FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In order to provide the best possible care for your pet we have to work as a team with your general practice veterinarian. After your visit here, we will work with them to further monitor and treat ongoing problems. It is therefore crucial that they be involved in the referral process so that we are able to work with them to optimise your pet’s recovery process.

Like most health care fields, the veterinary profession has become multi-tiered. Most conditions that develop in our animals are first evaluated by a primary care veterinarian. If an animal develops a problem or illness requiring advanced care and procedures, your primary care veterinarian or emergency room veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary specialist. Veterinary specialists work closely with animal owners, as well as the primary care veterinarian, to coordinate the best quality of care.

Veterinary specialists are veterinarians who have advanced training in various veterinary medical, surgical and imaging disciplines and are board certified. To become board certified, a veterinarian must have completed, at a minimum, four years of veterinary college, a one year internship or equivalent, and two to three years in a residency programme that meets the standards of a recognised specialty college or board.

Like most health care fields, the veterinary profession has become multi-tiered. Most conditions that develop in our animals are first evaluated by a primary care veterinarian. If an animal develops a problem or illness requiring advanced care and procedures, your primary care veterinarian or emergency room veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary specialist. Veterinary specialists work closely with animal owners, as well as the primary care veterinarian, to coordinate the best quality of care.

• For referrals, your general practice veterinarian will provide your specialist with information from your pet’s medical file, and when appropriate, the results of tests and on many occasions, x-rays in film or digital format.

  The specialist will review this information and may have many more questions for you to help them best understand your pet’s medical problem.

  After a thorough physical examination, the specialist will use this information to make a diagnosis then, or to formulate a diagnostic plan to determine the problem. Your pet may or may not need to be hospitalised during this process. Depending on the case, it may be a part-day process, or may require hospitalisation overnight or longer. Your specialist will provide you with an estimate of the costs at that time.

• For physiotherapy, your general practice veterinarian will provide our team with information from your pet’s medical file and the results of any investigations such as x-rays and blood work. The physiotherapist/hydrotherapist will consult your pet’s records prior to the initial consultation. The physiotherapist will have more questions regarding the your dogs injury and what your dog’s normal function and the activities your dog would normally perform. The consult will include a thorough physical examination and then physiotherapy treatment specific to your dog’s assessment findings. Laser therapy and hydrotherapy may be recommended depending on the condition. Your dog can commence hydrotherapy once an initial physiotherapy consultation has been preformed. You will also receive exercises that you can do with your dog between physiotherapy/hydrotherapy/laser therapy sessions.
  
  
• For emergency care, your pet is taken to our triage area where vital signs and critical assessment is completed. The emergency veterinarian will then advise you on next steps.

Yes. We usually make appointments on the first available basis within the department but if you have a preference, please have your veterinarian state it or make the request when your appointment is made.

• For referrals: Your general practice veterinarian will already have sent your pet’s medical history. If your pet is currently on medication, please bring this with you. If your pet is due medication on the day of your appointment, please check whether this should be given with your general practice vet.
  
  
• For emergency: Please bring any relevant medical history you have access to as well as any current treatments.

• We have plenty of comfortable bedding available.
  
  
• It is important to us that your pet is well cared for while in hospital. We have found that this is best achieved with comfortable bedding and lots of cuddles. We’ve found it’s best not to associate their home comforts with the hospital so please leave these at home.

• We have an A&E veterinarian and highly trained staff in the hospital 24-hours a day, 365-days a year to care for patients in our hospital.
  
  
• Our referral team are in the hospital Monday to Friday, during normal business hours.

• Visits can be scheduled for 15 minute sessions. Times for visiting are dependent on the day’s caseload. You will be able to book a time with the hospital nurse.

No, you can’t. This is partly for hygiene reasons, as we need to limit the introduction of bugs, bacteria and diseases into our hospital. But it’s also practical – we don’t want your items getting lost, or your pet associating them with the hospital. We have lots of lovely snuggly bedding for your pet.

If you think that your pet might have eaten something toxic, please call us for advice. We can let you know whether it is something you need to see us for, or nothing to worry about.

Yes. We will provide written reports and copies of laboratory and imaging reports as they become available for your pet’s medical file with your general practice veterinarian. When patients are in hospital more than a day or two, regular updates will be sent, so that they are aware of the progress your pet is making. Our team keeps both you and your veterinarian updated as to your pet’s progress.

For most veterinary cases and for things like vaccinations, wellness exams, primary care or regular spays or neuters – it is important you use your regular vet.  In the event you require more specialised care, we are here for you and your pets.  

We provide specialty veterinarian and A&E services. We do not perform vaccinations, wellness exams, primary care or regular spays or neuters. It is therefore important for your pet’s overall health that your general practice provides these services and VSA works with them and you on a referral basis.