# why are not doctors and vets interchangable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 26, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264 "2006-06-26T21:26:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/21 "2006-06-27T15:59:22Z")
For what it’s worth, my cousin once took his dog to the ER. He’d been near the hospital with the dog, and something happened where the dog was hit by a car (I’m not sure of the exact circumstances.) My cousin is not the brightest bulb in the pack, and he paniced. Looking up, he saw the hospital ER sign. He picked up the dog and ran in there. Lucky for him and the dog, the ER was having a slow day, and the doctors there fixed the dog right up. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/22 "2006-06-27T16:01:26Z")
[QUOTE=t-bonham@scc.net] Heck, even Vets specalize in particular types of animals. There are small animal vets that work with cats, dogs, birds, & similar pets; and large animal (farm) vets who deal mainly with horses & cows. [/QUOTE] I do small animal medicine and surgery; dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, guinea pigs, ferrets, etc. In my area I am the only veterinarian who sees birds and reptiles. Not far from me is a feline-only practice. About once a year I will do some equine work for a friend who cannot afford a “real” equine vet. I have sutured a few lacerations for friends during camping trips/holiday parties/drunken orgies. For all I know this is a violation of the law, however. I have removed a few bothersome skin tags from my own body using local anesthesia. I have never met a veterinarian who did not self medicate friom their pharmacy when the need arose. That said, a colleague of mine treated herself for some “minor” problem. She had an adverse reaction to the medication and ended up hospitalized. I have always thought about doing “back alley” abortions should they become illegal. Not _seriously_ thinking, but it could be a lucrative sideline.😉 ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/23 "2006-06-27T16:04:49Z")
[QUOTE=Athena] Lucky for him and the dog, the ER was having a slow day, and the doctors there fixed the dog right up. [/QUOTE] And in doing so, violated many laws that regulate the practice of medicine, both human and veterinary. I have been advised that should a human have an injury while in my office, I should offer to call an ambulance. Period. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/24 "2006-06-27T16:15:00Z")
Well doctors are vets who have specialised in one single animal species 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/25 "2006-06-27T16:26:28Z")
Well- some things, like for example, suturing a minor wound, or administering an injection, I’d have no problem letting a vet do, because then all that matters is skin, fat and muscle, and the ability to wield a needle with some skill, and the techniques are beasically the same regardless of species. For diagnosing the cause of a funny feeling in my abdomen, prescribing medications, or performing surgery I’d rather see a doctor. Other than wrapping a sick animal in a blanket and taking it to the vet, and being able to recognise when an animal is in shock or pain, I haven’t got the foggiest notion of what to do with them- that’s why vets are there! ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/26 "2006-06-27T17:58:09Z")
Just popping in to point out that the vet does not have access to the single most valuable diagnostic tool an MD has. The vet can’t ask the patient, “How do you feel?” ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/27 "2006-06-27T19:08:56Z")
[QUOTE=cactus waltz] I see that humans and animals are different in many aspects. Seperating doctors from veterinarians is a must. However, both humans and most pet animals are mammals. So, wouldn’t doctors and vets be interchangable to at least some form of degree? Could a veterinarian be assigned for ‘basic’ human check-ups and the other way around? [/QUOTE] I think we’re getting off track from the original question. Anybody with medical training is better than Aunt Betty and her castor oil. For dog, human or newt. Would we really want to have a basic check-up from someone who specializes in newts? If you are a newt, yes. But if something suddenly goes wrong you will be damn glad for any help you can get. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/28 "2006-06-27T21:49:09Z")
I’m a newt. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/29 "2006-06-27T23:03:54Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] I’m a newt. [/QUOTE] You’ll get better. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/30 "2006-06-27T23:10:18Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] The vet can’t ask the patient, “How do you feel?” [/QUOTE] But in a (diagnostic) laparatomy, the vet can simply cut the patient open from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis - a practice not recommended for people who might want to hit the beach any time afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/31 "2006-06-27T23:56:16Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] Just popping in to point out that the vet does not have access to the single most valuable diagnostic tool an MD has. The vet can’t ask the patient, “How do you feel?” [/QUOTE] One of my favorite Will Roger’s quotes > [@](#): > > The best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can’t ask his patients what is the matter-he’s got to just know. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/32 "2006-06-28T01:59:39Z")
[QUOTE=hawksgirl] I mean, if there was a natural disaster in the area or something where the hospitals were jammed and I needed medical attention (nothing super serious), heck, I’d have a vet set my broken arm or whatever if I could. I wouldn’t have them do surgery, mostly just because I also wouldn’t let a dermatologist perform surgery on me either; its not their specialty. [/QUOTE] There was an article in the NY Times Science section a few months back that talked about leveraging dentists and their offices in the case of terrorist attack/natural disaster. The justification was that their offices are well equiped with sterile instruments and anasthesia. They can suture wounds and I’m sure other activities that I can’t name off the top of my head right now. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/33 "2006-06-28T09:43:26Z")
I heard an interview on NPR with a guy who had gone to school to be a vet, but never opened practice, preferring to be a mountain climber. When asked if his vet training had come in handy with dealing with injured pack animals and the like, he replied, “Actually, I’ve used it more on people than I have on the animals.” ---
**Author:** ![gabriela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@gabriela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gabriela)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/34 "2006-06-28T09:59:00Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] Just popping in to point out that the vet does not have access to the single most valuable diagnostic tool an MD has. The vet can’t ask the patient, “How do you feel?” [/QUOTE] Neither can I. ---
**Author:** ![gabriela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@gabriela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gabriela)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/35 "2006-06-28T10:01:22Z")
[QUOTE=Fish Cheer] But in a (diagnostic) laparatomy, the vet can simply cut the patient open from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis - a practice not recommended for people who might want to hit the beach any time afterwards. [/QUOTE] But so can I. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264/36 "2006-06-28T11:51:58Z")
[QUOTE=gabriela] Neither can I. [/QUOTE] 😃 But people don’t expect your patients to get up and walk out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-not-doctors-and-vets-interchangable/362264.md?page=1)