Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human 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 body systems.
veterinary medicine has a long history. In early civilizations, such as those of Mesopotamia and Egypt, people kept animals for food and transportation, and they quickly learned that certain plants could be used to treat various illnesses in their livestock. The first known veterinary school was established in Lyon, France in 1762. Today there are vet schools all over the world teaching future generations of vets how to care for our animal friends.
The mainstay of veterinary treatment is preventative medicine. This means keeping animals healthy through vaccination programmes, good nutrition and husbandry practices (such as clean housing and prompt treatment of any injuries or illness). Regular check-ups by a vet can also help to spot problems early before they become serious. Once illness does occur, vets use a combination of their knowledge about animal anatomy and physiology, along with diagnostic tests such as x-rays and blood tests, to make a diagnosis. They will then recommend appropriate treatment which may include medication, surgery or other interventions.
Vets play an important role in public health by monitoring diseases that can spread from animals to humans (such as rabies) and by working to control outbreaks of contagious diseases among livestock (such as foot-and-mouth disease). They also work hard to reduce the number of unwanted pets through spaying/neutering programmes – this helps to decrease the numbers ending up in shelters or being put down each year.
Vets often form strong bonds with their patients – after all, they see them through some of the best times in their lives (welcoming new puppies into the world) as well as some of the worst (saying goodbye to a much-loved family pet). It’s not surprising then that many people see their vet as more than just someone who looks after their animal’s health – they provide support and advice on everything from training issues to behaviour problems too