Frequently Asked Questions
01.
What is a veterinary specialty hospital?
A veterinary specialty hospital provides advanced care for pets with complex, serious, or urgent medical needs. Unlike a general veterinary practice that focuses on routine wellness care, vaccines, and everyday medical concerns, a specialty hospital offers a higher level of diagnostic and treatment support for pets that need more advanced care.
Miami Veterinary Specialists provides emergency and specialty veterinary services for dogs and cats in South Florida. Our team works with pet owners and referring veterinarians to help diagnose complicated conditions, manage serious illnesses, and provide care when a pet needs specialized medical attention.
02.
How does MVS differ from my regular veterinarian?
Your regular veterinarian is an important part of your pet’s long-term health and is usually the first place you go for wellness exams, vaccines, routine testing, and general care. Miami Veterinary Specialists is different because we focus on emergency and specialty veterinary medicine. Our hospital is equipped to support pets with more advanced medical needs, including urgent emergencies, complex diagnostic cases, specialty consultations, advanced imaging, surgery, oncology, and other specialized services. In many cases, we work directly with your primary veterinarian to review records, evaluate your pet’s condition, and provide additional care when more specialized support is needed.
03.
Does MVS offer vaccines or routine wellness care?
No. Miami Veterinary Specialists does not provide routine wellness services such as vaccines, annual exams, spays, neuters, or general preventive care. Those services should be handled by your primary veterinarian. We focus on emergency and specialty veterinary care. If your pet needs routine care, your regular veterinarian is the best place to start. If your pet has an emergency, a complicated diagnosis, or a condition that requires advanced treatment, Miami Veterinary Specialists may be able to help.
04.
What is a board-certified veterinary specialist?
A board-certified veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who has completed additional advanced training in a specific area of veterinary medicine. This usually includes an internship, residency, specialized clinical training, and a certification process through a recognized veterinary specialty board. Specialists are trained to manage complex, unusual, or advanced medical conditions. Depending on your pet’s needs, a board-certified specialist may help with diagnosis, treatment planning, surgery, cancer care, advanced imaging, or other specialized veterinary services.
05.
When should my pet see a veterinary specialist?
Your pet may need a veterinary specialist if they have a condition that is complicated, severe, unusual, or not improving with initial treatment. Your primary veterinarian may recommend a specialist if your pet needs advanced diagnostics, surgery, cancer treatment, imaging, or more specialized medical management. You may also contact Miami Veterinary Specialists if your pet is experiencing urgent symptoms or if you are unsure whether specialty or emergency care is needed.
06.
Do I need a referral to bring my pet to MVS?
A referral from your primary veterinarian is often helpful, especially for specialty appointments. Referral records can give our team important information about your pet’s medical history, previous testing, imaging, medications, and treatment plan. However, emergencies do not always begin with a referral. If your pet is experiencing an urgent medical problem, contact Miami Veterinary Specialists right away for guidance. Our hospital is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
07.
What should I bring to my pet’s appointment?
Please bring any records that may help our team understand your pet’s condition. This may include medical history, bloodwork, X-rays, ultrasound reports, MRI or CT results, biopsy results, medication lists, referral notes, and discharge paperwork from previous visits. If your pet is taking medication, bring the medication names, dosages, and schedule. The more information our team has, the better we can understand what has already been done and what next steps may be appropriate.
08.
What happens during a specialty consultation?
During a specialty consultation, our team will review your pet’s history, discuss your concerns, perform an examination, and evaluate any records from your primary veterinarian. Depending on your pet’s condition, additional testing or treatment may be recommended. The goal of the consultation is to better understand your pet’s medical needs and explain the available options. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and review the recommended plan before moving forward with care.
09.
How do I know if my pet is having an emergency?
Some symptoms should never be ignored. Your pet may need emergency veterinary care if they are having difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, seizures, collapse, severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding, trouble urinating, sudden weakness, trauma, toxin exposure, bloating, or sudden changes in behavior or alertness. If you are unsure whether your pet’s condition is an emergency, it is safest to call for guidance. In urgent situations, quick evaluation can make an important difference.
10.
Does MVS provide 24/7 emergency care?
Yes. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for emergency veterinary care. Our emergency team is available to evaluate urgent symptoms, stabilize critical patients, and provide advanced support when pets need immediate medical attention. If your pet is experiencing an emergency, call Miami Veterinary Specialists right away at (305) 665-2820.
11.
Can MVS work with my regular veterinarian?
Yes. Specialty veterinary care is often a collaborative process. Miami Veterinary Specialists can work with your primary veterinarian by reviewing medical records, discussing findings, sharing diagnostic results, and helping coordinate your pet’s care. Your regular veterinarian remains an important part of your pet’s long-term health. MVS provides additional support when your pet needs emergency care, advanced diagnostics, specialty treatment, or management for a more complex condition.
12.
Why are advanced diagnostics important?
Diagnostic testing may be recommended depending on your pet’s symptoms, medical history, and examination findings. This may include bloodwork, X-rays, ultrasound, MRI, CT, biopsy, endoscopy, or other advanced testing.
Advanced diagnostics can reveal information that may not be clear from a physical exam alone. Imaging, lab testing, and other diagnostic tools can help identify injuries, tumors, organ disease, neurologic problems, internal changes, or other serious conditions.
13.
How much will my pet’s care cost?
The cost of care depends on your pet’s condition, the type of appointment, recommended diagnostics, treatment options, hospitalization needs, and follow-up care. Because every pet’s situation is different, costs can vary.
14.
What signs should I watch for after treatment or hospitalization?
The signs to watch for depend on your pet’s diagnosis and treatment. In general, contact a veterinarian if your pet has trouble breathing, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, worsening pain, weakness, loss of appetite, swelling, bleeding, trouble urinating, collapse, seizures, or sudden changes in behavior. Your discharge instructions may also include specific warning signs based on your pet’s condition. If your pet seems worse or you are concerned about their recovery, call Miami Veterinary Specialists or your primary veterinarian for guidance.
14.
Why choose Miami Veterinary Specialists?
Miami Veterinary Specialists provides advanced emergency and specialty veterinary care for dogs and cats in South Florida. Our hospital is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, giving pet owners access to emergency support when urgent care is needed. With specialty services, advanced diagnostics, and a team-focused approach, MVS helps pet owners navigate serious medical situations and make informed decisions about their pet’s care.
