Why do veterinarians sometimes recommend a referral to a specialist surgeon?
To answer this question, people need to understand what is a specialist surgeon.
All vets are qualified to perform surgery when they graduate, however a small number of vets undergo rigorous additional training to achieve specialist status.
Achieving specialist status usually involves (in addition to a 5–6-year veterinary degree) one or two years of internship, a 3–4-year surgical residency, multiple academic publications, attendance AND presentation at international conferences, and preparation of a detailed caselog of specialist-level procedures. This must all be completed before the candidate is eligible to sit board examination.
Once board certified, the public can be assured that their chosen specialist has been rigorously tested, and therefore can offer a high standard of care, with strong professional ethics. Ultimately, specialist status offers the peace of mind that clients deserve, to ensure their animal receives the best possible care. As an extra consideration, specialist surgeons have access to advanced equipment, allowing the combination of their experience and their hospital facilities to optimise your animals’ outcome. Optimal training, optimal care, optimal outcomes.
