About My Veterinary Medicine...

In this my essay, I want to discuss the evolution of veterinary medicine It will touch upon the past, present, and future requirements the education and professional values of the trusted veterinary doctor.As with other disciplines of medical studies, the science of veterinary medicine is always changing. The diseases that were treated in the past have either been virtually erased from the world today, or have morphed themselves into more dangerous and threatening diseases. This creates demand on the veterinarian to constantly change their ways of treating common, and not-so-common diseases. Before the Renaissance, having a doctor for the animals was generally unwanted. As far as the people of the times were concerned, if the animal looked healthy on the outside, they must be fine on the inside as well. In the 1700's, veterinary medicine was taken more seriously.
The first school for people who wanted to become an “animal doctor” was opened in France around 1762. Their studies were focused upon livestock, such as horses and cows. In 1879, the first American school to offer veterinary medicine opened. As with the school in France, they focused primarily on livestock, but soon changed their purview to include companion animals as well. The names of these schools were not available, but the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University was founded in 1894, before the rest of Cornell University was opened. A similarity between Cornell University then and other veterinary schools today are who became, or becomes, part of their medical program: They must be scholars. At that time, the requirement to become eligible for veterinary was a high school diploma, which is the equivalent then to an associate degree today. There were only eleven students in the first class of veterinary science at Cornell University. Women were still taking care of their families during the late 1800's, but a few still found their way into vet school. Veterinarians in the past were not able to work on Sundays, along with other professionals. The only exception to this law was if there was a life or death situation, or to distribute medicine to alleviate the symptoms of a suffering animal. This New Hampshire law was revoked in 1973.

Today, in order to become a veterinarian you follow different educational guidelines in the past. For example, you need more than a high school diploma to go to Medical School.
Any person who goes to medical school today has already taken undergraduate courses for at least two years. Most students becoming doctors, whether in veterinary medicine or another discipline, have gone to college for four years. Some classes offered to help people on their way are chemistry, physics, biology, Mammalian Embryology, and Microbiology. Mammalian Embryology is the study of the development of the fetus in mammals. All of these courses further enhance the understanding on how the bodies of all animals work.

There are many laws regarding those who practice veterinary medicine. One law in New Hampshire, is that doctors must take an exam once every five years. The exam is based on common practices in vet school. It tests the individuals on the knowledge of laws and rules for them to practice medicine in New Hampshire. The test includes a written exam, an interview, and a practical exam. If the individual fails the exam, they have to retake the exam, which is offered twice a year. They are responsible for any registration fees. If they pass the exam, they are licensed to practice medicine for 5 years.

Today there are many different areas of study within veterinary medicine.

Anesthesiologists monitor the sedatives and tranquilizers during surgeries, when an animal is in pain, or in emergencies. Cardiologists monitor the heart. Dentistry is the study of the teeth and gums. Dermatology is the study of skin.

Surgeons make incisions to save animals in emergencies or for preventive reasons. For example, a surgeon may spay a cat to prevent the birth of unwanted animals. Radiologists take pictures of the inside of the body. The pictures are known as X-rays, MRI’s, and ultrasounds.

Theriogenology is the study of the reproduction of animals. The pharmacologist distributes prescription drugs. All of these areas of study contribute to the veterinary doctor. A doctor is usually an expert in a combination of all of these fields. The medical world is changing everyday; the veterinary field is no different. One of the biggest, and most questioned new ideals is the use of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is the use of items occurring in nature to treat diseases and illnesses.
The future of veterinary medicine is predicted to be based more around medicines that occur through natural growth. One of the new methods that are starting to be a big hit in the United States is Homeopathy.Homeopathy was discovered by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in the late 1700's to early 1800's. He noticed the “principles of homeopathy” when he experimented with the theory that “Peruvian Bark cured Malaria because of its bitterness”.
The experiment proved the theory to be true. Homeopathy is claimed to treat the whole person, rather than just their symptoms. It is claimed that if you use a product that brings about symptoms similar to the disease, then you are permanently cured from that disease. For example, Peruvian bark, also known as China, caused Dr. Hahnemann to develop symptoms of Malaria. But the body became immune to these symptoms, and the Malaria bacteria was “quickly and permanently” destroyed.The medical field will continue to change. Where we will be in five years is still a mystery. All these changes will bring about new cures, as well as new diseases.

Midway City,CA 92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen