A veterinarian may be defined as a person who is qualified and authorized to treat injuries and diseases of domestic animals, surgically or medically. The right to practice veterinary medicine, including veterinary surgery and veterinary dentistry, is governed by statute, administrative regulations, or both. An applicant must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine. Licensing involve imposition of certain standards, such as graduation from an approved school of veterinary medicine and successfully passing an examination. Agreements between veterinarians and their customers regarding the treatment or other disposition of the animals placed in the veterinarian's care impose upon the veterinarian a duty of care conforming with the accepted standards of practice of veterinarians in his or her area.
