just a shot in the dark

I would suggest one of these, given the rudimentary state of veterinary medicine back then.

Mike :)

I know you said you want some other term, but the DRAE says:
albéitar.
(Del ár. hisp. albáyṭar, este del ár. clás. bayṭar o bayṭār, y este del gr. ἱππιατρός).
1. m. veterinario (‖ hombre que ejerce la veterinaria).

And I find it translated as veterinarian in several documents:

... Juan Primero, to become a farrier and veterinarian (albeitar). ..... Ruth Pike, in "Sevillian Society in the Sixteenth Century: Slaves and Freedmen," ...
muse.jhu.edu/journals/the_americas/v057/57.2lane.html


And the bilingual abstract regarding this study of a 17th century "albéitar".
http://asclepio.revistas.csic.es/index.php/asclepio/article/...

Could you keep the term and put veterinarian in parentheses?

Another suggestion:

I expect that during the 14th and 15th century, a word such as "healer" would have been the order of the say.

Hope this helps.



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Note added at 43 mins (2007-07-17 16:03:23 GMT)
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Oops: ... order of the day.

http://www.takeourword.com/et_t-z.html#veterinarian
From Malcolm Dennis:
I am looking for the origin of the word veterinarian. I have found a paper on the subject by one E.A. Lawrence from Tufts University, USA, but I can't find Tufts on the internet to confirm his work. So, can you help? It appears from what Mr. Lawrence says that the word has quite dubious origins and the profession cannot claim any great heritage. Thank you. We're looking forward to seeing our team do great things in Atlanta!
Hello to you in New Zealand! Good luck at the games this summer -- be prepared for heat and humidity in Atlanta. As for veterinarian, this was formed from Latin veterinarius (perhaps by influence of French veterinaire), a derivative of veterinus `of cattle and similar domestic animals' or `of beasts of burden.' Veterinus is thought to come from vetus (genetive veteris) `old,' `experienced,' or possibly `accustomed to the work of a draft animal.' English veteran comes also from Latin vetus, so it is etymologically related to veterinarian! Veterinarian entered English in 1646. As for the profession having dubious origins, I cannot say, but certainly the word's etymology does not preclude veterinarians from being members of a profession with an admirable heritage.

There was not a specific profession of animal healer in that era, but blacksmiths exercised the function for horses.

Following is from the OED:
"An excellent Smith or Farryer who shall euer be furnished with Horse~shooes, nayles, and drugges, both for inward and outward applycations"