Crossword Genius

They know how to treat animals (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

vets

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'they know how' is the definition.
The definition suggests an adverb but the answer is not.

'treat animals' is the wordplay.
'treat' becomes 'vet' (vetting is a kind of treating).
'animals' becomes 's' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'vet'+'s'='VETS'

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for vets that I've seen before include "Inspects (animals?)" , "Critically examines" , "Animal surgeons" , "Screens for the job perhaps" , "Examines the animal doctors carefully?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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