What is a veterinary specialist?

A veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who has completed additional training in a specific area of veterinary medicine and has passed an examination that evaluates their skills in that specialty area. A board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care is dedicated to dealing with life-threatening emergencies as well as managing the critically ill pet. Additional training of a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care involves graduation from a recognized veterinary school, followed by 4 or more additional years of intense training in emergency medicine and critical care. An emergency and critical care specialist’s expertise compliments that of your primary veterinarian. You may be referred to a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care if your veterinarian determines that your pet requires specialized equipment and/or expertise. This is similar to when your family doctor refers you to a specialist for further testing or treatment.

A board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care is trained to provide life-saving interventions and therapy for the sick pet. This is accomplished by working with a highly trained group of people in a facility that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The emergency and critical care specialist stays in touch with your primary veterinarian while your pet is hospitalized, as well as during follow up appointments, to ensure the best team approach for your pet’s medical care. A board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (DACVECC). You can find out if a veterinarian is an emergency and critical care specialist by looking on our website where all emergency and critical care specialists are listed by geographical location.