History of Veterinary Medicine

History of Veterinary Medicine
The practice of veterinary medicine is one of the oldest scientific skills developed by humans.

During the Paleolithic period prior to 8000 BC, our ancestors lived in a symbolic relationship with the wild animals around them, hunting them for food, clothing and other materials necessary for survival.

Animals had not yet been domesticated, except possibly the dog. Survival depended on hunting a variety of animals, which included sheep, cows, horses and pigs.

One can easily imagine an ancient hunter caring for a dog that helps him on his hunt, although no archeological evidence from this period has yet been discovered that suggest this sort of prehistoric veterinary care.

The domestication of animals and the development of agriculture began between 3000 – 2500 BC.

The first farm animals to be domesticated were pgs, followed by sheep, goats, horse and oxen, which could be used for working in the fields as well as for food.

Although animals had always has diseases in the wild, people had not lived in close enough contact with them to recognize these disease or formulate remedies against them.

But once the animals were domesticated ensuring their health became a real priority.

Not only were the animals important because they provided the means of survival, they were also highly esteemed by primitive people.

For these reason caring for them became a matter of great concern to the early agriculturalists, although there are no record telling the stories of the successes and failures of the first veterinarians.
History of Veterinary Medicine