What job did the first veterinarian do to become a veterinarian?

One of the first modern veterinarians, Dr. Claude Bourgelat, was originally a barrister (lawyer) who observed rinderpest decimating the livestock of France. He left his law practice and devoted his time to developing a cure for rinderpest, which eventually led him to found the first modern school of veterinary medicine in Lyon, France. He was self-taught from human anatomy and medical books as well as any publications on the diseases of animals.