MVS is a referral based specialty hospital serving the needs of small animal patients of the entire Mid-South region. Depending on the type of care your pet will receive, you may be given different guidelines regarding your first visit, appointments, drop-offs, calls and updates, visitation, discharge, and post-procedure instructions. Please review the information provided under each service area listed in the menu to the left. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
What is a veterinary specialist?
A veterinary specialist is someone who completes 3-4 years of additional training, usually in the form of an internship and residency programs, after graduating from veterinary school. Following the advanced training, credentials must be submitted to the specific group in question, i.e. American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), American College of Veterinary Surgery (ACVS), etc. After preliminary criteria have been met, the individual must pass a multi-day examination. Once the individual passes the examination they are considered to be board certified.
When should I see a specialist?
Usually, your veterinarian will make a recommendation to see a specialist. However, you can also request to see a specialist if you have concerns regarding your pet's health. We encourage you to discuss your options with your family veterinarian.
In general, specialists see cases requiring advanced training, expertise, skill or equipment for diagnosis and to perform the most up to date surgical or medical treatments. Orthopedic surgery, complicated abdominal, thoracic or cancer surgery, ultrasound, chemotherapy, endoscopy and MRI/CT scans are a few examples.
When You Visit
For your protection and that of others, all dogs must be on a leash and properly controlled while in the waiting area or exam rooms. All cats and smaller animals must be presented in an appropriate pet carrier or on a leash. Even though we make every effort to make our patients feel comfortable during their visit, they may be a little uneasy around new people, new surroundings, and other pets. For the safety of all animals in our care, we also require that all vaccinations be up to date.
All pet photography on MemphisVeterinarySpecialists.com is by Peggy Foster of Animal Photography, and depicts the pets of the MVS staff.
