Archaeologists in northern Switzerland have excavated a 2nd-century Roman military outpost containing a specialized room identified as a veterinary pharmacy for military working dogs. The find includes small bronze medical probes and ceramic jars containing traces of pine resin and zinc, substances known for their antiseptic properties in canine wound care.
The location of the outpost, near a strategic Alpine pass, suggests these dogs were used for patrol and tracking. Analysis of the skeletal remains found nearby indicates that several older dogs were given medical treatment for arthritis, reflecting the high value the Roman legions placed on their specialized animal units.