All veterinarians begin their careers the same way. They attend veterinary school, pass national and state board exams, and become licensed to practice veterinary medicine. From there, veterinarians can choose one of two paths: become a general practitioner or pursue additional training and become a board-certified veterinary specialist in a variety of areas.
General Practice (GP):
Many enter general practice, providing everyday care to pets in their community from youth through their senior years. GP veterinarians manage common illnesses, offer preventative care, perform routine surgeries, and guide your pet’s overall wellness. They are essential to the veterinary field, serving as the cornerstone of maintaining a healthy and happy life for pets through regular exams, vaccinations, and ongoing care.
Specialty Practice:
Others choose to advance their careers by pursuing a specialty such as surgery, internal medicine, oncology, neurology, cardiology, and more. This path requires extensive post-graduate training,including internships, multi-year residencies, and rigorous board examinations. These steps ensure specialists achieve the highest level of expertise and understanding in their chosen field.
A board-certified specialist typically completes:
- A one-year internship (or equivalent post-graduate training)
- A multi-year residency program (usually three years), focused exclusively on their specialty
- Two comprehensive board examinations — the first taken during residency and the second upon its completion
Why Choose A Board-Certified Surgeon?
Your family veterinarian (DVM) is your primary partner in your pet’s long-term health andwellness. They provide preventive care, manage ongoing conditions, and oversee your pet’soverall health as they age. However, there are times when a pet develops a condition, illness, or injury that requires diagnostic testing or surgical procedures beyond the scope of general practice. In those cases, your veterinarian may refer you to a board-certified specialist.
There are several reasons why a GP might recommend a board-certified surgeon:
Focused Expertise:
Specialists dedicate their entire post-graduate training to a specific area of medicine, giving them the depth of knowledge and experience needed to diagnose and manage complex cases more effectively.
Extensive Surgical Training:
In addition to a one-year internship, board-certified surgeons complete a three- to four-year surgical residency involving thousands of hours of hands-on surgical training under expert supervision.
Breadth of Surgical Skills:
Surgical residents train in orthopedic, soft tissue, and neurologic procedures, and must complete a required minimum number of advanced, highly complex surgeries. Their extensive case logs are reviewed and approved by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).
Advanced Diagnostic and Planning Skills:
Residents must become proficient in imaging modalities such as CT, and MRI as well as anesthesia planning, surgical oncology principles, wound management, reconstructive techniques, and postoperative intensive care.
Access to Advanced Facilities:
Specialty hospitals are equipped with high-level imaging tools, sterile surgical suites, and monitoring technologies specifically designed for complex or high-risk procedures.
Collaborative Care:
Specialists work closely with your GP, reviewing the full medical history and collaborating with other experts—radiologists, anesthesiologists, critical care specialists, and more—to ensure every aspect of your pet’s care is managed by the most qualified professionals. This combination of focused training, advanced equipment, and collaborative expertise helps ensure safer procedures and more predictable outcomes for patients with complicated conditions.
Collaboration Is Key
Specialty care is a partnership—not a replacement—for your family veterinarian. GP veterinarians remain essential members of your pet’s healthcare team. When they refer a case to a specialty hospital, it reflects their commitment to providing the highest standard of care, their understanding of when advanced expertise is needed, and their dedication to achieving the best possible outcome for your pet.