Veterinarian veterinarians are doctors trained to protect the health of both animals and people. veterinarians work with large and small animals to evaluate the animals health, diagnose and treat illnesses, provide routine preventative care, prescribe medication and perform surgery. Some veterinarians specialize in areas such as surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, or dentistry. In addition to opportunities in clinical practice, veterinarians may work in zoos, wildlife parks or aquariums, or focus on public health and regulatory medicine. They may even enter academia or perform research