Dog products have sky-rocketed into the high priced realms of couture, eco-friendly, state-of-the-art, and human-grade. Not to be left behind, veterinarian practices have kept pace, offering more options than ever when it comes to taking care of our four-legged family members with specialty treatments that rival any human methods.
The name “specialty vet” carries with it some weight, along with a fat bill. So how do you know when to take your dog? How do you choose the right vet that’s worth the money?
“I always approach the healthcare of my pet like I do for myself,” says Amado Guloy, Co-Founder and CEO of Rex Pet Health, “so I do believe specialty vets are worth the money—because they’re generally more expensive—they are people who focus in specific areas that could prove useful for your animal in certain conditions.”
When To Go
Usually, your main veterinarian will refer you to a specialist if your dog’s ailment is either not something they perform (like a cap on a dog’s tooth) or if traditional treatments are not working well enough, they may suggest you also do acupuncture or massage therapy.
Dog owner and eco-shui interior design consultant DeAnna Radaj has been using several specialty vets for years on the recommendation of her veterinarian.
“My original family vet had suggested holistic care—acupuncture—for my dog Monte [a doxie] about 15 years ago as he was suffering from degenerative disc disease and wasn’t a candidate for spinal surgery due to his age, he was 10,” Radaj explains. “Monte had an almost miraculous recovery [from acupuncture], getting full use of his back legs again and increasing his life and life quality another 2 years before he finally succumbed to congenital heart failure.”
All of her other doxies (she has two) as well as her mom’s doxie, have benefited from acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, Laser therapy, and herbal supplements in addition to “traditional western” medicine over the years for their different ailments, some genetic and some accidental.
“Libby [doxie] & I suffered a severe fall 4 yrs ago where she ended up paralyzed. After 3 months of physical therapy, acupuncture & chiro adjustments, she had use of her back legs again,” says Radaj. “Currently, she is walking on all 4 legs, chasing squirrels & looking forward to her 13th birthday with her brother Ossie.”
If your dog does not seem to be getting better with regular treatment, can’t have treatment due to some other reason (like age or health), or your vet seems to be unsure what is ailing your pet, it’s time to see a specialist. In addition, Guloy recommends taking your dog to a specialist for emergencies or critical care and when they have cancer.
Where to Go
“Veterinarians can specialize in field or animal,” explains Guloy. “For instance, there are board certified specialties such as dentistry, behaviorists, emergency and critical care, surgery, and anesthesiology. There’s even a board certified specialty for canines.”
Guloy continues to explain that “the first thing you should look for in a specialist is make sure that they are board certified. Most specialties require a 1 year internship or 2 years of clinical practice before beginning a residency of 2-3 years. It’s very similar to human health in that regard. In order to be considered board certified, they have to have completed the process through an AVMA recognized organization which means that they have the years of experience and they have passed some very difficult tests. I wouldn’t consider someone a specialist without that credential.”
When you’re looking for a specialist, do your due diligence. Assuming your dog isn’t in a life threatening emergency, ask them as many questions as you can think of before taking your dog there.
Guloy says he would choose his dog’s specialist based on the following criteria:
- Years of experience – How long have they been board certified?
- Training – I would ask where they did their internship and/or residency.
- Facilities – What equipment do they have in their clinic for their specialty? I’d want to make sure they have up to date technology and techniques for specialties like radiology, surgery, oncology.
- Pedigree – This isn’t exactly important for me, but for those who want to make sure their specialist came from a rigorous program would look for someone from the top schools. Some of the top schools include: UC-Davis, Colorado State, Texas A&M, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Ohio State, Iowa State, Louisiana State, and Purdue.
Radaj recommends dog owners looking for specialty vets should first ask their main veterinarian for referrals and recommendations as well the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. http://www.ahvma.org/
“I then visit the clinic & go off of how I & my dogs interact there, with the staff and the vet. Holistic vet must still be a licensed veterinarian with alternative modalities as a certification,” Radaj advises. “Be wary of anyone who keeps using buzzwords, can’t explain what they are doing, how it works and why it works as well as HOW it works in conjunction with Western treatments.”
The Search
If your vet can’t or won’t recommend someone, there are a few other places to get names of good specialty vets.
- Friends, coworker, or family members
- Your pet insurance company
- Better Business Bureau
- Yelp! Reviews
Then there’s a new website about to launch called Rex Pet Health. It is a personal web service that helps dog owners find veterinarians by location, quality, and price, and even allows you to book appointments instantly.
The ratings come from other vets as well as patients and they have prices for procedures up front. The website has the vet’s credentials, years of experience, and board certifications.
Above all, ask lots of questions and don’t be in a hurry to choose. Make sure you pick the right vet for you and your dog.
About the Author
Based in Wilsonville, Ore., animal lover Kristina N. Lotz is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and works as a full time trainer. She also owns her own custom pet products company, A Fairytail House, where she makes personalized collars, leashes, beds, keepsake pillows and blankets, and anything else your imagine can think up. In her spare time, she trains and competes in herding, agility, obedience, rally, and conformation with her Shetland Sheepdogs. She smartly married a Veterinary Technician, who helps keep the fur kids happy and healthy, and provides a quick resource for articles
