Veterinary medicine is the application of medical diagnostic and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, and wildlife animals.
Veterinary medicine is informally as old as the human animal bond but in recent years has expanded exponentially because of the availability of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for most species. While large-animal veterinary medicine still focuses predominantly on safeguarding and supporting the food supply, small-animal and exotic medicine are increasingly similar to human medicine. Small animals (particularly cats and dogs) have become integrated into families and are often recipients of advanced medical care including hip replacements, cataract surgeries, and pacemakers.
In many countries, equine veterinary medicine is also a specialized field. Clinical work with horses involves mainly locomotory and orthopaedic problems, digestive tract conditions (including equine colic, which is a major cause of death among domesticated horses), and respiratory tract infections and disorders.
Education in Veterinary Medicine
Many universities worldwide confer undergraduate degrees in veterinary medicine. In most countries, veterinary practitioners are regulated and registered on a national or state level. While the duration and exact content of undergraduate degrees in veterinary medicine varies, they are typically from 4 to 7 years in duration. They consist of several introductory years which may include some “pre-vet” or general scientific training. These pre-clinical years provide a basis in veterinary anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, parasitology, and other important subject areas. The final years of most veterinary medicine degrees consist of a greater proportion of practical clinical work, in which students are guided to apply the theory they have learnt in a supervised environment.
