Does my pet “need” a veterinary specialist? CONSIDERATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES
COME. STAY. HEAL… Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Services for the East Bay and Tri-Valley Area
Why Choose a Veterinary Specialist? As multidiscipline approaches to human healthcare have developed, so has specialization within veterinary medicine. There are now many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that a pet may undergo that could benefit from the knowledge, expertise and attention of a Veterinary Specialist. You or your family veterinarian may prefer for your companion’s procedure to be performed by a veterinarian with advanced training, experience and a firm knowledge of successful aftercare. If your pet requires a procedure or a diagnosis that is more than “routine,” consider using the services of a Veterinary Specialist. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING VETERINARY SPECIALISTS
What is a Diplomate, also known as a board-certified specialist? A Diplomate is a veterinarian who has undergone additional training after veterinary school and has been certified by an American Veterinary Medical Association recognized specialty organization, such as the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and American College of Veterinary Surgery. Diplomates of these American Colleges are often referred to as board-certified. When would I need to consult a board-certified veterinarian? Routine procedures like wellness checks, vaccinations, and spays and neuters can generally be performed by your primary care/family veterinarian. Referral to a boardcertified surgeon may be recommended by your primary care/family veterinarian for: n Advanced procedures or those not performed commonly. n Procedures requiring specialized equipment. n Procedures requiring intensive monitoring and/or aftercare. n Procedures carrying more risk to the life of your pet. Does my pet really “need” a board-certified specialist? Advances within the veterinary sciences have produced a much wider variety of possible therapeutic and treatment options including highly specialized and rare/uncommon procedures. Board-certified specialists spend at least four years after earning their veterinary degree focusing strictly on their area of expertise.This concentrated focus provides the specialist with the skills, breath of experience and equipment familiarity necessary to navigate intensive or unique medical and surgical conditions. Additionally specialists, by virtue of their focus, are able to keep up to date with frequent advances, breakthroughs and updates in therapies and procedures. Many medical and surgical conditions that, until recently, were considered incurable or inoperable, can now be treated safely, humanely and successfully by a trained and experienced specialist.
Still not sure if you need a Veterinary Specialist? Please feel free to call us to discuss your pet’s particular situation, and if your pet might benefit from our specialty services.
Meet our Team of Veterinary Specialists Jamie Wignall, BvetMed(Hons), MS, DACVS Dr. Wignall comes from a family of veterinarians in the U.K., and after pursuing veterinary school at the Royal Veterinary College in London, he returned home for a year in rural mixed animal practice. Adventure beckoned, and he completed his surgical training at Louisiana State University where he found a southern girl, a love for the New Orleans Saints and a terrier called Maverick. He then worked in Southern California for four years where the family expanded to add two more terriers, Biffy and Ziggy. His professional interests include orthopedics, soft tissue, and neurosurgery and minimally invasive surgery.
Katrina Stewart, BVSc(Hons), BSc Adv (Hons), MS Dr. Katrina Stewart grew up in Australia, completing an advanced science degree at the University of Wollongong followed by two years working in an Embryology Laboratory in Sydney. She returned to study her veterinary degree at the University of Sydney, and following graduation worked in the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland in a rural mixed practice for two years. Here she worked with many native animals including work for the local Bat Hospital. Dr. Stewart went on to pursue a one-year rotating internship at Mississippi State University followed by a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Purdue University.
Christine H. Kim, DVM, DACVIM Dr. Kim received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from UC Davis in 2006, and was awarded the Outstanding Senior Award by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Internal Medicine Award by Pfizer Animal Health. She went on to pursue a one-year rotating internship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego. She completed a three-year residency in small animal internal medicine at UC Davis in 2010. Dr. Kim is passionate about all aspects of internal medicine, but has particular interest in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, lower urinary tract, and kidneys.
Rebecca Rader, DVM, DACVECC Dr. Rader graduated from University of Illinois Veterinary School in 2006. She then completed a 1-year general, rotating internship at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in San Leandro. Her residency program in emergency and critical care took her to Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in Rhode Island for 4 years, but her love for the Bay Area brought her back to California in 2011 after the completion of her residency. Her professional interests include trauma, blood clotting disorders, and critical illnesses. Her most recent interest has been learning more about pain management and geriatric care.
John J. Haburjak, DVM, DACVS Dr. Haburjak graduated from UC Davis Veterinary School in 1993 with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree. He practiced for 5 years before returning to academics to complete a combined surgical residency program in San Diego and the University of Illinois. His clinical surgical interests include surgical oncologic procedures of the face, head and neck, corrective orthopedic procedures, and neurosurgery (spinal). Finally, he has dedicated most of his post-graduate emphasis on minimally invasive procedures including: laparoscopy, thoracoscopy and interventional radiology (urethral and tracheal stenting).
OUR MISSION We are Ironhorse VetCare, a dedicated, professional and compassionate team of veterinarians and professionals who partner with family veterinarians and other specialists to provide 24-hour care and unparalleled advanced medical and surgical services to the San Francisco Bay Area. O U R O P E R AT I N G P R I N C I P LE S • We help our pet owners and referring veterinarians make wellinformed decisions by providing thorough diagnostics, education and innovative medical and surgical solutions. • We provide proactive, timely and accurate communication to our pet owning clientele.
O U R VA LU E S • We believe in the dignity and value that animals add to our lives. • We believe in upholding the unique and cherished bond between pet owners and their family veterinarian. • We believe that both family veterinarians and pet owners should have all concerns, questions and reservations met with compassion, patience and understanding before allowing our doctors to perform any procedure on their pets. • We apply these same values to ourselves, our own pets, and the pets under our care. • We honor the opportunity to share these services with you.
www.IronhorseVetCare.com | www.FiberOpticVet.com
7660 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin, CA 94568
925.556.1234