If you’re not sure what the difference is between “generalist” veterinarians and their “specialist” counterparts, don’t worry. I wasn’t either! So I put together the chart below based on information from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
The decision to see a veterinary specialist or not can be a tough one for some of us. Just know there’s no right or wrong decision. For a list of benefits and risks of seeing a specialist, see Guide Sheet #2: Questions to Ask a Vet Specialist or Second Opinion Vet. It’ll help you make a decision. And if you do decide to see a vet specialist, there’s a handy guide sheet there to walk you through questions to ask at your first appointment.