When your pet is sick, you can’t help but be concerned about its well-being and seek the best help available. Your pet’s primary care doctor, however, many not be able to effectively address your pet’s problem, in which case you need to go to a specialist who has specific expertise. Specialists are equipped to tackle a wide range of pet problems, ranging from heart issues to brain problems.
Veterinary Clinic Specialty Areas
A quality vet clinic that provides specialty services can help your pet around the clock through a 24-hour emergency care service in addition to providing critical care in situations where your pet has been involved in a vehicle accident, for instance. A top clinic can also perform surgery, ranging from neurosurgery to minimally invasive surgery. Other core areas of expertise you can expect from a reputable clinic include dermatology, ophthalmology, oncology, neurology and internal medicine.
Tips for Working with a Specialist
Don’t hesitate to ask a specialist several questions about his or her services. Make sure that the clinic clearly tells you what tests need to be performed and explains your pet’s diagnosis and prognosis. The vet should also be able to outline all of your pet’s treatment options. It is critical that any work done by a specialist is relayed to your pet’s primary care veterinarian as well and that the two individuals remain in communication with each other for the sake of your pet.
Additional Veterinary Clinic Tips
Be sure that the specialist you choose sees all of your pet’s medical records prior to performing any procedures on your pet. As well, it’s critical that you discuss all of your animal’s medications and pre-existing conditions, as this information may affect how the specialist approaches your pet’s treatment.
Before moving forward with any treatment, the veterinary clinic should be able to highlight the costs, risks and benefits of certain procedures and who will be responsible for handling your animal’s follow-up care—the primary veterinarian or the specialist. The right clinic will help you make informed decisions about your pet’s health and work hard to keep your pet in the best shape possible long-term.
The Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group provides specialty services for animals. To find out more about how the clinic can serve you and your pet..
