For Pet Owners
​Together, your general practitioner and veterinary specialists form a coordinated, comprehensive and collaborative healthcare team to help your pet live the healthiest and happiest life possible.​
​Advancements in veterinary medicine have transformed the way we care for our pets. Your family general practice veterinarian is at the center of your pet’s healthcare. Much like a primary care physician for humans, your general practice doctor oversees your pet’s overall well-being—including providing preventative care, vaccinations, managing common illnesses, and maintaining a life-long understanding of your pet’s medical history.
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As pets age or develop more complex medical conditions, their healthcare often benefits from a team approach. It is now standard for a pet to see veterinary specialists—experts with advanced training in specific areas such as internal medicine, surgery, oncology, cardiology and many other fields of medicine.
What is a Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist?
A board-certified internal medicine specialist is a veterinarian that has completed the standard four years of veterinary medical education, followed by a one-year medical and surgical internship, and finally an additional three-year residency in the field of small animal internal medicine. Board-certification is granted following successful completion of this rigorous training, passing multiple written examinations and publishing a first-author scientific study in a peer-reviewed journal. Once these steps are completed, the doctor is granted Diplomate status from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Why might my pet need an Internal Medicine Specialist?
Your general practice veterinarian may refer you to an internal medicine specialist when your pet is experiencing a particularly complicated, chronic, recurrent or specialized health condition. The diagnostic tests that general practices have access to may indicate that your pet requires more advanced diagnostic screening in the form of advanced imaging (ultrasound, CT scan) or specialized testing for specific diseases that internal medicine specialists are trained to diagnose and manage long-term. Depending on the specific condition that is diagnosed, your pet may just require initial stabilization and then your primary care team may continue to manage and implement the treatment. In some cases, your pet may require the care of an internal medicine specialist for the rest of their lives.
Now that my pet has a Specialist, do we still need to see our Primary Care veterinarian?
Absolutely! Your general practitioner is an integral part of your pet’s medical team and it will always be necessary to maintain a relationship with your primary doctor for routine preventative care, wellness management and minor acute illnesses. Your pet’s specialist is a partner in their medical care, not a replacement for your family veterinarian. While the specialist will take the lead in diagnosing and managing your pet’s specific condition, your primary care veterinarian remains the central point of contact for their overall health. We work together, sharing information, diagnostic test results, treatment plans and medication management—all to ensure your pet receives seamless, coordinated and comprehensive healthcare.