About the Medical Emblems

Among the logos featuring veterinary medical emblems, I have used both the Rod of Asclepius and the Caduceus as symbols. 

The Greek God Asclepius is associated with healing and medicine, and the symbol of a single snake wrapped around a rod or staff—The Rod of Asclepius—has long been associated with medicine and health care.

The Rod of Asclepius is often confused with the Caduceus, the staff of the Greek god Hermes, which is widely—and purists say incorrectly—used as a symbol by healthcare organizations and medical practices. Featuring two snakes twined around a central rod or staff with wings, the Caduceus was adopted in 1902 as the insignia of the U.S. Army Medical Corps, with a superimposed V used to signify the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps.

The Rod of Asclepius tends to be the dominant symbol used worldwide by professional healthcare associations, while the Caduceus is more widely used by commercial healthcare organizations in America. 

Although the Rod of Asclepius is considered the more “correct” symbol of healing and medicine, the Caduceus is now widely understood to symbolize healthcare as well. With the superimposed V, either will mean “veterinary medicine” to most people.