What is a veterinarian?

Veterinarians are medical doctors for animals. In private practice, they help animals become well by examining, diagnosing and treating diseases through medication, training and surgery. When an animal is too sick or injured to be treated a veterinarian can also relieve the animal's suffering either by giving palliative care (similar to hospice care in humans) or by administering humane euthanasia with the owner's permission.

Veterinarians also work in other fields, including food safety, medical research, public health and outbreak investigations.