For years human medicine has been divided into numerous subspecialities that handle pediatrics to podiatry and anything between. The American Board of Medical Specialties was established in 1933 to provide comprehensive training to physicians in specific areas of medicine.

In the field of veterinary medicine, small animal specialists are quite common and provide a much-needed avenue for secondary and tertiary care of our pets. Equine specialty practice has grown substantially over the years and can provide a similar level of expanded care to horses in all arenas. Currently, under the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) American Board of Veterinary Specialists, 46 distinct veterinary specialties exist, and among those are at least six equine- or large-animal-specific groups.

Accredited veterinary schools provide an excellent general education to all veterinary students, including those who want to pursue equine practice. After graduation there is an option to seek further training in specific areas on veterinary practice, including internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology, sports medicine/rehabilitation, and theriogenology (reproduction).

Veterinarians who pursue this avenue spend an additional three to four years after veterinary school expanding their knowledge base to include all cutting-edge and innovative techniques available in their respective fields. After completing a rigorous training process and passing several difficult examinations, they can call themselves a specialist.

What are Equine Specialists?

Board-certified specialists are veterinarians who can complement the expertise of your general practitioner. They can provide top-notch and cutting-edge treatment options that might go beyond the scope of primary care. They could possess tools that are not accessible in the field (i.e., with ambulatory medicine) to provide additional diagnostic information, or they might be able to hospitalize a patient to provide intensive care to a very sick animal.

Specialty veterinarians can play a crucial role in your horse’s health, especially in potentially life-threatening or career-ending circumstances.

When to Call an Equine Specialist

The role of the specialist in equine practice is not to take over the job of primary care practitioners but, rather, enhance their role by providing support.

If your horse has a medical condition that does not seem to be healing with standard care, it might be time to call for backup. This could be on the farm by a consulting specialist or at a hospital if specialized equipment or more intensive care is necessary.

Through years of additional training, specialists have become skilled and adept problem solvers. For many specialists, the more difficult the case, the better. Sometimes this care is needed early on in cases of pneumonia, colic, or fractures, but in other cases conditions are more chronic such as asthma, skin conditions, or gastrointestinal disease. If you are ever in doubt about needing a specialist, ask your primary care veterinarian.

Leroy’s Journey With a Specialist

Leroy, a 17-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse, had just returned home from a long trail ride when it became clear he wasn’t feeling well. His rectal temperature was 103.7 F (normal range 98 F-101.5 F), and his regular veterinarian found elevated respiratory and heart rates upon examining him. Further auscultation with a stethoscope revealed very quiet lung sounds. A stall side test for serum amyloid A (SAA)—an acute-phase protein—indicated possible infection.

Based on these findings, Leroy’s regular veterinarian recommended referral to an internal medicine specialist because she was concerned about severity of disease. At the clinic an ultrasound exam of Leroy’s thorax revealed severe pleuropneumonia with fluid accumulation in both sides of the chest. His white blood cell count was quite elevated and his protein levels low. The internist hospitalized Leroy immediately and placed drains in both sides of his chest to remove the fluid. He went on intravenous antibiotics and was nebulized with antibiotics four times daily. Leroy was discharged from the hospital after 16 days of intensive management and round-the-clock care. His owner continued to administer oral antibiotics for several weeks but, once his regular veterinarian deemed him healthy using ultrasound, Leroy was able to return to his old job.