{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T16:11:17Z","timestamp":1792599077462,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,3]],"date-time":"2026-03-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772496000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Veterinary forensic pathology is an evolving discipline at the intersection of veterinary medicine, forensic science, and animal welfare law. This article underscores the growing importance of this field in advancing both animal welfare and justice. Drawing on post-mortem examinations, advanced forensic techniques, and real-world case studies, the article highlights how forensic veterinarians differentiate between ante- and post-mortem injuries, estimate time of death, and interpret complex trauma patterns. It also reviews the application of imaging technologies, bloodstain pattern analysis, forensic entomology, and histological tools in forensic investigations. Through illustrative case examples, including neglect, sexual abuse, thermal injuries, firearm wounds, and asphyxia, the article demonstrates the evidentiary value of veterinary pathology in legal contexts. Finally, the article outlines future directions for the field, emphasizing the need for standardized training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and greater legal recognition.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16050785","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,3]],"date-time":"2026-03-03T16:18:45Z","timestamp":1772554725000},"page":"785","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Veterinary Forensic Pathology in the Investigation of Animal Cruelty: Post-Mortem Insights, Forensic Tools, Case Studies, and Legal Perspectives"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Julia Francesca","family":"Gilbert","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Istv\u00e1n utca 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julia Eyl\u00fcl","family":"Aysu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Istv\u00e1n utca 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0168-4753","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Istv\u00e1n","family":"T\u00f3th","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Istv\u00e1n utca 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1634-6730","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna","family":"Szilasi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Istv\u00e1n utca 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3447-4469","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"M\u00edra","family":"M\u00e1ndoki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Istv\u00e1n utca 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100087","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fsiae.2024.100087","article-title":"Application of legal veterinary medicine: Main toxic agents versus real cases of intentional intoxication in domestic animals analyzed in criminal expertize in central Brazil","volume":"5","author":"Tostes","year":"2024","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. 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