What is a Veterinary Specialist?
A veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who is board-certified in a specialized area of veterinary medicine. Examples of veterinary medicine specialties include surgery, dermatology, radiology, internal medicine, and oncology. To receive board certification in a veterinary specialty, the practitioner must have a higher level of expertise and education in that specialty than a general veterinary practitioner.
A pet parent may be referred to a veterinary specialist by their regular veterinarian if their vet believes they may need a more advanced medical procedure or diagnostic plan. A veterinary specialist will have access to more specialized equipment, surgical skills and/or a deeper medical knowledge to help care for pets in particularly difficult or unique cases.
How Veterinary Specialists Work
Like human medical specialists, veterinary specialists can be even more costly to see than a standard veterinary practitioner. Accident-Illness pet insurance plans help to cover the costs of seeing veterinary specialists for eligible chronic conditions and chronic illnesses so that your pet can receive the best quality care. Accident-only pet insurance plans will cover the cost of physical accident-related injuries, such as broken bones and burns, including the cost of veterinary specialists who may be needed to perform surgery or other emergency treatment on your pet in some cases.
Key Takeaways
- Veterinary specialists are veterinarians who are board-certified in a specific field of veterinary medicine, such as surgery or dermatology.
- Veterinary specialists can be expensive to see, but pet insurance plans can help cover the costs of seeing a veterinary specialist.
- Accident-Illness pet insurance plans will provide the most comprehensive coverage should your pet need to see a veterinary specialist.
