Veterinization at the Dog-Human-Health Interface Reconfiguring Interspecies Relations in India and the UK

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Health Studies
• Human-Animal Interaction

Background:

• Veterinization emerged in colonial Britain due to rabies fears, altering human-dog relationships.
• This process extended beyond managing animal illness, influencing broader social dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of veterinization on human-dog relations in India and the UK.
• To critically evaluate the consequences of veterinary expansion on interspecies health and well-being.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of human-dog relations in India and the UK.
• Examination of the concept of "species reductionism" in veterinary practices.

Main Results:

• Veterinization's influence is facilitated by its "species reductionism."
• The effects of veterinization on human and animal health and well-being are not uniformly positive.

Conclusions:

• Current paradigms of interspecies health require careful consideration.
• Rethinking health beyond anthropocentrism is necessary for a more holistic approach to animal and human well-being.