogs, and cats. In the artificial insemination and reproduction course, we practice artificial insemination on the school’s training cows. Pharmacology introduces us to various drug active ingredients and their effects on the body.

In the spring of the third year, exciting subjects such as necropsy, surgery, and anesthesiology begin. The parasitology course provides insights into internal and external parasites that affect both animals and humans. In the animal infectious diseases course, we study illnesses caused by various bacteria and viruses. Additionally, endocrinology teaches us about the effects of the body's own hormones and the diseases caused by their imbalances.

Fourth year

The fourth year focuses on diseases and clinical training. During this time, students cover more specialized subjects, with most of the teaching organized into intensive weeks (e.g., an entire week dedicated to neurology, dermatology, etc.). Students learn how to arrive at diagnoses and treat diseases. Significant emphasis is placed on ruminant clinical medicine, with a particular focus on herd health and disease prevention.

The fourth year is very intensive, but it is fascinating, and by the end of the course, students gain a comprehensive understanding of what they have learned so far. After completing the fourth year, students can apply their knowledge during summer internships.

Fifth year

The fall semester of the fifth year focuses more on the field of food hygiene. Students learn how the meat and dairy industries should operate safely for public health and how to perform quality control on products. In the Meat Inspection course, students gain an overview of the legislative acts regulating the field and learn to assess the legal requirements for the transportation of farm animals. The course also explains how to carry out pre- and post-slaughter inspections. Students acquire the basic knowledge and skills needed to work as a state veterinarian in a meat processing facility. In the Forensic Veterinary Medicine course, students learn to perform post-mortem examinations to determine the cause of death.

During the spring semester, students can enhance their practical skills and are required to complete an internship in four parts. The internship is carried out at the Estonian University of Life Sciences Clinic in small animal medicine, equine medicine, production animal medicine, veterinary supervision, and meat inspection.

Sixth year

By the sixth year, we have chosen our specialization in either small animal medicine or farm animal and equine medicine. This choice must be confirmed by the end of the spring semester of the fifth year. Based on the chosen track, there is a review of previously studied diseases in small or large animals, along with practical training. The lecturers are primarily veterinarians from the Estonian University of Life Sciences animal clinic. The practical training can be carried out at a veterinary clinic of the student's choice.

In the final year of study, a master's thesis must be written to complete the program. There is a short preparatory course during the autumn semester, but actively working on the thesis is required throughout the academic year. The thesis defense takes place at the end of the spring semester.

Does veterinary medicine spark your interest?

Whether you’re drawn to companion animals, exotic species, or wildlife conservation, there’s a place for you in the Veterinary Student Organization. Join us in making a positive impact on the lives of animals and the communities we serve.