Veterinary Specialists: What They Do and Coverage Information

If your pet suffers a serious injury or receives a complicated diagnosis, your veterinarian may recommend you take your dog or cat to a veterinary specialist.

Read on to learn more about the different types of veterinary specialists and what they do, as well as how a MetLife Pet Insurance policy can help cover specialty and emergency veterinary care. 

Does MetLife Pet Insurance Cover Specialists?

Specialist treatment and emergency care can be more expensive than a routine visit to your vet. MetLife Pet Insurance can help reimburse¹ you for care provided by some veterinary specialists, as long as the vet specialist is a licensed provider.

Whether your pet needs specialized cancer treatment or care for a broken bone, they can be covered for exam fees, diagnostics, and treatment with a dog insurance or cat insurance policy.

Veterinary specialist care won’t be covered, however, if the illness is a pre-existing condition. Read more about what is and isn’t covered on our coverage and exclusions page.

What Do Veterinary Specialists Do?

A veterinary specialist is a board-certified veterinarian who’s completed additional training, continuing education, or certification beyond general veterinary medicine.¹ The specific area of specialization complements the services a primary care veterinarian typically provides.

You may receive a referral to a veterinary specialist if diagnosing or treating your pet's health problem requires specialized equipment and/or expertise your veterinarian doesn’t have.

9 Types of Veterinary Specialties

Just like specialist doctors for human patients, the list of veterinary specialties continues to grow. In fact, your current vet might already be a board-certified veterinary specialist in one or more of these areas.

Here are some veterinary specialties that MetLife Pet Insurance can help cover costs for, including diagnosis and treatment:²

1. Behavior

Veterinarians with additional training in animal behavior are called behaviorists. They can provide behavioral training for pets who struggle with issues that go beyond obedience training, like aggression and anxiety.

2. Dentistry

Veterinary dentists perform procedures on animals' teeth and mouths, including cleaning, teeth removal, and other treatments for conditions like periodontal disease. Pet insurance doesn’t always cover dental care, but MetLife Pet can help cover things like the removal of deciduous teeth.

Plus, our Preventive Care add-on means you could be reimbursed for teeth cleaning costs.

3. Dermatology

Veterinary dermatologists study diseases and conditions of the skin and provide necessary treatment. Their training can also stem out into other areas — like immunology, allergy, and internal medicine — since skin conditions can be caused by a health issue from somewhere else within a pet’s body.

4. Emergency and critical care

If you’ve ever had to seek emergency care for your pet, you likely benefitted from an "ER doc" or intensive care specialist. These specialists are trained to act quickly in high-pressure emergency situations so your pet gets the care they need.

5. Internal medicine

Veterinarians who become certified in internal medicine are trained to care for pets with complicated or uncommon illnesses, including certain cancers. Your pet might need to see an internal medicine specialist if their disease is complex or if they require a procedure that’s more technical than your primary vet can offer. Some internal medicine specialties include:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Oncology
• Small animal internal medicine
• Large animal internal medicine

6. Ophthalmology

Veterinary ophthalmologists study, diagnose, and treat serious eye diseases and conditions. They can also provide appropriate care if your pet suffers a significant eye injury.

7. Radiology

If your pet requires diagnostic testing, they may need to see a veterinary radiologist. These specialists focus on advanced diagnostic imaging, including X-rays, ultrasounds, CAT scans, and MRIs. Sometimes, they also provide state-of-the-art radiation oncology treatment for pets with cancer.³

8. Rehabilitation

Following an injury or illness, pets may be referred to a veterinary professional who specializes in rehabilitation techniques. This treatment can include physical therapy and other types of holistic pet care, like hydrotherapy.

9. Surgery

Most veterinarians can perform surgeries like spaying or neutering. But some more complex surgical procedures require a veterinary surgeon. In addition to their specialty training, these vets may also have access to instruments and facilities your primary vet doesn’t.

MetLife Pet Insurance Can Help Cover Vet Specialist Costs

It can be scary if your pet needs emergency care or a veterinary specialist. MetLife Pet Insurance can help cover the costs of a variety of services provided by vet specialists. That way, you can focus on your pet’s well-being, not the vet bills.

Take California pup Marty, for example. When he ingested something he shouldn’t have, his owners rushed him to an emergency vet and received a hefty bill, $6,575, for the surgery to remove the foreign body. But their MetLife Pet plan reimbursed them for $5,275 of those costs.⁴

Get your free quote today to help keep your furry family member covered if they need specialty care.