{ WHY UTILIZE A VETERINARY SPECIALIST? }
Just as in human medicine, veterinary medical specialists are becoming a valuable resource in treating your pet. Your general practice veterinarian has excellent training in veterinary medicine and acts as a family practice physician to your pet. But just as with human medicine, there are occasions when your veterinarian might want assistance or suggest a referral to a specialist to better meet your pet's needs. Specialists should be board certified by the appropriate agency and are available in ophthalmology, internal medicine, surgery, pathology, oncology and radiology, cardiology, to name a few. You should not be shy about asking your general practice veterinarian for a referral to a specialist if you feel one might be helpful. Your veterinarian and the veterinary specialist know will work together as a team to treat your beloved pet. 
   
{ DOES YOUR PET NEED A SPECIALIST? }
Your prized pet is under the weather and doesn't seem to be responding to your general vet's treatments. Here are some simple questions to ask your veterinarian to determine whether a specialist veterinarian might help:

Would a second opinion be beneficial?

Would my pet's chances of success or improvement be better if we saw a specialist?

Have you seen this problem often, and have you had successful outcomes?

How much experience have you had with this particular procedure or treatment?

Is my pet receiving the most advanced and aggressive treatment possible?  

SOURCE: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

       
{ WHY INVEST IN A SPECIALIST? }  

The bond between man and man's best friend is stronger than ever, according to a survey of pet owners from the American Animal Hospital Association. It's no surprise – looking at these numbers, at least – that folks now require their pets' medical attention to be as good as their kids'.

 

64%

expect a pet to come to their rescue if they were in distress

 

93%

would risk their life for their pet

 

67%

travel with their pet

 

30%

say their pet is emotionally sensitive

 

36%

say their pet enjoys watching television

 

58%

visit their vets more than their own doctors

 

53%

spend more on their pets now than three years ago

 

SOURCE: Survey of 1,238 pet owners in the United States and Canada who use AAHA-accredited veterinary hospitals.
  
{ RELATED INFORMATION }
Dallas Morning News - Article about veterinary specialists
Certification process of a board certified ophthalmologist