Veterinarian: The Animal Doctor As the human heart continues to grow, people's bond with animals grows stronger as they begin to treat their pets like family members. The field of veterinarians is growing scientifically and technologically as they become more and more in demand. Veterinarians have to care about animals, but they also have to separate themselves from their patients, which makes their job so difficult. Many other types of doctors may claim that veterinarians are not real doctors, but they do not fully realize the difficulty of having to know the medical history of more than one species. Working with animals seems like a simple career, but becoming and being a veterinarian is a difficult career path for anyone due to the constantly life-changing decisions and consequences they bring. People in ancient times used horses for transportation, cows for milk and meat, and elephants. to help with heavy work (Stilley 16). So, people began to provide medical care to their animals or slaughter them for food. Veterinary medicine was one of the first true professions to be practiced in ancient times (Stilley 16). Ancient documents dating back to 4000 BC provide evidence of the use of medicinal herbs for humans and animals. Although dogs are considered the first veterinary patients, Egyptian hieroglyphs provide evidence that they dealt with a number of domestic animals (Ho). During these ancient times, veterinarians were held in the highest esteem and were considered miracle workers or gifts from their gods. As early as 4000 BC, livestock were given medicinal herbs to maintain animal and human health in China. Although Babylonian veterinarians practiced veterinary medicine through ...... middle of paper ...... veterinarian to help make their pets healthier and happier. Specialty visits cost between fifty and one hundred dollars, while general veterinary visits cost less than fifty dollars. Specialist visits come at a very high cost due to their high cost of provision and the extensive training they must receive. Certified specialists follow their veterinary school with a two- or four-year internship or residency at a teaching hospital that prepares them for an in-depth exam on their preferred specialty. Due to the growing attachment to animals and the desire of owners to provide the best care to animals, specialist veterinarians are increasingly in demand. After earning a doctorate in veterinary medicine, veterinarians must obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine. To become licensed, a graduate must take and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (Riddle).