Instances Your Pet Should See a Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon
When you think about it, veterinarians are amazing professionals if you consider the amount of work they put in to ensure that your pet is healthy. Typically, a general veterinarian wears many hats, including performing minor surgeries. However, some pet handlers wonder why people go to board-certified surgeons when a general vet can perform most of the procedures. The reason is that a board-certified veterinary surgeon is a licensed specialist best consulted on specific instances.
Surgery Complications
Surgeries can be minor or major, with the former usually taking a few minutes. However, sometimes a routine surgery is anything but that due to complicating factors. During such instances, a general veterinarian requires the specialised and experienced hands of a board-certified vet surgeon. For example, minor surgery to close up a bite around a dog's or cat's belly region might lead to an undiagnosed hernia spilling contents through the abdominal wall. In such cases, a board-certified vet surgeon is required to close the hernia and the abdominal wall to prevent future complications. It might explain why veterinary clinics must have at least one board-certified vet surgeon on call at all times.
More Advanced Procedures
Besides complications, there are specific surgical procedures that a general veterinarian should not attempt on a pet. Advanced surgical procedures require the input of a professional with extensive training and expertise. A board-certified veterinary surgeon is well-placed to perform all surgeries classified as advanced. For instance, a dog with broken legs at multiple locations will likely walk again if you take them to a board-certified vet surgeon specialising in advanced orthopedic surgery. The reason is that the vet has the necessary expertise to mend broken pet bones regardless of the extent of the damage. Moreover, a board-certified vet surgeon is also the right professional to advise you on whether specific advanced procedures are necessary. For example, if a surgeon knows that a procedure will harm a pet's quality of life, they will give you the information and let you make the final decision.
Specialised Equipment
Every veterinarian has surgical instruments, such as surgical scissors, suture removal scissors, needle holders, veterinary speculum, retractors and forceps. However, the devices can only be used during routine surgical procedures. Notably, some conditions require special equipment for diagnosis and treatment purposes. For instance, your pet's vet will refer you to a board-certified surgeon if they suspect that your dog or cat has a brain tumour. A specialist has all the necessary and advanced equipment they need to perform a biopsy and scan the brain for a tumour.
For more information, contact a local veterinary surgeon.