Veterinary Word Choice

Even the difference between the terms “owner” and “guardian” can have a definitive impact on how veterinarian treatment for companion animals and farmed animals differs. At the Joint Educational Symposium on Animal Welfare, Dr. Candace C. Croney compared the variation in terminology used when discussing small animals versus food animals. From her research, she found “service” and “health care” were more commonly used for horses and livestock, whereas terms like “humane” and “compassion” were favored for companion animals. Word choice, she asserts, influences what a veterinarian will consider “humane treatment” when diagnosing and treating the animal. In her experience, vets may be more willing to inflict a greater level of pain on animals that are not seen as an extension of the family.