When I was a child my parents referred to one of the doctors we saw as "an old vet". I was always uncomfortable going to him because I didn't like going to an old man that was actually an animal doctor. I never confronted them about it, but as an adult I always check the credentials of doctors I am going to see and choose the best qualified.
It was only after my son got home from the Navy and started using the Veterans medical services that I realized that my parents may have been referring to a former military medical man rather than an animal doctor.