The Modern Dog Library

The Journey to a Vet Specialist

Like human medicine, some vets choose to specialize beyond primary care. These disciplines include cardiology, internal medicine, and dermatology.

So how do you find a good specialist? Most small animal vets will be able to recommend a local specialist should one be required. Additionally, several of the licensing organizations maintain searchable directories.

For particularly perplexing medical situations, local veterinary colleges can also be an excellent resource. These vets are often at the cutting edge of veterinary research and development.

What about non-veterinary specialists?

Specialists like acupuncturists and rehabilitation therapists may help with particular health conditions. These individuals, while many are not veterinarians, also receive additional training and have licensing directories.

Vet specialists are very expensive, but can be well worth the investment. Primary care vets, while excellent at preventative care, do not usually have the same experience and knowledge as a specialist in her particular area. It is often better to spend the money to see a specialists early, than spend time and money on repeated visits to a non-specialist.