Our hospital is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including all weekends and holidays for emergency care. If you call after normal business hours, please follow the prompts to speak with an onsite staff member.

While a phone call is not required we do encourage a phone call to let us know you are coming in and to provide us with a brief description of your pet's problem and severity. Your pet can be seen through our emergency service at any time 24 hours a day 7 days a week. A phone call ahead of time allows us to plan procedures accordingly and to prepare for your visit, particularly with unstable or sick patients. Additional information can be provided as needed such as directions, billing information, and expected waiting times 

We are here to assist you and your pet whether you come into our facility or not. We have veterinary nurses available 24/7 to answer any questions you have. If you are unsure if your pet is experiencing an emergency situation, please call us and we can help determine the best course of action. There is no fee for this phone call. 

We encourage you to fill out our New Patient Registration Form to preregister in our system. This can help expedite your visit to CVRC.

A specialty hospital does not offer any routine or preventative care. Our veterinarians have advanced training in specific disciplines such as emergency and critical care medicine, surgery, oncology, internal medicine, critical care, physical rehabilitation and neurology among others. We also have equipment that most primary veterinarians don’t have such as CT scans, MRI, endoscopic equipment, and specialized surgical tools. We work closely with your primary veterinarian to offer these services to you.

The following list is just some of the services available through CVRC's Emergency Department:

• Diagnostic Imaging including: digital radiography, ultrasound, echocardiography, fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI
• Flexible and rigid endoscopy
• Full in-house laboratory including blood chemistry, hematology, coagulation profile, urinalysis, and cytology
• Full complement of external laboratories for advanced testing
• In-house pharmacy with full complement of oral and injectable medications to treat disease or symptoms
• Full surgical equipment for wounds, trauma, or other surgical emergencies
• Dedicated Intensive Care Unit staffed 24 hours a day
  • Oxygen support
  • Advanced Fluid Therapy
  • Continuous patient monitoring including: electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure (indirect and direct arterial), oxygen saturation, temperature, and capnography (CO2 monitoring)
• Pain Management
  • Multimodal pain management protocols that help alleviate pain while maintaining vital parameters
• Nutrition
  • Enteral nutrition (feeding directly into the gastrointestinal tract) including nasoesophageal, nasogastric, esophageal and gastrostomy feeding tubes
  • Parenteral nutrition (intravenous nutrition) including total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and partial parenteral nutrition (PPN, supplemental IV nutrition)
• Transfusion medicine
  • Blood typing and cross matching
  • Blood transfusions including whole blood, packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and platelet rich plasma
  • On site blood bank and staff pet donation program

Initially on presentation, a veterinary nurse will come and greet you and your pet. They will get a brief history from you, obtain your pet's vital signs, and report this information to our emergency clinician. While we make every effort to see patients in the order they arrive, patients are seen by our doctors based on severity of condition, not always on a first come first serve basis. Upon arrival, you will be asked to fill out a patient registration form. Depending on your pet's condition, you may be asked to sign an initial emergency consent to allow for initial treatment and stabilization of your pet. The doctor will perform a full examination of your pet and formulate a treatment plan with you. We will communicate with you about the status of your pet routinely during the hospital stay and encourage you to contact us for updates or with any questions or concerns. Also, we will communicate with your primary veterinarian during this process to ensure a collaborative treatment plan for the care of your pet.

At the time of discharge, you will be given a printed visit summary with the diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and follow up care for your pet. A full report will be sent to your family veterinarian as well. We welcome your progress reports, questions and concerns any time and will maintain an ongoing relationship with your primary care doctor to ensure the best experience for you and the best care for your pet.

Please bring your pet and a list of all medications, strengths and dosages, or the pill vials that you pet is currently taking. We can request medical records from your primary veterinarian once you arrive (or prior to arrival if you are being referred or transferred by your regular veterinarian during normal business hours).

You do NOT need a referral for emergency care. Pleased contact us or come to CVRC if you pet is having an urgent or emergency condition. If your pet is being transferred or referred by your regular veterinarian for emergency or continued care, please bring all pertinent medical records, laboratory work, and diagnostic images. We can help obtain these from your family veterinarian as well once you arrive.

We work closely with your primary veterinarian and ensure they receive copies of all medical records. We also communicate via phone and they have the ability to access a portal into our medical record system. 

We predominantly treat dogs and cats. If you think you are having an emergency with a different species, please contact us via phone for advice.

Depending on the nature of your pet's disease or condition, the diagnostics or treatments performed, and their timing, your pet may or may not need to stay overnight. Many conditions can be treated on an outpatient basis. Our doctor or veterinary nurse will discuss the expected hospital stay during your visit or admission to the hospital.

