veterinary medicine

noun

: a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, and treatment of disease and injury in domestic and wild animals

About 36 percent of all veterinarians now devote themselves to small-animal practice. Correspondingly, the discipline of veterinary medicine has become more scientific and specialized.

—Bayard Webster

Another successful non-traditional treatment being steadily incorporated into western veterinary medicine is acupuncture.

—Faith A. Uridel

Examples of veterinary medicine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thomas Pool earned his advanced degree in public health from Harvard University and his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Oklahoma State University. —Thomas Pool, The Denver Post, 30 Oct. 2024

State of play: The shelter is partnering with Denver Public Schools to expose children to potential careers in veterinary medicine, which is experiencing a staffing shortage in Colorado. —Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024

Sheila Bolin - The Regal Swan Foundation, US Advocate for swans worldwide through conservation, research, veterinary medicine and education, Bolin is the president and CEO of The Regal Swan Foundation. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Sep. 2024

These VPAs once licensed by the state will be able to perform almost all of the same duties as a doctor of veterinary medicine under the doctor’s supervision. —The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

veterinary medicine

noun

: a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, and treatment of disease and injury in domestic and wild animals

Stem cells are most commonly used in clinical veterinary medicine in therapeutic applications for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries in horses and dogs.

—Lisa A. Fortier and Alexander J. Travis, Stem Cell Research and Therapy

Acupuncture is being used much more commonly now as a sole or integrative modality in veterinary medicine and can play a large role in management of inflammation and chronic pain.

—Shauna L. Cantwell, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine