In cases in which an ill pet requires specialized care not available in general practice, is not responding to treatment as planned or in which you as a pet owner need some confirmation that your veterinarian is on the right track it is appropriate to seek a second opinion. I tell my clients, and I believe, that when seeking a second opinion, seek it from someone with advanced training and expertise in the body system or disease category in question. “Second opinions” from persons with equal expertise produce opinions of equal expertise but not necessarily better advice. What’s most important, is that your pet receive the care it needs and second to that, that your relationship with your primary care veterinarian is an open and honest one. Second opinions should serve to enhance both.

In veterinary medicine we have a number of specialists, and in some categories subspecialists. Increasingy, these specialists may be found in private practice as well as in academia. Recognized specialists are known as “diplomates” of their specialty and have had years of advanced training and subsequently passed board certification examinations.

In 2009 the AVMA reported 9,826 total diplomates in 19 recognized veterinary specialty organizations. Several have sub-specialty categories as indicated below.

American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) 844
Avian 132
Beef Cattle 14
Canine & Feline 459
Dairy 37
Equine 83
Feline 76
Food Animal 21
Swine Health Management 22

American Board of Veterinary Toxicology (ABVT) 92

American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) 752

American College of Poultry Veterinarians (ACPV) 274

American College of Theriogenologists (ACT) 360

American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists (ACVA) 185

American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) 46

American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology (ACVCP) 48

American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) 195

American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (ACVECC) 293

American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) 2,109
Cardiology 182
Small Animal Internal Medicine 1,022
Large Animal Internal Medicine 468
Neurology 175
Oncology 240

American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM) 158
Bacteriology/Mycology 37
Immunology 43
Microbiology 62
Virology 60

American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) 54

American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) 314

American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) 1,592
Anatomic Pathology 1,308
Clinical Pathology 284

American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM) 638
Epidemiology 62

American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) 365
Radiation Oncology 71

American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) 1,279
Small Animal 248
Large Animal 144

American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM) 122

American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) 106

(originally posted at PetDocsOnCall.com in March, 2010)

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