Veterinary pharmacology​

Pharmacology plays an essential role in all aspects of clinical practice, including the clinical care of animals. If you are pursuing a career in the veterinary profession and have a specific interest in medicines, then why not consider specialising in veterinary pharmacology?​

Veterinary pharmacologists specialise in drug therapy for animals and have knowledge of how different drugs impact bodily processes. Understanding the way in which drug actions vary between species is very important so that vets can use drugs safely in all the species they work with. In this profession, you might treat animals at veterinary hospitals, calculate how long it takes drugs to leave the systems of animals used for food, or conduct research at pharmaceutical firms or universities.​

Jonathan Elliott

Prof-Jonathan-Elliott.jpgJonathan is the Vice Principal for Research and Innnovation and Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology at the Royal Veterinary College. He studied  veterinary medicine, specialising in pharmacology, and is now a manager, teacher and researcher supporting the next generation of vets and carrying out research into chronic kidney disease in cats.

"I really enjoy helping early career researchers to get started in their independent research careers, bringing groups of researchers together to respond to particular grant calls, and seeing results that have sparked the enthusiasm of my PhD students for research"

Read more about Jonathan's career path

Find out more in this Q&A from Dr Jonathan Elliott about specialising in veterinary pharmacology.​

More resources about veterinary careers can be found at:​

In addition to specialising in veterinary pharmacology at university, many pharmacologists also take up roles relating to veterinary medicine following their scientific training, including Dr Elliot Lilley:ark​

Elliot Lilley

Dr-Elliot-Lilley.jpgElliot Lilley is a senior scientific officer at the RSPCA and also the animal ethics editor of the British Journal of Pharmacology. Elliot started his career as a pharmacologist in academia and then in industry, and has always been a keen advocate of animal welfare. 

"I wear several ‘hats’ at the RSPCA ... I spend at least 60% of my time running expert working groups, writing reports and blogs, reading the literature, writing and giving talks in the UK and internationally. I also co-convene the Ethics, Education and Training section of the Laboratory Animal Science Association. This means that I organise and chair meetings, edit guidance documents to help the scientific community to improve standards of animal research and help to run workshops on animal welfare."

Read more about Elliot's career path


 


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