Veterinary medicine explained to kids

Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in animals. The word "veterinary" comes from the Latin word for "beast of burden," which reflects the fact that the early practitioners of veterinary medicine were mostly concerned with the care of working animals like horses and oxen. Today, of course, veterinary medicine encompasses the care of all kinds of animals, from the smallest pets to the largest livestock. Veterinarians must have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree from an accredited veterinary college. In order to be admitted to a veterinary college, students must first complete a pre-veterinary program at a college or university. After graduation, veterinarians may choose to specialize in a particular area of veterinary medicine, such as surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, or dermatology. Some veterinarians also choose to work in public health, food safety, or research. Veterinary medicine is a demanding and challenging profession, but it can be extremely rewarding. Helping animals and their owners is a very gratifying experience.