What is a Referral?
A referral occurs when your veterinarian realizes that they cannot provide the required level of care for your pet’s condition due to a lack of necessary equipment or the need for more specialized expertise. Often, a veterinary referral comes in the form of a referral to a specialist, who can take a closer, more in-depth look at your pet for specific health issues.
How Referrals Works
Typically, your veterinarian will reach out to the specialist and provide them with background information on your pet, any x-rays, case notes, and tests performed so that your specialist is up to date on your pet’s health.
While specialists can be expensive, pet insurance can reimburse you for these unexpected costs.
Key Takeaways
- A referral happens when your veterinarian refers you to another veterinarian, usually a specialist, to have more in-depth tests run on your pet.
- Specialists can be more costly to visit, but pet insurance can give you peace of mind knowing that your pet can see whoever they need to receive top-notch care so that they can have the best quality of life possible.