Veterinarska je medicina u nekim starim civilizacijama bila odvojena od humane medicine pa su štoviše tada postojali i stručnjaci za različite vrste životinja. U radu je dat kratak pregled veterinarstva pojedinih civilizacija starog vijeka. Smatra se da je Chiron (1350.-1270. pr. Krista) prvi koji je liječio, uporabio i uveo konja u ruralnu poljoprivredu. U povijesti se spominje prvi veterinar Urlugaledinnu koji je pretkraj III. milenija pr. Krista imao praksu na dvoru kralja u gradu Lagašu u Mezapotamiji. Najstariji pisani medicinski dokument jest Nipurska ploča iz 2100 g. pr. Krista. Na njoj je sumerski liječnik ispisao 12 recepata za pripremu
ljekovitih masti i napitaka. Najstariji pisani podatak o liječenju životinja i o veterinarstvu u robovlasničkom društvu jest Veterinarski papirus, koji je pisan na papirusu u Egiptu 4000 g. pr. Krista. U Egiptu 3000 g. pr. Krista postoji viša škola „Dom života“ u kojoj se uz druge discipline učilo i veterinarstvo, dok su specijalna znanja iz veterinarstva mladići dobivali u Memfisu i drugim gradovima. Procvat je veterinarstvo doživjelo u starom Rimu u kojemu nalazimo puno knjiga o veterinarstvu. U Hrvatskoj nalazimo rimske ostatke vezane za stočarstvo.In certain early civilisations, veterinary medicine was distinguished from human medicine, and professionals dealt with specific animal species. This study provides a short review of the veterinary profession in several ancient civilizations. It is considered that Chiron (1350-1270 BC) was the first person to treat, use and introduce horses to rural agriculture. The first veterinarian mentioned in history was Urlugaledin, who by the end of third millennium BC had practiced at the king’s palace in the city of Lagaš in Mesopotamia. The oldest written medical document is the Nipur Tablet, dating to 2100 BC. This tablet contains twelve recipes for the preparation of medical ointments and potions written by Sumerian physicians. The oldest written record on animal treatment and the veterinary profession in the slavery society is the Veterinary Papyrus, written in Egypt in 4000 BC. A higher centre of learning called the ”Home of Life” was established in Egypt in 3000 BC, for education in the veterinary profession among other disciplines. Here, special training for the veterinary profession was organized for young men in Memphis and other cities. Numerous records indicated that the veterinary profession began to blossom in Ancient Rome. In Croatia, several Roman ruins are associated with animal husbandry
