Veterinary medicine is the branch of science that deals with the application of medical, surgical, public health, dental, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to non-human animals, including wildlife and domesticated animals, including livestock, working animals, and companion animals. Practitioners of veterinary medicine are known as veterinarians. In most developed countries, veterinarians are highly qualified professionals with advanced educations.

Veterinary science helps human health through the monitoring and control of zoonotic disease (infectious disease transmitted from non-human animals to humans) and veterinary scientists often collaborate with epidemiologists.

Employment is expected to increase more than average and much faster in comparison to other career options, ensuring job opportunities in the field of veterinary medicine. It has been stated that this expected increase is near 35% over the next decade; it is a direct result of the increase of certain pet populations, such as cats, and the increased amount of pet owners willing to purchase pet insurance, which then increases the amount of treatment that the owner is willing to fund. Additionally, modern veterinary medicine has caught up to human medicine in many areas such as cancer treatment, preventative dental care, hip replacements, transplants, and blood transfusions. These medical advances have encouraged pet owners to take advantage of these new medical possibilities, likewise increasing the need for veterinary care because of the increased demand. One other area of increased demand for veterinarians in seen in the continued support for public health and food and animal safety, CDC national disease control programs, and biomedical research on human health problems.

Veterinarian’s incomes continued to increase during 2005–2007, but this increase is not expected to continue as much in the years of 2007-2009. Salaries in the field of veterinary medicine vary depending on the individual’s experience, responsibility, location geographically, and field of employment. In particular at the end of 2007, veterinarians who worked in private practice earned more in comparison to many other areas of public practice, and men still earned more than women.

The Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc or BVSC) or "Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine" (BVetMed) is a bachelor's degree for studies in veterinary science in the United Kingdom and some other countries. In the US, these degrees are equivalent to DVM/VMD degrees. They are not called "doctorate" degrees due to nomenclature differences among degree designations between the US and Canada and the UK. In the UK, a doctorate degree designation is reserved for advanced academic degrees resulting in a thesis publication and dissertation, as in a Ph.D.

It is generally a 5-year course. (Cambridge Veterinary School's course lasts 6 years and the degree awarded is a VetMB). Some universities will award the students a BSc after the first 3 years, and the BVSc after the final 2 years.

The degree is generally required for becoming a veterinarian in the countries where it is awarded.

The Master of Veterinary Science (MVSC or MVSc) is a master's degree awarded for studies in the field of veterinary science. It can be awarded for research, or it can be a taught degree, or both. Masters degree defines eligibility for research as senior research fellows and lectureship as well. time duration of this course is generally 2 years comprising specializations in different areas of animal sciences including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, animal nutrition, livestock production and management as well as livestock products technology, microbiology, virology, and animal breeding and genetics. Masters programmes in the field of pathology and parasitology are also being offered by some colleges and universities.