Is a DVM doctorate degree or equivalent to degree?

A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) is a professional doctorate. It's equivalent to a doctoral degree in that it requires extensive study and culminates in a doctorate, but it's not equivalent to a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in terms of its focus. A DVM is a professional degree focused on the practice of veterinary medicine, while a PhD is a research degree. They are both doctorates, but serve very different purposes.