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What is a Veterinary Specialist?
Just like your own doctor, your general practice veterinarian will refer to a specialist when required.

The difference between a generalist and a specialist

Just like your own doctor, your general practice veterinarian will refer to a specialist when required. A general veterinarian provides routine preventive care, vaccinations, and treats common illnesses and injury. In comparison, a veterinary specialist, similar to specialists in human medicine, have completed 3-5 years of extensive post-graduate training and rigorous exams in order to become board certified in a distinct discipline. There any many specialty disciplines available in Veterinary Medicine including Surgery, Oncology, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Emergency and Critical Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Anaesthesia, Behaviour, Ophthalmology and Dermatology (just to name a few).

To become Board-certified, a veterinarian must have completed, at a minimum, five years of veterinary school, a one year internship or equivalent, and two to three years in a residency program that meets the standards of a recognized specialty college or board. There are additional training and caseload requirements that must be met during the residency and finally, to become a board certified specialist, the veterinarian must pass a series of rigorous examinations.

How We Can Work Together

Like most health care fields, the veterinary profession has become multi-tiered. Most conditions that develop in our animals are first evaluated by a primary care veterinarian. If an animal develops a problem or illness requiring advanced care and procedures, your primary care veterinarian or emergency room veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary specialist.

Veterinary specialists work closely with animal owners, as well as the primary care veterinarian, to coordinate the best quality of care. It is critical for the animal owner, primary care veterinarian and board-certified veterinary specialist to communicate and work together to provide the best care for our pets.

How Do I Find a Veterinary Specialist?

Most specialists work at large hospitals, referral centres or academic institutions (eg Universities). Therefore, in addition to having advanced training, they also have access to state-of-the-art facilities, equipment and support staff that may not be available to your primary care veterinarian. At the same time, they may be able to coordinate treatment with other veterinary specialists to ensure that the highest quality of care is available for each of the animal’s medical or surgical ailments.

Specialists work to advance the veterinary profession

In addition to treating patients in hospitals and academic institutions, veterinary specialists help advance the profession through research and clinical trials that develop new diagnostic and treatment options for animals. They improve the standard of veterinary care by teaching veterinary students and residents, presenting at continuing education events, publishing peer-reviewed articles, research abstracts, and review papers, and consulting with general practitioners on individual cases. Veterinary specialists are highly trained veterinarians and valuable members of your animal’s healthcare team. Their expertise helps achieve the best possible outcomes for both animals and their owners.

Please do not hesitate to talk to your general practice veterinarian if you feel that specialist care is the correct next step for your pet. Here at ACES, we are always ready to talk to your general practice veterinarian and answer any questions or concerns they may have.