Veterinary

Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both domesticated and wild, with a wide range of conditions which can affect different species.

Veterinary medicine is widely practiced, both with and without professional supervision. Professional care is most often led by a veterinary physician (also known as a vet, veterinary surgeon or veterinarian), but also by paraveterinary workers such as veterinary nurses or technicians. This can be augmented by other paraprofessionals with specific specialisms such as animal physiotherapy or dentistry, and species relevant roles such as farriers.

Veterinary science helps human health through the monitoring and control of zoonotic disease (infectious disease transmitted from non-human animals to humans), food safety, and indirectly through human applications from basic medical research. They also help to maintain food supply through livestock health monitoring and treatment, and mental health by keeping pets healthy and long living. Veterinary scientists often collaborate with epidemiologists, and other health or natural scientists depending on type of work. Ethically, veterinarians are usually obliged to look after animal welfare.

History

The Egyptians were the first to establish veterinary medicine as a profession, with evidence of veterinary practices being established as early as 3000 BC. The Indian Buddhist emperor Ashoka established veterinary hospitals and animal shelters, and the Greek physician Hippocrates often wrote about the health and care of animals.

In the Middle Ages, Arab veterinarians were the leaders in the field, and their works were used as references by European scholars. The first veterinary school was founded in Lyon, France in 1761 by Claude Bourgelat, and this was followed by the establishment of other schools in other parts of Europe and America.

Education and regulation

The provision of good veterinary education is critical to the provision of good veterinary care. The first step in becoming a vet is to complete a veterinary degree (either a Bachelor's or a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine). This is followed by a period of supervised practice or internship, and then licensure to practice veterinary medicine.

In many countries, the government has established regulatory bodies to ensure that only qualified vets are allowed to practice. These bodies also regulate the use of certain drugs and treatments, and ensure that vets adhere to ethical guidelines.

Veterinary specialties

There are many different types of veterinary specialties, including animal behavior, animal welfare, zoo medicine, equine medicine, avian medicine, reptile medicine, wildlife medicine, aquatic medicine, laboratory animal medicine, radiology, anesthesiology, surgery, internal medicine, neurology, dermatology, ophthalmology, cardiology, oncology, endocrinology, epidemiology, pathology, toxicology, pharmacology, immunology, microbiology, parasitology, virology, nutrition, dentistry, orthopedics, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.

See also

• Veterinary physician
• Veterinary surgery
• Veterinary pathology
• Veterinary specialties
• Veterinary ethics
• Veterinary legislation
• Veterinary education
• Veterinary research

Veterinary Resources
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