There are 3 tiers of veterinary surgeon who can treat your pet:
A general practice veterinary surgeon: The Windmill Veterinary Centre is a general practice. We do most routine procedures for your pet e.g. vaccination, dispense wormer and flea treatment, neutering, dental care, and provide care for multiple medical and surgical conditions e.g. diabetes, heart disease, wounds, skin disease, an obstructed gut, bleeding in the abdomen, or simple bone fracture.
A certificate holder: this is a veterinary surgeon who has done some additional study in a particular field and may have applied for Advanced Practitioner status. In our practice Jane (Anaesthesia) , Richard (Small Animal Medicine) and Matt (Surgical) are Certificate holders. These veterinary surgeons have more experience and knowledge in a particular field than a GP vet, but not as much as a specialist.
- A UK Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) recognised specialist: such an individual will hold any of the RCVS, ECVS or ACVS Diplomas in small animal surgery. The RCVS Diploma is the most focussed specialist qualification that exists as the holder is trained in either Orthopaedic or Soft tissue surgery, but not both simultaneously.
- A European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) specialist: this qualification is typically achieved by passing the examination of the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) and is preceded by a 1 year internship and 3 year residency training programme in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery combined.
- An American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) specialist: this qualification is typically achieved by passing the examination of the Diploma of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and is preceded by a 1 year internship and 3 year residency training programme in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery combined.
When your pet is ill, you can trust us to provide the best care for your pet, however for some more complicated cases, we may suggest referring them to a referral vet to benefit from the best diagnosis and treatment the profession has to offer. Veterinary referral services are carried out in a range of areas, including: cardiology; dermatology; oncology; ophthalmology and surgery. In some cases your pet may be referred for diagnostic tests or treatments that require complex equipment which are not available here. At the practice, in some areas, we are able to utilise the services of visiting orthopaedic, medicine and other certificate holders and specialists, so we can offer a referral level service in our own facilities. The benefits of this for you is cost, locality and we are familiar to you and your pet.
If we feel your pet would benefit from a referral, we will discuss this with you and give you all the information you need to make a fully informed decision. It’s worth remembering that you have a choice about who you are referred to, so whilst we will be able to make recommendations, you can research who to entrust your pet to, to make sure they’re in the best hands. We can then arrange an initial appointment and provide any relevant case notes to the referral vet.
How much does it cost to see a referral vet?
Referral services do tend to be more costly than other veterinary work. This is largely because the cases treated are more complex and time consuming, often requiring advanced expertise and the use of expensive equipment. All veterinary surgeons, are happy to discuss costs and provide an estimate of the fees involved before starting any treatment, so that you can make the best decision for you and your pet. Insurance policies and level of cover varies, so it is always worth checking this prior to undertaking any treatment.