veterinario

A veterinario is a trained professional who diagnoses, treats and prevents disease and injury in animals. The term is used in several Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese) and corresponds to the English "veterinarian." Veterinarians work with companion animals, livestock, equids, wildlife and exotic species, applying medical, surgical and preventive care to promote animal health and well-being.

Becoming a veterinario typically requires completion of a veterinary medicine degree from an accredited university, followed by licensing or registration with a national or regional regulatory body. Training covers anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, surgery, diagnostics, epidemiology and animal behaviour. Many veterinarians pursue postgraduate specializations, residencies or certifications in fields such as surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, cardiology, pathology, epidemiology or laboratory animal medicine.

Day-to-day responsibilities include clinical examinations, diagnostic testing, surgical procedures, vaccination and parasite control programs, client education, and record-keeping. Veterinarians also play roles in public and animal health through zoonotic disease control, food safety inspection, herd health management and contributions to biomedical research.

Veterinarians practice in diverse settings including private clinics, animal hospitals, farms, zoos, research institutions and government agencies. Ethical considerations—animal welfare, informed consent, professional responsibility and stewardship of antimicrobial use—are central to the profession, which balances individual patient care with broader public and ecosystem health concerns.