Public Health The general public tends to think of veterinary medicine only in terms of preventing disease in animals; however, the profession also exists to prevent disease in animals and in humans. Veterinary medicine, in fact, is the only comparative medicine profession. The online encyclopedia Wikipedia defines the comprehensive thrust of the veterinary medicine mission thus: Veterinary medicine is the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. Veterinary science is vital to the study and protection of animal production practices, herd health and monitoring the spread of disease. It requires the acquisition and application of scientific knowledge in multiple disciplines and uses technical skills directed at disease prevention.
