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Board-certified veterinary specialists have completed 4-6 additional years of intensive training beyond veterinary school and passed rigorous national examinations. At Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists, our board-certified team provides the highest level of specialized care available in Oklahoma.
When your pet faces a complex medical condition or requires advanced surgery, the credentials of your veterinary team matter. Not all veterinarians have the same level of training, even when they perform similar procedures. Understanding what board certification means can help you make informed decisions about your pet's care.
All veterinarians complete four years of veterinary school and earn their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from an accredited institution. However, board-certified specialists continue their education far beyond this foundational training.
Board certification requires an additional 4-6 years of intensive residency training in a specific specialty. During this time, veterinarians work exclusively in their chosen field under the direct supervision of other board-certified specialists, gaining expertise that general practitioners simply cannot match.
After completing thousands of hours of specialized clinical work, candidates must pass comprehensive examinations administered by their specialty's certifying board. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, these examinations test both theoretical knowledge and practical surgical skills across multiple days of rigorous testing.
Only after passing these examinations can a veterinarian use board certification designations like DACVS (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons).
Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists employs multiple board-certified specialists across different veterinary disciplines. This means your pet can access the highest level of expertise available without leaving Oklahoma.
Dr. Zachary Ricker, our board-certified surgeon (DACVS), leads Oklahoma's largest veterinary referral surgical center. His advanced training enables him to perform complex orthopedic, neurologic, and soft tissue surgeries that require specialized expertise.
Dr. Hodges, our board-certified internal medicine specialist (DACVIM), brings advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities for conditions affecting the cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, endocrine, and hematologic systems.
This concentration of board-certified expertise under one roof means your pet receives coordinated, comprehensive specialty care when they need it most.
Many veterinarians describe themselves as "orthopedic surgeons," "neurosurgeons," or "referral surgeons" without having completed specialty training and certification. This can mislead pet owners about the level of expertise they're receiving.
Look for specific designations to ensure you're seeing a true specialist:
DACVS - Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Only veterinarians who have completed surgical residency training and passed board examinations can use this designation.
DACVIM - Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. These specialists have advanced training in diagnosing and treating complex internal conditions.
DACVO - Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. These eye specialists complete additional training in veterinary ophthalmology beyond general veterinary education.
The American Veterinary Medical Association recognizes only specific specialty boards. Credentials from these organizations represent the gold standard in veterinary specialty training.
Board-certified specialists at Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists have performed hundreds of specialized procedures under expert supervision before treating patients independently. This extensive hands-on experience directly impacts surgical precision, diagnostic accuracy, and treatment success rates.
Research published in veterinary medical journals demonstrates that board-certified specialists achieve better outcomes for complex cases compared to general practitioners attempting the same procedures. Their focused training allows them to recognize subtle complications early and adjust treatment protocols accordingly.
Our specialists stay current with the latest advances in veterinary medicine through mandatory continuing education. They often contribute to veterinary research and help develop new treatment protocols that benefit pets nationwide.
This depth of knowledge becomes especially valuable when treating uncommon conditions, performing intricate surgeries, or managing cases that haven't responded to initial treatment approaches.
Board certification represents only part of the equation. Even the most skilled specialist needs appropriate tools to deliver optimal care.
Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists maintains Oklahoma's most advanced veterinary facility, featuring cutting-edge diagnostic imaging, modern surgical suites, and specialized equipment that most veterinary practices cannot justify economically. This combination of board-certified expertise and advanced technology creates treatment possibilities unavailable elsewhere in the state.
Our specialists utilize this equipment daily, understanding its capabilities and limitations through years of specialized experience. A CT scan interpreted by a board-certified specialist yields more actionable information than the same scan read by a general practitioner.
Your primary care veterinarian will typically recommend a referral to a board-certified specialist when your pet's condition requires advanced expertise. Common reasons include complex surgical procedures, difficult-to-diagnose illnesses, or conditions affecting specific organ systems.
Emergency situations may also require specialist intervention. Traumatic injuries, neurological emergencies, and life-threatening conditions often benefit from the advanced training our board-certified team provides 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Pet owners throughout Oklahoma travel to our Tulsa facility because they understand the value of board-certified care. While the drive may seem inconvenient, the superior outcomes and advanced treatment options make the journey worthwhile for pets facing serious health challenges.
Board-certified specialists work differently than general practitioners. We don't replace your primary veterinarian—we collaborate with them to provide comprehensive care for your pet.
After our specialists evaluate and treat your pet, we communicate detailed findings and recommendations to your regular veterinarian. This ensures continuity of care as your pet transitions back to routine wellness visits and ongoing health maintenance.
Your primary veterinarian knows your pet's complete medical history and provides essential preventive care. Our board-certified specialists complement this relationship by offering advanced diagnostic capabilities and treatment options for complex conditions beyond the scope of general practice.
This collaborative approach, supported by veterinary medicine best practices, ensures your pet receives appropriate care at every stage of their health journey.
Oklahoma pet owners deserve transparency about their veterinary team's qualifications. Each veterinary specialty board maintains a public directory of certified diplomates that anyone can access.
The American College of Veterinary Surgeons allows you to search for board-certified surgeons by name or location. Similar directories exist for internal medicine, ophthalmology, and other specialties.
At Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists, we prominently display our specialists' credentials and welcome questions about their training, certification status, and experience with specific conditions. Informed pet owners make better partners in their pet's care, and we encourage this engagement.
Becoming board certified requires significant personal and financial investment from veterinarians. The additional 4-6 years of training means delayed income, student loan accumulation, and postponed life milestones.
Veterinarians pursue board certification because they're passionate about advancing veterinary medicine and providing the highest possible standard of care. This dedication to excellence drives every decision our specialists make.
When you choose Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists, you're accessing this investment in expertise. Our board-certified team brings decades of combined advanced training to every case, every day.
Understanding board certification empowers you to advocate effectively for your pet's health. When your veterinarian recommends a specialist referral, knowing what those credentials mean can give you confidence in the recommendation.
Ask questions about your specialist's training, certification status, and experience with your pet's specific condition. Board-certified specialists welcome these conversations and understand that informed pet owners make better healthcare partners.
Research from the American Animal Hospital Association shows that pet owners who understand specialty veterinary care are more likely to pursue appropriate treatment and achieve better outcomes for their pets.
The board-certified specialists at Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists represent the pinnacle of veterinary training and expertise. When your pet faces a serious health challenge, this level of advanced care can make the difference between good outcomes and exceptional ones.
Our team serves Oklahoma pet owners who refuse to compromise on their pet's healthcare. We understand that pets are family members who deserve access to the same level of specialized medicine that humans receive.
From complex orthopedic surgery to advanced internal medicine diagnostics to specialized ophthalmology care, our board-certified team provides comprehensive specialty services backed by years of intensive training and daily clinical experience.
Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists delivers 24-hour emergency care and board-certified specialty services with advanced technology and compassionate treatment.
