Veterinary Specialty Hospital
When your pet needs advanced diagnostics or procedures, your family veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary specialty hospital. At Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, we continually strive for seamless continuity of care from your family veterinarian to any veterinary specialists involved in the care of your pet. Through communication, a commitment to the advancement of veterinary medicine, and of course with compassion, we are able to extend the services offered by your family veterinarian without interruption to the relationship you have with him or her.
We Specialize in Several Disciplines
What is a Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist?
The American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) currently recognizes 20 specialties whose regulatory bodies are called “colleges.” Examples include the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and the American College of Veterinary Radiology. A board-certified veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who is certified by one of the recognized specialty colleges.
The title “Diplomate” refers to a veterinarian who is board certified in his/her veterinary specialty. Board certified specialists commonly have 4-8 years of additional training after veterinary school including a 2-3 year residency in his/her specialty. Residencies provide specific specialized training not available as part of a typical veterinary education. Once the program has been completed, the resident must sit for and pass rigorous examinations given by the specialty college. Only then does the veterinarian earn the title of Diplomate and can be considered a specialist in veterinary medicine.