Why should your pet visit veterinary specialist?

Just as with 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.

Veterinary specialists in the United States should be board certified by the appropriate AVMA approved organization 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 will work together as a team to treat your beloved pet.

When does your pet need a specialist?

ACVO's members work in concert with a primary care veterinarian to provide the best eye care for a pet. There are times when a veterinarian and your animal will benefit from consultation from or referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist. Many eye diseases are time sensitive so prompt consultation or referral is often in your animal's best interest. The following might be situations and questions to consider possible consultation:

• Your pet's eye condition has not responded to the recommended therapy.

• Your pet's vision seems to be deteriorating despite treatment efforts.

• A corneal ulcer has not responded to treatment(s).

• Diabetes generally leads to cataracts, a consult may be needed prior to their development causing complete vision loss.

• Responsible breeders who want to ensure their animals have no inherited ocular disease?

Specialists work with general practitioners as a team to support better animal health

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

Related Information

Is my veterinarian board certified?

93%

...would risk their life for their pet...

53%

...spend more on their pets now than three years ago...

67%

...travel with their pet...

36%

...say their pet enjoys watching television...

64%

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

30%

...say their pet is emotionally sensitive...

58%

...visit their vets more than their own doctors...

SOURCE: Survey of 1,238 pet owners in the United States and Canada who use AAHA-accredited veterinary hospitals.

 ACVO Vitreal Retinal Surgeons

Should you wish to reach out to one of these Vitreal Retinal Surgeons, you can find contact information for these doctors through the Find Ophthalmologist search function on our website.