22 Nov Veterinary Translation: A Science Everyone Should Know

While closely linked to human health, veterinary science remains a relatively unexplored field for medical translators. This is despite veterinary translation playing a vital role in environmental protection, food safety, and animal health, as well as in public health. In fact, at least 60% of all known infectious human diseases, and 75% of emerging human diseases originate in animals. Nevertheless, veterinary translation is an extremely specialised field in its own right, in which mere extrapolation from human medicine is not enough. Professional veterinary translation services are essential to ensure accuracy and compliance in the animal health industry.

Key factors in a perfect veterinary translation

One of the first questions a translator needs to answer is ‘who am I writing for?’. Indeed, both the choice of terminology and the register of the final text should be driven by the end readers’ characteristics: ‘who are they and what do they know?’.

Failing to take the readership into account when making translation decisions can distort or obscure a text’s intended message and, thus, diminish the quality of the translation.

Main audiences

The first main audience in veterinary translation is veterinary surgeons. These professionals complete highly specialised degrees covering many fields, including animal nutrition, parasitology, bovine reproduction, equine medicine, dermatology, animal behaviour, and anaesthesiology.

Their expertise is diverse, and their professional roles also vary greatly. Veterinary surgeons may work in clinical practice, research organisations, universities, industry, or government institutions.

The second important audience is pet owners. This is a non-specialised and highly diverse group that includes anyone who owns a cat, dog, or other pet. Many types of documents are written for this audience, such as diagnostic test leaflets, disease information websites, pet food guides, and emerging disease information.

These texts share a common challenge. The terminology and tone must be clear, simple, and easy for non-specialists to understand.

Veterinary translation requires much more than choosing the right words in the target language. Translators must consider the target audience, the context, market trends, and the regulatory framework affecting the sector. Working with experienced professionals specialised in veterinary translation services helps companies and organisations communicate accurately in international animal health markets.