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

And a small but growing number of international veterinarians have united to bring cannabis into mainstream veterinary medicine through education, research and activism. —Rachel Nuwer, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024

White female, married with two school-age children and works in veterinary medicine. —Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 5 Feb. 2024

And though cancer is one of the most common causes of death across all breeds, veterinary medicine is getting better at treating it. —Jennifer Nelson, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2023

The state of Maryland approved the UMES program for veterinary medicine in January, and the school will join Tuskegee University as the only other HBCU that offers such a program in the country. —Essence, 22 Feb. 2024

Michigan Humane's vice president of veterinary medicine, Dr. Crystal Sapp, says pasture livestock need to have the option of a three-sided shed with an opening that has southern exposure to protect from wind while maintaining adequate ventilation for fresh air to circulate. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024

State Republican lawmakers have threatened to withhold $31 million for its veterinary medicine program, the only state appropriation the private university receives. —Stephanie Saul, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2024

Over the decades, staff have worked with colleagues in China to gain insights on panda husbandry, nutrition, behavior, genetics, veterinary medicine and reproduction. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023

Chinese universities require faculty to take courses on protecting state secrets, even in departments like veterinary medicine. —Vivian Wang, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2023

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