I don’t know what part of the country you’re from, but no one I have known has ever sought medical attention from a veterinarian.
Were these people who went to veterinarians smarter than an average gopher?
Think about it. It wasn’t all that long ago that only a minority of the people lived in cities; most lived in rural locales on farms, ranches, and homesteads.
There were no hospitals at all, and if there was a medical doctor anywhere around he was harried, overworked, or on a call elsewhere, and was most likely paid in produce or goods or labor (since money was usually limited, scarce, or non-existent).
People tended to treat themselves, or they went to someone who had some kind of medical training or background. Hence, dentists and veterinarians were often “called to duty” to treat human ailments and injuries. In fact, a lot of baby deliveries were performed by veterinarians; and, of course, midwives. In the army, battle casualties were treated by doctors, veterinarians, dentists, and anyone who happened to be near by.