A licensed doctor who diagnoses and treats medical conditions in animals, from household pets to livestock and wildlife.
What veterinarians do
Veterinarians examine animals, diagnose illness and injury, perform surgery, prescribe medications, and counsel owners on nutrition, behavior, and preventive care. Large-animal veterinarians serve farms and equine clients, while small-animal vets focus on companion species.
Training path
US veterinarians complete a bachelor’s degree and a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. State licensure requires passing the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination. Specialty board certification requires a residency of three to four years.
Practice areas
Common practice areas include small-animal, equine, food-animal, mixed, exotic, and zoo medicine. Specialties recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association include surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, oncology, and emergency and critical care.
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Veterinarian starts with V and ends with N. Browse other professions along the same letter.
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