Veterinary Medicine Overview
Veterinary medicine is a medical field dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and preventing health issues in animals. Veterinarians work with various animals, including pets, livestock, wildlife, and, exotic animals. Their roles involve animal health care, public health, animal welfare, and biomedical research.
While the practice of veterinary medicine is focused on animals, what you may not know is that veterinary health care workers also contribute to human public health by controlling zoonotic diseases, those diseases passed from non-human animals to humans, such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus.
The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both domesticated and wild, with a range of conditions that can affect different species.
Veterinary medical workers include:
- Veterinarians: Physicians who protect the health of both animals and humans, veterinarians may have their own practice caring for companion animals, or they may work in zoos, wildlife parks, or aquariums; focus on public health and regulatory medicine; enter academia or research; or they may pursue other career paths.
- Veterinary technicians: These workers assist veterinarians with surgery, laboratory procedures, radiography, anesthesiology, treatment and nursing and client education. Almost every state requires a veterinary technician to pass a credentialing exam to ensure a high level of competency.
- Veterinary assistants: They support the veterinarian and/or the veterinary technician in their daily tasks. The assistant may be asked to perform kennel work, assist in the restraint and handling of animals, feed and exercise the animals, or spend time on clerical duties.
Other roles in a veterinary office may include a receptionist and a practice manager (someone who manages the office’s business functions).
Animal behaviorists are also a part of the veterinary field though they are not usually found in a veterinarian’s office. They study the way animals behave and try to determine what causes certain types of behavior and what factors can prompt behavior change. Most animal behaviorists are employed in academic settings, usually in biology or psychology departments, where they teach and engage in high-level research.
AAVMC’s Vet Med Pathways
Vet Med Pathways is the official resource for anyone interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Vet Med Pathways aims to illuminate the endless pathways within the world of veterinary medicine and support and inspire the next generation of community leaders. Future veterinary professionals of all backgrounds and abilities can discover and nurture their passion for animals into a fulfilling life-long career.
Follow Vet Med Pathways on Facebook, X, and Instagram for updates about the veterinary medicine profession, and upcoming webinars and events.
Learn More
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Visit the Vet Med Pathways website for more information about a career in veterinary medicine.
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Explore the veterinary career paths you can take.
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Learn about becoming a veterinarian , veterinary technician, and about the veterinary health care team.
The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges has reviewed this overview.