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• What is a ACVIM Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist?
  • When to Request a Visit
    
    
• Small Animal Internal Medicine Information
• First Time Visit Info
  
  
• When should I request a referral to a ACVD Board-Certified Veterinary Dermatology and Allergy Specialists :
• Oncology Information
  • First Time Visit Info

What is a ACVIM Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist?
How are they different from my family veterinarian?

In addition to completing undergraduate training and four years of veterinary school, Board-Certified Veterinary Specialists are similar to their human medical counterparts in that they have completed an internship and residency in their specialized field (an additional 3-5 years of training).  In addition to this extensive training, a *Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist must pass two rigorous examinations to achieve Board certification from the ACVIM.  Specialists bring a greater understanding in the area of internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, or neurology, and have knowledge of the unusual, the uncommon, or rare in small animals.  In addition, a Specialist may have diagnostic equipment not generally used by your family veterinarian.

More about our Board-Certified Veterinary Specialists >

When should you request a referral to an ACVIM Board-certified Veterinary Oncologist?

• Your animal’s disease is uncommon, complicated, or undiagnosed after standard testing
• You would like an informed, neutral second opinion of your animal’s condition. 
• The outcomes of the current treatments are not going well or as expected.
• Your animal requires a sophisticated procedure that is offered by a specialty hospital.
• Your animal can benefit from 24-hour monitoring provided by a referral hospital.

If you believe your animal would benefit from a visit to a Board-certified Oncologist, you are encouraged to work with your family veterinarian to complete a referral. 

Small Animal Internal Medicine -
Why does my animal need to see a Board-Certified Small Animal Internist?

Commonly called Internists, these Specialists focus on diagnosing and treating diseases of the internal systems.  Where the diagnosis is known, an Internist may confirm the diagnosis and treatment, providing peace of mind.  If a diagnosis is proving elusive or therapy is not proving effective, the Internist may be better able to find the diagnosis or adjust treatment plans to get your animal back to health.  Examples of conditions for which your family veterinarian might refer your animal to an Internist are:

• Anemia or other bleeding disorders
• Chronic vomiting or diarrhea
• Complicated pancreatic disease
• Coughing & other breathing problems
• Endocrine disease (adrenal tumors, complicated diabetes, thyroid disorders)
• Infectious disease
• Kidney or bladder disease
• Liver inflammation
• Unexplained weight loss

More Internal Medicine Information>

What should I expect during a visit with a Board-Certified Small Animal Internist?

The internist will perform a complete and thorough physical examination of your animal, and based on these initial findings, additional tests will be discussed.  Depending on your animal’s condition, diagnostic testing or treatments may include:

• Advanced laboratory testing of various tissue and blood samples.
• Diagnostic Imaging – ultrasound, radiography (x-rays), CT scans, MRIs
• Biopsies of masses, internal organs, or bone marrow
• Echocardiography/Ultrasound of the heart
• Electrocardiography (ECG) – electrical reading of the heart’s rhythm
• Endoscopy – bronchoscopy (lungs), cystoscopy (bladder & urethra), gastroduodenoscopy (stomach & upper intestines), rhinoscopy (nasal cavity), laparoscopy (minimally invasive surgery for biopsies of internal organs)
• Feeding tube placement
• Nutrition consultations

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When to use a DACVD- Board-Certified Veterinary Dermatology and Allergy Specialists:

• When the skin and/or ear problem has been going on for greater than 6 months with minimal to no improvement.
• Your pet’s skin disease is uncommon, complicated or undiagnosed with standard testing.
• You would like an informed, neutral, second opinion of your pet’s skin and/or ear problem.
• The current treatments are not going as well as expected.
• Your animal requires specific procedures that are offered only at a specialty clinic (i.e. intradermal allergy testing, CT scans, video otoscopy, myringotomy, etc).

More Dermatology and Allergy FAQ's

Oncology -
Why does my animal need to see a Board-Certified Veterinary Oncologist?

Commonly called Oncologists, these specialists focus on diagnosing and managing cancer, no matter the location of the tumor.

What should I expect during the visit with the Board-certified Veterinary Oncologist?

The Oncologist will perform a complete and thorough physical examination on your animal, and based on these initial findings, additional tests and treatment options will be discussed.  Depending on your animal’s condition, diagnostic testing or management may include:

Advanced laboratory testing of various blood or tissue samples

Biopsies and tissue analysis

Chemotherapy

Diagnostic Imaging – ultrasound, radiography (x-rays), CT scans, MRIs

Immunotherapy

Radiation therapy

Surgery

More Oncology Information>

When should you request a referral to an ACVIM Board-certified Veterinary Oncologist?

Your pet has been diagnosed with cancer and you want to discuss all available treatment options

Your veterinarian thinks your pet may have cancer but needs further diagnostic testing

You want the most up to date cancer treatments for your pet with minimal side effects

You want a specialist with many years of experience who treats nothing but cancer

You want a specialists who will help coordinate your pet’s total cancer care with your veterinarian, the surgeons and the radiation oncologist

You want veterinary technicians who have the most experience administering chemotherapy treatments

More about our Board-Certified Veterinary Specialists >

*Ref:  Your Family & Our Team, “A Commitment to Care”, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (www.ACVIM.org), American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation (www.ACVIMFoundation.org).