Today, the health or illness of a beloved pet is a critical family concern. Fortunately, the profession of veterinary medicine is rising to meet society's needs. Armed with high-technology medical equipment and powerful pharmaceuticals, veterinarians are increasing agricultural productivity and providing companion animals with higher quality healthcare than has ever before been available. Because of advances in technology and training, veterinarians can now provide animals with many of the same advanced services that physicians provide for people. Cardiac pacemakers are used to prolong the lives of pets and artificial joints are implanted to help them walk.
Cancer is treated virtually the same way in animals as it is in people.
Fiberoptics allow glimpses into animal body systems without invasive surgery and arthroscopy puts racehorses back on the track in no time. Computer-based herd and flock health programs are increasing agricultural productivity and genetically engineered drugs and vaccines are mitigating the threats of infectious diseases. But safeguarding animal health is only part of the picture. Today's veterinarian makes important contributions to public health as well. Working along-side physicians and other biomedical researchers, veterinarians are helping other medical scientists win the war against cancer, heart disease, AIDS, infectious diseases, and environmental toxins which threaten the quality of our food, our water, and our future.