A veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who has completed advanced training in a specific discipline of veterinary medicine. There are more than 20 specialties recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association's American Board of Veterinary Specialties, including surgery, internal medicine, critical care, sports medicine and rehabilitation, ophthalmology, and radiology.

Veterinary specialists work in conjunction with you and your pet’s primary care veterinarian or emergency veterinarian to treat difficult problems that may require more advanced diagnostics, procedures, or monitoring than can be provided by your primary veterinarian. A specialist has completed a minimum of four additional years of training after veterinary school, typically consisting of an internship and residency program in their discipline. He or she must meet specific training and caseload requirements, publish research in a peer-reviewed journal, and pass a rigorous examination to become board-certified. Board-certified specialists are called diplomates.