All patients have round-the-clock care. We always have doctors and veterinary nurses on premises to monitor and care for your pet. No pet is ever left unattended. 

We always allow owners to visit with their pets. Please call and speak with your doctor or nurse so we can coordinate a time that is best for your pet and you. We try to limit visits to twice a day for 15 minutes as to not interfere with your pet’s treatment. It is generally discouraged to visit on a day when your pet underwent general anesthesia as sometimes this can be disruptive to their recovery. 

If you feel there is an extenuating circumstance, please discuss this with your doctor.  

It is best to call after 10 am to receive an update. The doctors are in rounds from 8 am - 9 am every morning. After rounds, every patient is examined by their doctor. If the situation warrants, we will call you before this time.

Yes, you are welcome to bring things from home to make your pet feel more comfortable. Please note, however, we cannot always guarantee the return of these items as they may get soiled, lost or damaged.

In an emergency situation, the priority is for you and your pet to get to CVRC. Once it is determined that your pet is going to be hospitalized, you may bring all prescription medications your pet is currently receiving. We carry most common medications if this is not feasible. Our doctor will determine if these should be continued during your pet's stay. 

We have a full range of diets to feed our hospitalized patients. However, if your pet is on a prescription or special diet we will gladly feed that if you provide it for us.

Please call us, or your regular veterinarian, immediately. Depending on the toxin there may be steps you can take at home to minimize risks to your pet. Sometimes, we may recommend you call an animal poison control hotline. We recommend the ASPCA Poison Hotline at (888) 426-4435. More information can be found at:  ASPCA Poison Control .

It is common for pets to not have a bowel movement for the first 24-72 hours after returning home. However, this is not the case with all conditions so please refer to your discharge instructions.   

The changes in their defecation pattern are often due to a different eating schedule in the hospital and some medications can contribute to this. If you are concerned, your pet seems uncomfortable, or is trying to defecate but is unable (straining) please call us.

It is common for pets that were on IV fluids to have increased urine production. Therefore, they may need to urinate more frequently. This may last for 24-48 hours. If they are straining or not producing urine, please call us immediately.

This is not normal as most animals will urinate within 24 hours of returning home. If your pet is not urinating, or having difficulty while urinating, please call us immediately.   

Pet's sleep cycles in the hospital environment are altered so it is not uncommon for them to be tired when returning home. This may last for 24 hours. If your pet appears listless, unable to ambulate, or you are concerned please call us. 

An e-collar prevents a pet from licking an area we want to protect until it is healed. This may be a wound, irritation or an incision. Please refer to your discharge instructions for specifics.

Generally we remove sutures 10-14 days post placement. Please refer to your discharges instructions for specifics. 

Suture removal is done complimentary for all patients that had a surgical procedure. If further procedures (X-rays, bandage changes, additional diagnostic tests, etc.) or additional medications are indicated there will be applicable fees. 

Not necessarily. Dogs and cats have a higher body temperature than people so they often feel warm. You can purchase a rectal digital thermometer (doesn’t need to be animal specific) and obtain your pet's rectal temperature. This is the most accurate assessment. Normal temperature for a dogs and cats is 99.5—102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Please bring the animal directly to the animal shelter in the county it was found. 

Charleston County
Charleston Animal Society
(843) 747-4849 

Berkeley County
Doc Williams SPCA aka Berkeley County Shelter
(843) 761-0683 

Dorchester County
Francis Willis SPCA
(843) 871-3820

If these shelters are not open, you may bring the stray animal to CVRC and we will facilitate transfer once they open. We cannot accept any stray animals during times the shelters are open.

We do not treat wildlife at CVRC. If you find an injured wild animal, please contact one of the following rescue groups right away.Each has an emergency hotline. Leave a message and they will call you back.

• Animal Rehabilitators of the Carolinas - Rock Hill (Charlotte, NC)
  Emergency Rescue Hotline - 704-552-2329
• Carolina Wildlife Care - Columbia
  Emergency Rescue Hotline - 803-772-3994
• Foothills Animal Rescue - Greenville
  Emergency Rescue Hotline - 864-282-1917
• The Center for Birds of Prey - Charleston
  Emergency Rescue Hotline - 843-971-7474
• Keeper of the Wild - Saint George
  Emergency Rescue Hotline - 843-636-1659
• Paws Animal Wildlife Sanctuary - Laurens
  Phone Number - 864-683-3190
• South Carolina Coastal Animal Rescue & Education - Georgetown
  Phone Number - 843-546-7893
• Wildlife Rehab of Greenville
  Emergency Rescue Hotline - 864-233-0339

A specialty hospital does not offer any routine or preventative care. Our veterinarians have advanced training in specific disciplines such as surgery, oncology, internal medicine, emergency and critical care medicine, physical rehabilitation and neurology among others. We also have equipment that most primary veterinarians don’t have such as CT scans, MRI, endoscopic equipment, and specialized surgical tools. We work closely with your primary veterinarian to offer these services to you.

