What is a Veterinary Specialist?
IF YOUR CHILD WERE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, YOU WOULD TAKE THEM TO SEE AN ONCOLOGIST (CANCER SPECIALIST) FOR TREATMENT. IF THEY SUDDENLY WENT BLIND, YOU WOULD CONSULT WITH AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST (EYE SPECIALIST). WHY? BECAUSE ‘SPECIALISTS’ HAVE THE MOST ADVANCED TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE IN THEIR FIELDS. SEEING A SPECIALIST CAN HELP ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME.
LIKEWISE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST MEDICAL OUTCOMES FOR YOUR PETS, ONE MIGHT SEEK THE EXPERTISE OF A CERTIFIED VETERINARY SPECIALIST. A CERTIFIED VETERINARY SPECIALIST IS ONE WHO, AFTER COMPLETING FOUR YEARS OF VETERINARY SCHOOL, COMPLETES A ONE YEAR INTERNSHIP, AND THEN, THREE YEARS OF RESIDENCY TRAINING IN A SPECIFIC MEDICAL DISCIPLINE (NEUROLOGY, CARDIOLOGY, ONCOLOGY, OR ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY FOR EXAMPLE).
AS SUCH, PURSUING A CAREER AS A VETERINARY SPECIALIST REQUIRES EIGHT YEARS OF ACADEMIC VETERINARY TRAINING; TWICE THAT OF GENERAL PRACTICE VETERINARIANS. OFTENTIMES A MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS) DEGREE ACCOMPANIES THE THREE YEAR RESIDENCY PROGRAM. FINALLY, A STRENUOUS SERIES OF SPECIALTY EXAMINATIONS MUST BE PASSED BEFORE BOARD CERTIFICATION IS GRANTED. MANY WILL CLAIM TO BE ‘EXPERTS’ OR ‘SPECIALISTS’, BUT IF THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE FOUR ADDITIONAL YEARS OF TRAINING, AND HAVE NOT PASSED CERTIFYING EXAMINATIONS ADMINISTERED BY AN ACCREDITING COLLEGE, THEY ARE NOT "VETERINARY SPECIALISTS".
MISSION
TO HELP YOU HELP YOUR PET OVERCOME ITS NEUROLOGICAL AFFLICTION AND THEREBY ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF LIFE POSSIBLE.
TO DO THIS IN A MEDICALLY EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE MANNER, BEARING IN MIND THE STRESS AND ANXIETY OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH VETERINARY CARE. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT FOR YOUR PET AS SUCCESSFUL, AND AS STRESS-FREE AS POSSIBLE
"Repeated visits to veterinarians could not stop the seizures, and not one gave me any hope for recovery. All suggested euthanasia. I wanted yet another opinion. One veterinarian recommended seeing you for a consultation. When we met, I knew you were not one to give up. You started Danny on medications which you gradually reduced over a period of months. Danny completely recovered, and, I have had the absolute joy of continuing to have him at my side. In the beginning of 2015, 8 years later, Danny will be 13 years old. He is in excellent health, playful, great appetite, and such a pleasure to have around. My sincere appreciation to you for your skills and perseverance"
- Susan Shipley