FAQ

 

What is a board certified surgeon?

All veterinarians go to college and study all aspects of Veterinary Medicine. In general they have completed an undergraduate degree and then a post graduate Veterinary Medicine Degree (DVM). Some veterinarians then go on to additional study and training in the form of an Internship and Residency.

A board certified veterinary surgeon has undergone specialty training to learn more about surgical disease processes and refine their surgical skills. They have completed a minimum of a 1 year Internship, a 3 year Surgical Residency, published research and passed a rigorous examination process. They are trained to understand the surgical disease and how to treat them. Here in the United States they are referred to as Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

 

what happens when my pet needs surgery?

If your pet is diagnosed with a surgical condition your vet will generally discuss with you the options available to you. Depending on the level of complexity it may be a procedure you have performed by your primary care veterinarian. They may also offer you referral to a specialist. Options for specialist care include a referral center or, in some cases, having a surgeon consult and potentially do the surgery in your hospital.

 

Why is an Initial consultation so important?

At Synergy Veterinary Specialists we believe the key to success begins with an understanding of the disease, surgical and non surgical options, expected outcome and post operative restrictions/care. The initial consultation will allow us to confirm the suspected diagnosis by performing a physical examination and assessing the history and in some cases xrays. We will also look at general health and suitability for surgery and anesthesia.

We will then discuss the following topics

  • The disease process itself so you understand what is wrong with your pet

  • Non surgical and surgical options

  • We will also talk about if this is a procedure which is appropriate be done on an outpatient basis or if we all feel this would be better performed in a 24 hour facility.

  • Expected outcome

  • Potential complications - hopefully if we talk about them they won’t happen!!

  • Post operative care - so you can be prepared physically and mentally

 

Do I need to bring my pet to this consultation

Absolutely yes!!! In order for us to evaluate your pet we need to meet him/her!!

 

who do I contact if i have a question about my pets surgery

Because our goal is to enhance and maintain your relationship with your veterinarian we encourage you to call and speak with them first about any concerns or issues you have through the course of your pets treatment. We work one on one with them and are available should their be concerns that may be better answered by one of our team.

 

Do you work with all veterinary hospitals in the twin cities

We work specifically with a small number of hospitals to allow us to provide personalized one on one care to our hospitals, owners and patients. These hospitals are our “Partner hospitals”.

 

Who will do my rechecks?

Whenever possible we schedule follow up/recheck appointments with Dr. Feldsien. This is especially true of orthopedic rechecks where we are not only looking to see if the bone is healed but how the pet is using the limb and the outcome of surgery. These appointments are scheduled at your hospital ahead of time.

If there is a concern about your pets progress during the post operative period every effort will be made to have Dr. Feldsien be involved in the recheck however, depending on timing, we may have you recheck with your primary care doctor who will then consult with Dr. Feldsien. Sometimes this may be scheduled as a drop off appointment so Dr. Feldsien can squeeze it in to her day.

 

Any other questions?

If you have additional questions or concerns about your pets surgery please feel free to reach out to us via email or phone. Often email can be a better way as our days can be busy and we may not be able to answer the phone. Remember to ALWAYS call your primary care veterinarian first to discuss your questions. We are a part of their team!