The following list is just some of the services available through CVRC's Critical Care Department:

• Diagnostic Imaging including: digital radiography, ultrasound, echocardiography, fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI
• Flexible and rigid endoscopy
• Full in-house laboratory including blood chemistry, hematology, coagulation profile, urinalysis, and cytology
• Full complement of external laboratories for advanced testing
• In-house pharmacy with full complement of oral and injectable medications to treat disease or symptoms
• Full surgical equipment for wounds, trauma, or other surgical emergencies
• Dedicated Intensive Care Unit staffed 24 hours a day
  • Oxygen support
  • Advanced Fluid Therapy
  • Continuous patient monitoring including: electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure (indirect and direct arterial), oxygen saturation, temperature, and capnography (CO2 monitoring)
• Pain Management
  • Multimodal pain management protocols that help alleviate pain while maintaining vital parameters
• Critical Care Nutrition
  • Enteral nutrition (feeding directly into the gastrointestinal tract) including nasoesophageal, nasogastric, esophageal and gastrostomy feeding tubes
  • Parenteral nutrition (intravenous nutrition) including total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and partial parenteral nutrition (PPN, supplemental IV nutrition)
• Transfusion medicine
  • Blood typing and cross matching
  • Blood transfusions including whole blood, packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and platelet rich plasma
  • On site blood bank and staff pet donation program
• Dialysis services for acute kidney injury (acute renal failure)
  • Peritoneal dialysis
• Mechanical ventilation

If you are a new client to CVRC, we encourage you to fill out our New Patient Registration Form ahead of time online, or bring the form with you. Otherwise, please arrive to your appointment approximately 10 minutes early to complete this form in our office. If you are transferring for continued care from your primary veterinarian, please come to CVRC at your earliest convenience.

Critical care consultation usually begins with your family veterinarian diagnosing a disease or condition that requires advanced expertise, diagnostics, therapeutics and patient monitoring. A full history, medical record review, and complete physical examination are performed. After examination and discussion, an initial treatment plan will be presented for the diagnostic workup and/or treatment.

Our criticalist will communicate with you during the work-up or treatment process to keep you informed on your pet's progress. We will also communicate with your primary veterinarian during this process to ensure a collaborative treatment plan for the care of your pet. Upon discharge, you will be given a printed visit summary with the diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and follow up care. A full report will be sent to your family veterinarian the same day. We welcome your progress reports, questions and concerns any time and will maintain an ongoing relationship with your primary care doctor to ensure the best experience for you and the best care for your pet.

First and most importantly, bring your pet to all visits. You may be instructed to withhold food and water from midnight the night before your appointment to allow for certain diagnostic testing. If your pet is on any medications, please let us know and we will advise you whether or not to administer them on the morning of your appointment. Also, please bring a list of all medications, strengths and dosages, or the pill vials. Records, including recent laboratory work, can be faxed or emailed to us from your primary care veterinarian prior to the appointment. If your pet has had any x-rays taken recently, please bring those with you as well. We can request records and digital x-rays on your behalf from your family veterinarian once you have scheduled a visit with us.

Depending on the nature of your pet's disease or condition, the diagnostics or treatments performed, and their timing, you pet may or may not need to stay overnight. For general medical workups, overnight hospitalization is generally not necessary. Our doctor or veterinary nurse will discuss the expected hospital stay during admission to the hospital.

All patients have round-the-clock care. We always have doctors and veterinary nurses on premises to monitor and care for your pet. No pet is ever left unattended. 

We always allow owners to visit with their pets. Please call and speak with your doctor or nurse so we can coordinate a time that is best for your pet and you. We try to limit visits to twice a day for 15 minutes as to not interfere with your pet's treatment. It is generally discouraged to visit on a day when your pet underwent general anesthesia as sometimes this can be disruptive to their recovery. 

If you feel there is an extenuating circumstance, please discuss this with your doctor.  

It is best to call after 10 am to receive an update. The doctors are in rounds from 8 am - 9 am every morning. After rounds, every patient is examined by their doctor. If the situation warrants, we will call you before this time.

