Veterinary science (original) (raw)

Veterinary medicine is the application of medical diagnostic and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, and wildlife animals.

Introduction

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. Veterinary medicine ensures the quality, quantity and security of food supplies by controlling the health of animal stocks and meat itself. Also pets (particularly cats and dogs) nowadays often receive advanced medical care including hip replacements, cataract surgeries, and pacemakers. This is mainly a question of how much money the pet's owner is willing to spend on his animal. Same goes for equine and bovine medicine, though from a more financial / economical aspect. For a horse that is worth a few thousand of dollars it is economic to spend a certain amount of money to lengthen it's lifespan, whereas cows, that often don't have a high economic value, especially if they are very young, will not receive expensive operations. Veterinary Scientists are very import in chemical, biological and pharmological research.

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, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, parasitology, animal breeding, botany, animal feeding, radiology, virology, microbiology, zoology, animal physiology, physics, chemistry 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.

See also: School of Veterinary Medicine Hanover

Schools of Veterinary Medicine in Australia

School of Veterinary Medicine in Austria

Schools of Veterinary Medicine in Canada

Schools of Veterinary Medicine in France

Schools of Veterinary Medicine in Germany

Schools of Veterinary Medicine in Great Britain

School of Veterinary Medicine in Ireland

School of Veterinary Medicine in the Netherlands

School of Veterinary Medicine in New Zealand

Schools of Veterinary Medicine in Sweden

Schools of Veterinary Medicine in Switzerland

Schools of Veterinary Medicine in the United States