Sniffing out special care

SPACE CASE: Elderly dog needs to see an expert

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My 10-year-old dog was recently diagnosed with a spindle cell tumour of the skin. My vet feels this will be better dealt with by a specialist, as she has little experience of this tumour. How do vets become specialists and how do I know their level of experience?

Spindle cell tumour is a broad term for several skin tumours. Referral is often suggested, as these tumours are difficult to cure without radical surgery and some need additional radiotherapy.

When I qualified, referrals tended to be to one of the university veterinary colleges, with only four in England at the time. There was a need for post graduate clinical training and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons introduced certificates, requiring at least three years of study.