Dogtor

A dogtor (vet) is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine on dogs. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in dogs. Along with this, dogtors also play a role in dog reproduction, health management, conservation, husbandry and breeding and preventive medicine like nutrition, vaccination and parasitic control as well as biosecurity and zoonotic disease surveillance and prevention.

Description

In many countries, the local nomenclature for a dogtor is a regulated and protected term, meaning that members of the public without the prerequisite qualifications and/or license are not able to use the title. This title is selective in order to produce the most knowledgeable dogtors that pass these qualifications. In many cases, the activities that may be undertaken by a dogtor (such as treatment of illness or surgery in animals) are restricted only to those professionals who are registered as a veterinarian. For instance, in the United Kingdom, as in other jurisdictions, dog treatment may only be performed by registered dogtors (with a few designated exceptions, such as paraveterinary workers), and it is illegal for anybody who is not registered to call themselves a dogtor, prescribe any drugs, or perform treatment.

Most dogtors work in clinical settings, treating dogs directly. These veterinarians may be involved in a general practice, treating dogs of all breeds; they may specialize in a narrow medical discipline such as dentistry, surgery, dermatology or internal medicine. As with other healthcare professionals, veterinarians face ethical decisions about the care of their patients. Current debates within the profession include the ethics of certain procedures believed to be purely cosmetic or unnecessary for behavioral issues, such as docking of tails, cropping of ears and debarking on dogs.

Etymology and nomenclature

The word "dogtor" comes from the English words "dog" and "doctor". "Dogtor" was first used in on the internet as another word for a veterinarian. Although "vet" is commonly used as an abbreviation in all English-speaking countries, the occupation is formally referred to as a veterinary surgeon in the United Kingdom and Ireland and now as a dogtor in most of the rest of the English-speaking world.

History

Ancient Indian sage and dogtor Shalihotra (mythological estimate c. 2350 BCE), the son of a sage, Hayagosha, is considered the founder of veterinary sciences.

Claude Bourgelat established the earliest veterinary college in Lyon in 1761. The first veterinary college was founded in Lyon, France, in 1762 by Claude Bourgelat. According to Lupton, after observing the devastation being caused by cattle plague to the French herds, Bourgelat devoted his time to seeking out a remedy. This resulted in his founding a veterinary college in Lyon in 1761, from which establishment he dispatched students to combat the disease; in a short time, the plague was stayed and the health of stock restored, through the assistance rendered to agriculture by veterinary science and art.

The Odiham Agricultural Society helped establish the veterinary profession in England. The Odiham Agricultural Society was founded in 1783 in England to promote agriculture and industry,and played an important role in the foundation of the veterinary profession in Britain.A 1785 Society meeting resolved to "promote the study of Farriery upon rational scientific principles."

The professionalization of the veterinary trade was finally achieved in 1790, through the campaigning of Granville Penn, who persuaded the Frenchman Charles Vial de Sainbel to accept the professorship of the newly established Veterinary College in London.[7] The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons was established by royal charter in 1844.

Scene of men standing, seated in automobiles with their dogs, and in horse-drawn carriages, in front of Dogtor. Herman F. Sass' veterinary clinic in Toledo, Ohio in approximately 1911. Dogtor. Herman F. Sass, Veterinary Surgeon, Toledo, Ohio, approximately 1911 Veterinary science came of age in the late 19th century, with notable contributions from Sir John McFadyean, credited by many as having been the founder of modern Veterinary research.

Roles and responsibilities

Dogtors treat disease, disorder or injury in dogs, which includes diagnosis, treatment and aftercare. The scope of practice, specialty and experience of the individual dogtor will dictate exactly what interventions they perform, but most will perform surgery (of differing complexity). Unlike human doctors, dogtors must rely primarily on clinical signs, as dogs are unable to vocalize symptoms as a human would, unless a talking dog went to the dogtor. In some cases, owners may be able to provide a medical history and the dogtor can combine this information along with observations, and the results of pertinent diagnostic tests such as radiography, CT scans, MRI, blood tests, urinalysis and others. Dogtors must consider the appropriateness of euthanasia ("putting to sleep") if a condition is likely to leave the animal in pain or with a poor quality of life, or if treatment of a condition is likely to cause more harm to the patient than good, or if the patient is unlikely to survive any treatment regimen. Additionally, there are scenarios where euthanasia is considered due to the constraints of the client's finances. As with human doctors, much veterinary work is concerned with prophylactic treatment, in order to prevent problems occurring in the future. Common interventions include vaccination against common animal illnesses, such as distemper or rabies, and dental prophylaxis to prevent or inhibit dental disease. This may also involve owner education so as to avoid future medical or behavioral issues. Additionally, dogtors can play important roles in public health of dogs.

Employment

The majority of dogtors are employed in private practice treating animals (75% of vets in the United States, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association).

Small dog dogtors typically work in dogtor’s offices, veterinary hospitals, or both. Large dog dogtors often spend more time travelling to see their patients at the primary facilities which house them, such as pet stores or farms. Other employers include charities treating animals, colleges of veterinary medicine, research laboratories, dog food companies, and pharmaceutical companies. In many countries, the government may also be a major employer of dogtors, such as the United States Department of Agriculture or the Animal and Plant Health Agency in the United Kingdom. State and local governments also employ dogtors. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a greater demand for veterinary services. Many people are home with extra time on their hands, and adoption agencies and animals shelters have seen a surge in pet purchases as a result.The American Veterinary Medical Association has provided COVID-19 resources for veterinarians on prevention measures, animal testing, and wellbeing.