What is a Veterinary Specialist?
In the same way that your GP may refer you to a specialist, such as a cardiologist, dermatologist or oncologist etc, sometimes our pets need to receive specialist veterinary help too.
Veterinary specialists are vets who have undergone many years of additional training and gained the highest advanced qualifications in their specialist subject.
Who are the VVS specialists?
We have a team of experienced, friendly specialists in 10 different veterinary disciplines. All of our specialists have undergone many years of additional training and gained the highest advanced qualifications in their specialist subject.
They have worked in specialist veterinary teaching hospitals and referral center’s around the world and are leaders in their field.
Your pet will be supported by one or more of the VVS specialist team. To find out more about the specialists and their experience, please follow this link.
My practice is a Virtual Veterinary Specialist (VVS) partner practice- What does this mean?
This means your practice has a VVS workstation (VVS technology) installed. This technology has sophisticated video sharing software which allows your vet to arrange and perform a VVS consultation for your pet in collaboration with the VVS specialist team.
All of this means you and your pet have access to to world-class specialist care from the comfort of your own familiar practice, under the care of your trusted veterinary surgeon.
What is the VVS workstation?
The VVS workstation means that a veterinary specialists can be “virtually” present in your local veterinary surgery.
Hi-tech equipment such as digital cameras, stethoscopes and ECGs allow VVS specialists at another location to remotely examine your pet together with your local vet; to listen to their heart and lungs; to perform an ultrasound scan of your pet (heart, abdomen etc). They also provide specialist advice to your vet regarding diagnosis and best treatment plan – as if they were there in the same room with them!
What will happen on the day of my pet’s VVS consultation?
Your pet will be admitted by your veterinary team in their usual way. You will sign a consent form for the procedure, and this may involve consent for your pet to be sedated or anaesthetised for which guidance is offered by the VVS specialist team.
Your pet will be cared for and treated with kindness and compassion by your practice and the VVS specialists. Most of the VVS team are pet owners, as well as vets and nurses and as such we treat all patients as if they were our own.
Your pet will undertake the agreed procedures with your vet and the experienced VVS specialist and your vet will arrange for you to collect your pet afterwards.
Your vet will let you know how things went and tell you about any findings, diagnosis, treatment options and prognosis.
Your vet will receive a full written report from the VVS specialist two working days after the procedure.
What are the benefits of my pet seeing a VVS specialist?
Your own vet remains completely involved in your pet’s care and can work collaboratively with a VVS specialist to reach a diagnosis for your pet, and to decide on the most appropriate treatment plan and ongoing care.
There is no need to travel to a distant referral centre to see VVS, staying in the environment your pet is already familiar with.
The service can be more cost effective than travelling to traditional referral center’s
Can I make an appointment for my own pet?
As we are a referral service, a referral can only be made to us by a primary care vet, who will be able to provide us with all the required medical history and relevant information. We are unable to take referrals directly from pet owners.
As a vet-to-vet service, you can ask your primary care vet to contact us through our online referral form www.vvs.vet/refer-a-case/or by emailing us at [email protected] to discuss referral further.
My vet isn’t a partner practice with VVS, can they still use your services?
Absolutely! Any vet is welcome to use our specialist advice services at any time, this might take the form of a video call over zoom, or a written report, depending on your vets’ preferences. These can be requested through our online referral form www.vvs.vet/refer-a-case/.
Our live-guided services, however, are facilitated through our sophisticated technology, which requires the installation of a VVS workstation into the veterinary practice. We are happy to be contacted by any practice with an interest in working with us so we can give them more information. Please ask your vet to email us on [email protected].