PET INSURANCE

Worth the investment

By Michael Tokiwa, DVM

When your human doctor recommends that

you go to a specialist, it usually involves going
to a referral practice and seeing someone
with an advanced medical training beyond that
of a regular physician. The same applies to
your pets.

Veterinary Specialists have advanced training,

and at referral centers, they have all
necessary equipment (like MRI) and a trained
staff needed to perform specialty procedures.
Most of the common specialties include
ophthalmology, surgery, neurology, radiology,
internal medicine, oncology and dermatology.
These board certified veterinarians have had
at least 6 years of additional (internship, and
residency) training beyond their DVM
degrees.
Most, if not all specialty centers are also
emergency centers that are open 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week including holidays
These centers include:
Animerge
Northstar Vets (formerly VSDS)
Garden State Veterinary Services (GSVS)
Red Bank Veterinary Hospital
CARES
Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center
(VSEC)
UPENN (Ryan Veterinary Hospital)
Why do Veterinarians Recommend your
pet see a Specialist?
Your veterinarian is unable to provide true 24
hr, 7 days a week medical care to your pets.
In addition, the intensive care units provided
by these centers offer advanced monitoring
and are fully staffed with 24 hour nursing care.
Why see a specialist?
It's what they do 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week
and only such centers are equipped with the
necessary equipment.
Dr. Collins, a surgeon from Animerge, examines
the cruciate ligament of a dog
provide your pet with the best in medical care.
Many follow-up treatments or therapies can be
performed by your regular veterinarian. In
fact, specialists rely on your regular
veterinarian to perform follow-up examinations
and tests. At Kingston, we
Referral Centers have all the
necessary equipement and staff
to provide your pet with the best
in intensive care and specialty
procedures
Dr. Vygantas, (left image) an
Opthalmologist at Northstar
Vets performs eye surgery
work closely with many of
the referral centers and their specialists and
have developed a trusting, mutually beneficial
relationship with them.
Do not be fooled by day practitioners claiming
to have emergency services. Seeing a tired
Doctor on call, with limited resources to
properly care for your pet overnight is not the
same as the care your pet will have at a
referral center.

Most importantly, specialty (referral) centers Dr. Michael Tokiwa is the owner of the
1 work closely with your regular veterinarian to Kingston Animal Hospital in Kingston NJ