Comments on: How to be VetSmart http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/ Embark on an armchair safari with animal expert and author Diana L Guerrero. Explore wild and domestic animal behavior, training, careers, and more. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:23:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Ark Lady http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/comment-page-1/#comment-1141 Ark Lady Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:02:41 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/#comment-1141 @Dr. Allison: Thanks for your great addition to the post. I seek specialists whenever I can these days. @RhondaL: Thanks for dropping by Rhonda. I live in a rural area but unfortunately we now have to drive to get good care. Appreciate the though and kudos. @Dr. Allison: Thanks for your great addition to the post. I seek specialists whenever I can these days.

@RhondaL: Thanks for dropping by Rhonda. I live in a rural area but unfortunately we now have to drive to get good care. Appreciate the though and kudos.

]]> By: RhondaL http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/comment-page-1/#comment-1140 RhondaL Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:38:13 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/#comment-1140 This is great info. I still can't help but think of the days when I lived in a very rural area in which one vet cared for all critters, great and small. In that circumstance, you're sort of stuck with what's available. But, even in that case, your post tells us how to better work with the vets available to us. Thanks. Allow me to echo, "Keep up the good work." This is great info. I still can’t help but think of the days when I lived in a very rural area in which one vet cared for all critters, great and small. In that circumstance, you’re sort of stuck with what’s available. But, even in that case, your post tells us how to better work with the vets available to us. Thanks. Allow me to echo, “Keep up the good work.”

]]> By: Allison Zwingenberger DVM DACVR http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/comment-page-1/#comment-1139 Allison Zwingenberger DVM DACVR Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:22:09 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/#comment-1139 Everyone wants the best care possible for their pets, whether it's from a general practitioner near you or from a specialist. You may be able to find a general practitioner with experience treating a particular breed of dog, or with special interest in a species such as cats. In veterinary medicine, true specialization means that a veterinarian has had several years of advanced study and is board certified in that area. Common specialties include internal medicine and surgery, just like in human medicine. There are also species specialties like cats and horses. Board certified specialists are allowed to use the word "specialist" and have letters after their degree such as DACVIM (Diplomate of the College of Internal Medicine). The AVMA has a list of specialties and a directory at this link: http://www.avma.org/education/abvs/specialty_orgs/default.asp Don't be afraid to ask your veterinarian about referral to a specialist for a difficult problem that your pet needs treatment for. For example, veterinary ophthalmologists can perform cutting edge surgeries for eye problems such as cataracts, and your veterinarian will be glad to talk about the benefits of referral with you. I became a veterinary radiologist after spending 5 years as a general practitioiner. I love being able to help pets by using imaging to diagnose and monitor diseases. I specialize in reading x-rays, performing ultrasound examinations, and reading CT and MRI studies. I work at a university hospital, but these types of services are becoming more and more available in private practice as well. The bottom line is the more you know, and the more you ask questions, the better your pet's health care will be! Everyone wants the best care possible for their pets, whether it’s from a general practitioner near you or from a specialist. You may be able to find a general practitioner with experience treating a particular breed of dog, or with special interest in a species such as cats. In veterinary medicine, true specialization means that a veterinarian has had several years of advanced study and is board certified in that area. Common specialties include internal medicine and surgery, just like in human medicine. There are also species specialties like cats and horses. Board certified specialists are allowed to use the word “specialist” and have letters after their degree such as DACVIM (Diplomate of the College of Internal Medicine). The AVMA has a list of specialties and a directory at this link:

http://www.avma.org/education/abvs/specialty_orgs/default.asp

Don’t be afraid to ask your veterinarian about referral to a specialist for a difficult problem that your pet needs treatment for. For example, veterinary ophthalmologists can perform cutting edge surgeries for eye problems such as cataracts, and your veterinarian will be glad to talk about the benefits of referral with you.

I became a veterinary radiologist after spending 5 years as a general practitioiner. I love being able to help pets by using imaging to diagnose and monitor diseases. I specialize in reading x-rays, performing ultrasound examinations, and reading CT and MRI studies. I work at a university hospital, but these types of services are becoming more and more available in private practice as well.

The bottom line is the more you know, and the more you ask questions, the better your pet’s health care will be!

]]> By: Ark Lady http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/comment-page-1/#comment-1135 Ark Lady Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:42:43 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/#comment-1135 Hi Andrew, I am so glad you are still out there! I appreciate your sharing your finds and favorite veterinary clinics. I agree that being involved in other groups helps to give you a good feel for the clinic and the veterinarians on staff. Keep up the good work! Hi Andrew, I am so glad you are still out there! I appreciate your sharing your finds and favorite veterinary clinics.

I agree that being involved in other groups helps to give you a good feel for the clinic and the veterinarians on staff.

Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Canine Carnival 47 | pamibe http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Canine Carnival 47 | pamibe Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:26:16 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/#comment-1133 [...] How to be VetSmart - Ark Animal Answers [...] [...] How to be VetSmart – Ark Animal Answers [...]

]]> By: Andrew http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/comment-page-1/#comment-1132 Andrew Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:06:51 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/2008/10/15/how-to-be-vetsmart/#comment-1132 Thanks for the good advice! I also consider the manner in which a vet works with the pet. When vets recognize my dogs on sight, understand their personalities and interact with them as much as with me, I feel more comfortable that aren't simply "fixing a car" but treating an individual. We've been lucky with vets - our dogs have used five clinics and four were good. It helps being involved with a rescue group because their frequent interaction with several vets gives a good basis for judgement. Our favorites are <a href="http://www.lowellvet.com" rel="nofollow">Dr. Bruce Langlois</a> and <a href="http://www.familyfriendsvethospital.vetsuite.com" rel="nofollow">Family Friends</a>. Thanks for the good advice! I also consider the manner in which a vet works with the pet. When vets recognize my dogs on sight, understand their personalities and interact with them as much as with me, I feel more comfortable that aren’t simply “fixing a car” but treating an individual.

We’ve been lucky with vets – our dogs have used five clinics and four were good. It helps being involved with a rescue group because their frequent interaction with several vets gives a good basis for judgement. Our favorites are Dr. Bruce Langlois and Family Friends.

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