Hiring an IVDD Vet

Finding a good IVDD vet can be tricky. Many vets are wonderful with routine visits, but when it comes to a health problem not commonly seen, they may not have the experience to treat IVDD.

Talk to your friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc., and ask them about their vet. Particularly ask if they’ve ever had to use the vet in an emergency situation or when their dog was ill rather than just for well visits or routine exams. When you hear of one that sounds good, call the office and ask them a few questions. You might even set up an appointment for a consultation visit, which isn’t all that uncommon these days.

Having a vet familiar with IVDD is important as it is a disease your dog will have for the rest of its life. If a vet is open to learning, consulting with colleagues, and the pet parent is willing to learn about IVDD and discussing the information with the vet, then that works out great. But if your vet isn’t open to such a situation and isn’t treating IVDD properly, then it’s time to look for a new vet.

Should your dog need surgery, look for a board certified specialist to perform this most delicate of surgeries. Look for these letters to indicate the vet is a board certified surgeon: Neuro (ACVIM) or Ortho (ACVS).

Board certified surgical specialists can be found at university vet teaching hospitals. You can locate these veterinary surgeons (ACVS) and neuro surgeons (ACVIM) here:

• Find board certified Neurology (ACVIM) surgeons here: http://find.vetspecialists.com
• Find board certified Ortho veterinary surgeons (ACVS) here: https://online.acvs.org/acvsssa/rflssareferral.query_page?P_VENDOR_TY=VETS
• European Directory for neuro specialists: www.ebvs.eu/specialists/find-a-specialist?countryId=0&specialistTitleId=23&search=
• UK Veterinary Referral Practices from Dachshund IVDD UK website:
  www.dachshund-ivdd.uk/uk-resources/veterinary-referral-practices/

Five Red Flag Indicators That It’s Time to Find a New Vet

http://dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/778/red-flag-indicators-time-find

General information on getting your pet’s records for the new vet

1. http://www.petmd.com/blogs/dailyvet/2010/february/vet_breakup-5453
2. The American Veterinary Medical Association has a summary of state laws that govern the release of patient veterinary records: http://www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateAndLocal/Pages/sr-confidentiality-patient-records.aspx

What is Board Certified?

When looking for a vet or surgeon, patients generally see many alphabet credentials and certifications in a title. Many times these credentials are confusing, and there is little opportunity to weigh the relative value of seemingly similar credentials.

With a four-year general practice veterinary (DVM) degree and a license, a vet may practice any kind of medicine or surgery with or without additional special training.

The American Veterinary Medical Association mandates the use of “specialist” be reserved only for veterinarians who have completed advanced studies to become a “diplomate,” board certified. Diplomates who have completed additional coursework, an approved residency, and passed the board’s exam may then rightly use ACVIM or ACVS in their title.

ACVIM (Neurology)

Indicates the vet has earned board certification from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. These veterinary surgeons are specialists in neurological diseases such as IVDD.

ACVS Surgeon

Indicates the vet has earned board certification from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. These vets are specialists in orthopedics (injuries and diseases of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves).

While many vets who are family practice DVMs (not board certified) might offer neurological surgery, board certification is a good standard by which to measure competence and training.

You can be confident that vets who are board certified (ACVIM or ACVS) have at a minimum the proper training in their specialty and have demonstrated their proficiency through supervision and testing. While there are many non-board certified vets who are highly competent, it is more difficult for a dog owner to assess the level of their training. Naturally, board certification alone does not guarantee competence, but it is a standard that reflects successful completion of an appropriate training program.