What Can a Pet Specialist Do For Your Pet?
When you have an issue with your health, your family doctor may recommend you to an expert such as dermatologist or cardiologist. A specialist in pet medicine can help if your pet's issue isn't covered by a family veterinarian.
To become board certified, vets must go through rigorous training, conduct research and publish in their field of expertise and be able to pass a series.
Veterinary Medicine
Many people think of veterinarians as the vet who treats their pet. But the area of veterinary medicine is much more extensive. Veterinarians not only diagnose and treat sick animals they also stop the spread of animal-related diseases to humans and work to preserve wildlife. They ensure the safety of food products by keeping track of the health and well-being of farm animals, and inspecting food processing facilities. They also study the effects of industrial pollutants and pesticides on human and animals.
In the clinic, a majority of veterinarians practice general veterinary medicine, treating all types of domestic pets and farm animals. The smaller numbers focus on small animals such as rodents and birds, larger domestic animals such as horses and cattle, or exotic species such iguanas.
After graduating from the veterinary school, some vets decide to further study in one of 22 AVMA-recognized specialty areas in veterinary medicine. This additional training allows them be board certified in the field of veterinary medicine.
For instance, veterinarian radiologists utilize imaging techniques such as x-rays, ultrasound and computed tomography scans to diagnose and monitor the progression of medical conditions in animals. Veterinary surgeons are specialists in large or small animals and perform a variety of surgeries including spays and neuters and dental procedures.
Other veterinary specialists include those who oversee reproduction in animals, such as theriogenologists, and those who examine toxins and poisons to protect humans from exposures. Veterinary nutritionists work with healthy animals to develop nutritional plans and assist veterinarians in diagnosing illness in animals, while veterinary opthmologists study and treat eye diseases that are outside the scope of veterinary practice.
Surgery
There is a direct link between the physical and behavior aspects of a dog. Veterinarians use surgery to make the connection, ease pain and reduce stress for pets, and treat disorders that can cause harm or impact the quality of life, and much more.
When a puppy Golden Retriever called Penny went to her veterinarian for an annual exam the vet detected an odour. He recommended that she be referred to a veterinarian cardiologist or a veterinary surgeon specializing in heart surgery. The doctor examined Penny and conducted an ultrasound to assess her heart condition. It was a birth defect that required corrective surgery.
As a result, he was able to perform the needed operation for Penny and she recovered with no complications. Surgery procedures can be extremely complex and require extensive training, equipment and facilities for successful execution. This is why a primary care veterinarian or emergency room veterinarian will often recommend patients to a veterinary surgeon.
Only veterinarians who have been awarded the Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons are able to provide their patients the highest standard of treatment. They have completed rigorous postgraduate education, which includes an internship, a 3-year residency and a rigorous certification exam. This means they have a thorough understanding of the specialties of surgery and medicine and are able to offer the highest standard of care for their patients.
Upstate Veterinary Specialties is a leader in spinal surgery and brain surgeries for cats, dogs and small animals. They also collaborate with specialists in Internal Medicine and Cardiology to provide the best possible outcome for your pet. It is essential to remember that any surgery has potential risks and requires a follow-up visit from your veterinarian.
Internal Medicine
Internal medicine specialists from Veterinary Internal Medicine are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect the internal organ systems of your pet. This includes the gastrointestinal tract as well as kidneys, liver and the lungs. They are educated on how these systems work and how to treat the root cause of disease. Internists possess a high degree of competence in evaluating and interpreting laboratory tests, bloodwork, and imaging techniques.
If you have a problem with your pet's gastrointestinal tract, liver or kidneys, or if the baseline diagnostic tests do not provide answers, then your primary care veterinarian will refer you to a veterinary specialist. These physicians are also called upon for chronic diseases such as diabetes, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease, or thyroid issues become more complicated. These conditions require continuous surveillance, regular evaluations and advanced technology like cardiac ultrasonography to manage.
The doctors will prescribe most recent treatments to treat your pet's illness and improve the quality of its life. They will also work closely with other specialists in order to manage your pet's health and well-being in the long run.
Radiology
Radiation therapy can be utilized by itself or in combination with chemotherapy surgery to treat various cancers. The goal is to destroy the cancerous cells and shrink tumors. The majority of pets tolerate radiation well. The type of tumor and the location of it could cause short-term side effects.
If care pet is diagnosed with cancer, he or she is referred to a specialist, known as a veterinary Oncologist. Oncologists are trained to the highest level in the use of various diagnostic methods and procedures that permit us to look inside an animal's body such as x-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and more.
A veterinary oncologist specializes in the use of chemotherapy, radiation and other systemsic treatments to treat cancer and remove tumors. These include a wide variety of drugs used to eliminate cancerous cells, slow their growth, and aid the body to naturally remove the cancerous cells. A veterinary oncologist may also suggest using a pet's immune system to fight cancer by vaccinations.
Veterinary oncology specialists collaborate with radiation oncologists to develop treatment plans for patients suffering from various types of cancers. Their expertise and the use of specialized equipment allow them to provide the most effective care for the animals they take care of.
Radiation oncologists are experts in the use a machine that delivers high-energy radiation directly to the tumor area of a pet. Veterinary radiation oncologists have extensive understanding of the various ways in which tumors respond to radiation and they are experts at formulating treatment plans that maximize the benefits of radiation while preserving normal tissues. They are also highly trained in the set up and delivery of radiation treatment sessions, including stereotactic radiosurgery/stereotactic radiation therapy (SRS/SRT). In these procedures, a computerized linear accelerator delivers doses of radiation in precise locations on your pet's body, over a period of several weeks.
Emergency Critical Care
This veterinary area focuses on pets with life-threatening or serious illnesses. Patients who suffer severe injuries or accidents usually require constant care and monitoring.
These pets may be hospitalized in a special section of the animal hospital which is similar to an Intensive Care Unit. They are monitored by nurses, doctors and other specialists around the clock. They may be recovering from an injury or operation, or they may have respiratory problems, gastrointestinal issues and heart problems that are severe or even cancer.
These cases are very complex and require a special training. They have a broad cross-disciplinary experience that allows them to work with specialists in other fields to deal with various co-morbidities that affect multiple organ systems. They also have a wealth of expertise in traumatic injuries as well as cardiac management and collapse, mechanical ventilation, gastrointestinal and renal support, shock management and individualized pain control planning.
Veterinarians who are board certified in critical and emergency care have completed rigorous specialty training that includes working in large referral hospitals and teaching institutions. They can also provide urgent and intensive treatment within their own practice. They also contribute to clinical research in their area.
If you're planning to become a veterinarian, it's important to make sure you really love animals and you enjoy the fast-paced nature of this field. Try volunteering at a veterinary clinic or shadowing a veterinarian to learn more about the various specialties. That way you'll be able to decide if this is the right choice for you. You can also earn an education in biology, zoology or a different field to gain the appropriate background understanding.