Veterinary medicine is a field where the practitioner plays a
major role in the healthcare of pets, livestock, as well as zoo,
sporting, and laboratory animals. Consequently, it is readily
apparent that this profession offers a plethora of
specializations. Veterinarians often require even broader
training than their human-care counterparts due to the wide
range of species the practitioner may have to treat. All
practicing veterinarians graduated with a D.V.M. (Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine) degree from a four year program at an
accredited college of veterinary medicine and had to obtain
licensure. Currently, only 28 colleges of veterinary medicine
exist in the United States; with a limited number of
institutions and a growing applicant pool, competition is quite
fierce.