Q:  What is a Diplomate?
A:  An ACVS Diplomate in an individual who has been certified as a specialist in veterinary surgery by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Q:  How can I find out if a particular veterinary surgeon is board certified?
A:  Our online Diplomate Directory will assist you in verifying whether or not a doctor is an ACVS Veterinary Surgeon.

Q:  My veterinary surgeon says he is board certified, but does not come up when I search on your website, why?
A:  There are several possible reasons for this:

1. A small number of ACVS Veterinary Surgeons request that their information not be posted on our website.  If your surgeon says he is board certified through the ACVS but does not appear on our website, you can contact the ACVS offices to verify their certification.
2. There are several certifying organizations for veterinary medicine that are recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).  It is possible that an individual is board certified, but in an area other than veterinary surgery.  For a list of veterinary specialty organizations, visit http://www.avma.org/education/abvs/vetspecialists.asp
3. Individuals who are active in our residency program but have not yet completed the ACVS residency requirements and/or have not yet passed the ACVS board certification examination are not considered Diplomates.
   If you are unsure if your doctor is board certified or who he/she is certified through, contact the practice to find out.  This information can be more easily verified when contacting the appropriate organization.

Q:  What does “board certified” mean?
A:  A board certified surgeon is an individual who has completed the requirements of the ACVS to become certified as a specialist in veterinary surgery (an ACVS Diplomate).

Q:  Do I need a surgeon who is board certified?
A:  Advances in animal health care have led to a wider variety of treatment options, including highly specialized surgical procedures.  Board certified surgeons spend at least four years after achieving their veterinary medical degree (DVM) focusing strictly on surgery.  This concentrated training in surgery allows the ACVS Veterinary Surgeon to keep current with frequent advances in veterinary medicine.  Ask your veterinarian if the procedure requires a specialist.  General procedures may be less likely to require someone who is board certified.

Q:  When I search for a surgeon on your website, it tells me that there are no matches found.  Are there no surgeons in my area?
A:  Our search engine provides names based on the exact criteria entered.  Try a broader search.  Usually searching by state and area of surgical emphasis will produce the best results.  Note that “General,” “Orthopedic” and “Gen & Ortho” will produce three separate sets of results.  If you are searching for a particular ACVS Veterinary Surgeon, try entering only the last name of the surgeon into the search engine.  Also, make sure to scroll down to see all of the results.

Q:  How can I find out if any complaints have been filed against a particular surgeon?
A:  Contact your state's licensing board for information relating to complaints.

Q:  Where can I find information on financial aid that is available for my pet’s surgery?
A:  Financial aid opportunities, although available, are very hard to come by.  The demand is much higher than the available funding.  For suggestions and ideas visit: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/what_you_can_do_if_you_are_having_trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html

Q:  Would a university be able to perform the needed surgery on my pet for free or at a discount as a research write-off?
A:  Research related surgeries require funding just like any other surgery and that funding is not unlimited.  Because of this, universities often are working only on specific research areas as opposed to broader, more general surgeries.  Typically, universities have little trouble finding the animals needed for their studies, so the likelihood of the local university needing additional animals is small.

Q:  What questions should I ask my veterinarian before my pet undergoes a procedure?
A:  We have a list of suggested questions available.  Go to Top 5 questions to ask your vet.

Q:  Where can I make a donation that will help improve the care of animals?
A:  The ACVS Foundation welcomes your donations.  For more information, visit www.acvsfoundation.org.

Q:  A friend or family member recently lost a pet.  What can I do to show my support?
A:  You can make a donation in the pet’s name to the ACVS Foundation’s Pet or Equine Memorial Program.  For more information, visit www.acvsfoundation.org.

Do you have a question that was not answered here?  E-mail acvs@acvs.org.