Whats the difference between a regular veterinarian and a veterinary specialist?
A regular veterinarian and a veterinary specialist both have earned their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, requiring typically eight years of college and professional training. Your regular veterinarian, also called a primary care or family vet, is in general practice and has the primary responsibility to manage you pets health, including preventive care. A veterinary specialist has typically completed four additional years of specialty training (for a total of 12 years college and professional training.) The specialty training in an internship and residency program in a particular practice area, such as Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Oncology, etc. To become board-certified, these candidates must also pass rigorous training and testing requirements. Graduates are called Diplomates. Veterinary Specialty Hospital has 15 board-certified specialist, in Surgery, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Neurology, and Ophthalmology.
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