Specialty

Why would your pet need a specialist?
Usually, your family veterinarian will recommend that your pet see a specialist. If you are concerned about your pet’s condition, however, you may request to see a specialist. We recommend that you discuss your options with your family veterinarian.
 
Pets require specialized care for many of the same reasons humans do. The pet may require intensive monitoring, an advanced surgery or treatment, or they may have been diagnosed with cancer, for example.
 
What is a veterinary specialist?
A veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who completes 3-4 years of additional training, usually in the form of an internship and residency programs, after graduating from veterinary school. Following the advanced training, credentials must be submitted to a specific veterinary specialty “college” such as the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), or American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). After preliminary criteria have been met, the individual must pass a rigorous multi-day examination.  After successfully passing the examination the veterinarian becomes a member or “diplomate” of that specialty group and is considered to be “board certified.”
 
How are VMC’s specialists different from other specialists in the area?

  • Other specialists in the Syracuse area do not have the wide range of experience and variety that VMC has under one roof. VMC has the largest and most varied group of veterinary specialists in the greater Syracuse region. Our specialists can provide comprehensive collaborative care to your pet, drawing on shared knowledge and talent. 

  • If your pet needs to be hospitalized with another specialist in the Syracuse area, who stays with your pet?  The VMC of CNY is the only facility in the Syracuse area that maintains 24-hour care managed by on-site veterinarians and licensed technicians for their patients. Our facility is appropriately staffed with veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and assistants 365 days per year, 7 days per week, 24 hours per day.

Why choose the specialists at Veterinary Medical Center of CNY for your pet’s care?

  • Because our specialists focus on diagnosing and treating animals with your pet’s specific problems. Our specialists and specialty services see on a regular basis what your veterinarian may see only once or twice in his or her career.

  • Because they care! Our specialists have dedicated a huge portion of their lives to the education and training necessary to become a specialist in their chosen field. They are passionate about their individual area of veterinary medicine, and passionate about helping you and your pets!

  • Because they keep up with all of the new advances and developments in their specialty, so your veterinarian doesn’t have to. Like human medicine, there are tremendous advances in all areas of veterinary medicine each year. Your family veterinarian needs to keep up with all of the changes in preventive care and general veterinary surgeries and treatments that have such an important and ongoing impact on your pet’s life!

  • Because they stay current and informed. Our specialists are much more concentrated in the advances they need to keep up with. All of our specialists receive abundant resources and journals from within their specialty field to keep up with those advances. Our specialists also regularly attend national and international continuing education events for their specialty.

  • Because they practice truly collaborative medicine and will keep your family veterinarian fully informed and a partner in your pet's care.
 
What to expect at VMC if your pet is referred to see one of our specialists:
  • How much will this cost?
    At your pet’s visit, we will discuss costs of your pet’s care and will provide you with an estimate prior to treatment. We will expect payment for care at the time of your visit. We are committed to frankly discussing the financial costs associated with all courses of treatment, and we offer different forms of financing for those who need it. Find more information here
  • Can I bring my pet in without an appointment?
    Our specialists require an appointment as well as a referral from your veterinarian. If your pet is critically ill or injured, our emergency service is available to assist you and your veterinarian 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our emergency service will direct your pet’s care in those circumstances, and will seek the assistance of specialists as needed.
     
  • How do I get a referral?
    Veterinarians in the greater Syracuse region routinely refer to VMC for specialized care, and your veterinarian should have our information and referral forms already at their office. We can easily supply them with the necessary information if necessary. Please ask your veterinarian to initiate the referral process, and contact us with any concerns.
 
Meet VMC’s Specialists and Specialty Services:

 

"Thank you all so much for the amazing care you gave to Martini in her time of need.  Martini is truly a member of the family and it made this such a difficult time for all of us.  Everyone at the hospital was caring, patient, and supportive.  I don't know if we would have made it through such a trying situation if we had been at any other hospital with any other people.  It is clearly evident that you all LOVE your jobs and the animals you work with.  You are all amazing, wonderful people.  Martini and the rest of us thank you from the bottom of our hearts!"

 

The Keefe Family from Cicero, NY
(Martini is quite small and was badly injured by another dog.  She required the care of multiple specialists and the emergency service.)