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Veterinary medicine is a fun and rewarding industry. Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that focuses on animal health. There are veterinarians, as well as other veterinary professionals, who provide medical services for animals. They seek to diagnose, treat and prevent physical injuries, diseases and other adverse conditions in animals. Below are seven fun facts about veterinary medicine.

#1) The Word ‘Veterinarian’ Means ‘Working Animals’

While most people are familiar with the general duties and responsibilities of veterinarians, many are unfamiliar with the definition of the word “veterinarian.” Derived from the Latin word “vertinae,” it means “working animals.” The word “veterinarian” was first used by English author Sir Thomas Browne. In the mid-17th century, Browne published a book in which he described animal workers as veterinarians. In addition to “veterinarian,” Browne coined dozens of other modern words, some of which include “ulterior,” “ultimate,” “gymnastics,” “medical” and “disruption.”

#2) One-Quarter of Veterinarians Don’t Work in a Private Practice

Private practices are the most common workplace for licensed veterinarians, but many of them work in other types of workplaces. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), roughly one-quarter of licensed veterinarians don’t work in a private practice. Rather, they work in alternative workplaces where animals are present, such as zoos, farms and laboratories. These alternative workplaces still require the services of veterinarians. Whether run by a company, a nonprofit or the government, they’ll hire veterinarians to provide medical services for their respective animals.

#3) Veterinarians Promote Human Health As Well

You might be surprised to learn that veterinarians play a role in human health as well. Animals, of course, can spread certain diseases to humans, including tuberculosis. By providing medical services to animals, veterinarians can stop the spread of these diseases. Veterinarians provide vaccinations, for instance, to immunize animals against infectious diseases. Once vaccinated, animals will have the necessary antibodies to protect against infection, resulting in lower rates of infection among humans as well. The bottom line is that veterinarians indirectly promote human health by treating and preventing infectious diseases in animals.

#4) No Internship Is Required

Unlike doctors, veterinarians aren’t required to complete an internship. In the United States, all doctors must complete an internship. Internships are typically performed immediately after a physician has graduated from medical school. Veterinarians, however, aren’t required to complete an internship. They must still complete a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program, but they don’t have to complete an internship. The only exception is board-certified veterinary specialists. If you want to become a veterinary specialist — as opposed to a traditional licensed veterinarian — you’ll need to complete an internship. Traditional veterinarians, on the other hand, only need to complete a DVM program as well as the program’s prerequisites.

#5) There Are 41 Veterinary Specialities

As revealed on the AVMA’s official website, there are 41 veterinary specialties. Each of these specialties focuses on a narrow, specialized branch of veterinary medicine. Regardless of the specialty, though, they require more schooling than traditional veterinarians. As previously mentioned, you’ll have to complete an internship to become a veterinary specialist. Once you’ve completed a DVM program, you can begin an internship. There are also different licensing and certification requirements for veterinary specialists. To maintain your board-certified status, you’ll have to complete these requirements. Veterinary specialists are still veterinarians; they simply focus on a specialized branch of veterinary medicine.

Examples of veterinary specialties include the following:

• Anesthesiology
• Dentistry
• Cardiology
• Avian
• Exotic animal
• Epidemiology
• Poultry
• Internal medicine
• Radiology
• Oncology
• Surgery
• Laboratory
• Bacteriology
• Reproductive medicine
• Toxicology

#6) Veterinarians Must Take an Oath

Another fun fact about veterinarians is that they must take an oath before they can legally practice. Known as the Veterinarian’s Oath, it’s similar to the oath taken by doctors. Veterinarians must pledge an oath to use their knowledge and skills for the greater benefit of society. The Veterinarian’s Oath has origins dating back to the 1960s, during which it was adopted by the AVMA. It was later amended in 1999 and 2010. Regardless, all veterinarians must take this oath before they can practice.

In Canada, veterinarians are also required to take an oath. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has its own oath, which differs slightly from the AVMA’s oath. They both use similar language, and they both consist of about the same length. Nonetheless, the oath taken by veterinarians in Canada is different than that of the oath taken by veterinarians in the United States. You can find both countries’ oaths for veterinarians by following this link.

#7) Most Veterinarians Are Women

Research conducted by the AVMA shows that most veterinarians are women. According to the AVMA, 55% of all veterinarians are women, compared to just 45% for men. This hasn’t always been the case. In the past, veterinary medicine was a male-predominant industry. Over the past few decades, though, more and more women entered the industry. Women now account for the majority of veterinarians.