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A Vet's Voice: When to consult a veterinary specialist
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Posted by nwv_admin Wed Sep 15, 2004 10:29:00 PDT
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I often have clients ask me about veterinary specialists and when it is appropriate to send their pet to a specialist. I would like to explain what a veterinary specialist does. I will also address, in general terms, when a pet may need to be referred to one.

As I discussed last week, most veterinarians have eight years of college education. A veterinarian that is a specialist continues their education as a resident for four to six years after graduating from veterinary school. They narrow their field of study to a single area. Examples of these areas of study include cardiology, dermatology, surgery, internal medicine and radiology. After finishing their residency, a specialist is required to take and pass a comprehensive exam (a board exam) before they can become certified as a specialist in their chosen field.

Most specialists practice in larger cities or remain at veterinary schools as faculty members. As far as I know, there are no specialists in small animal medicine that live in our area. We are very lucky to have an excellent group of local veterinarians, but most clients will have to travel out of the area to see a specialist. There are some veterinary specialists that do travel to Bakersfield on a regular basis to provide services to pets in town. I know that a dermatologist, an orthopedic surgeon and an ophthalmologist do visit about once a month. Ask your own veterinarian or e-mail me and you should be able to get details regarding when these specialists are here.

Situations arise when a pet needs a special technique or procedure that is not available locally. This is when the option of referral to a specialist is normally offered by your family veterinarian. Sometimes advanced diagnostic studies, such as an MRI, may need to be done. Sometimes a pet may need a surgical procedure that requires equipment and advanced training that only a specialist can provide, such as some arthroscopic and endoscopic procedures. Many surgeries of the eye are best left to a specialist. Many cancer treatments can only be done at a cancer center for animals.

The right time to refer a pet is best made with your veterinarian after review of all the findings of a particular case. The fact that you will normally travel to Los Angeles or UC Davis for care, as well as the expense for advanced care, are certainly things that need to be considered. In most cases, you would need to have an initial consultation with the specialist before a treatment plan and an estimate of expected charges can be given.

There is no doubt that the availability of advanced specialized veterinary care has helped improve the quality of life for many pets. Ask your veterinarian about this option if you feel that referral to a specialist may be appropriate for your pet.

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