Yes, you are welcome to bring things from home to make your pet feel more comfortable. Please note, however, we cannot always guarantee the return of these items as they may get soiled, lost or damaged.

In an emergency situation, the priority is for you and your pet to get to CVRC. Once it is determined that your pet is going to be hospitalized, you may bring all prescription medications you are currently giving your pet. We carry most common medications if this is not feasible. Our doctor will determine if these should be continued during your pet's stay. 

We have a full range of diets to feed our hospitalized patients. However, if your pet is on a prescription or special diet we will gladly feed that if you provide it for us.

While referrals are recommended to see on one of our specialists, they are not required. It is always better to speak to your veterinarian about a referral so we can collaborate with your veterinarian to ensure the best care for your pet.

We work closely with your primary veterinarian and ensure they receive copies of all medical records.We also communicate via phone and they have the ability to access a portal into our medical record system. 

Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool used to obtain more detailed information about internal body structures. Ultrasound machines use sound waves administered by a small handheld device called a probe, waves are reflected back to the probe, and a computer formats these into visual pictures on a monitor for the clinician to review. Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive.

Ultrasound is a modality that requires significant training and experience by the clinician to achieve an accurate diagnosis and interpretation of the study.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is positioned appropriately on the ultrasound examination table. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. The area of interest is clipped to allow the probe to make contact with the skin. The study is performed and interpreted by one of our trained clinicians. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform. Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive. 

Applications for ultrasound include:

Evaluation of the abdominal organs, including the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, lymphatic system, kidneys, urinary tract, and endocrine organs

Pregnancy evaluation

Imaging of thoracic and abdominal masses

Imaging of fluid accumulation in the abdomen or thorax

Imaging of the neck, including thyroid and parathyroid glands

Imaging of blood vessels and flow, in and around the heart, and throughout the body

Imaging of the eye (for masses and retinal detachment)

Assessment of internal injuries after trauma (called an AFAST/TFAST scan)

Minimally invasive techniques to obtain samples of organs for diagnosis of illnesses and cancers (fine needle aspirates and ultrasound-guided biopsies)

Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. Certain advanced procedures (biopsy or aspirate) may require sedation or anesthesia for patient comfort and compliance.

Endoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that uses flexible and rigid scopes to visualize internal structures of a patient, including the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, nasal passages, respiratory tract, and urinary tract.

After a full physical examination, the patient is sedated or anesthetized. A specialized scope is passed into the area of interest (gastrointestinal, urinary, or respiratory tract), and a camera hooked up to the scope displays live images of these structures. Using special instruments, biopsy samples can be obtained, as well as foreign material removed.

Endoscopy is used to visualize the gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tract, and to obtain diagnostic tissue samples to diagnose conditions affecting these body systems. Polyps can be removed. Endoscopy can also be used to extract upper gastrointestinal foreign material, and to assist in placement of feeding tubes. 

Anesthesia or sedation is required to allow for the passage of an endoscope into the area of interest. We use the most up to date and safest anesthetic agents, preanesthetic laboratory screening, tailored anesthetic protocols, and state of the art monitoring equipment to ensure safety for your pet before, during, and after anesthesia.

Echocardiography is a type of ultrasound that uses special probes and software, as well as requiring advanced training, to perform real time imaging of the heart and surrounding structures. At CVRC, echocardiograms are performed by our board certified specialists, who have undergone extensive education and training in echocardiography to aid diagnosis and treatment of all cardiac-related diseases.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is positioned appropriately on the echocardiography examination table. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. The area of interest is clipped to allow the probe to make contact with the skin. The study is performed and interpreted by one of our trained clinicians.  The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform. Echocardiography is painless and noninvasive. 

Echocardiography is used to diagnose the following conditions:

Pericardial effusions

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Mitral regurgitation

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Pulmonary stenosis

Ventricular septal defects

AV valve dysplasia

Patent ductus arteriousus

Developmental defects

Pulmonary hypertension

Heartworm disease

Heart based masses

Advanced feline restrictive cardiomyopathy

Right to left shunts

Atrial septal defects

AV valve stenoses

Coronary artery defects

Occult dilated cardiomyopathy

Cor triatriatum

Persistent left cranial vena cava

Canine hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Feline diastolic dysfunction

Echocardiography is painless and noninvasive. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. Certain advanced proceduresmay require sedation or anesthesia for patient comfort and compliance.

CT scan is a non-invasive imaging modality that performs 360^◦, cross-sectional imaging of our patients. CT scan uses x-ray technology to acquire these images, but does so with vastly increased detail and sensitivity, allowing us to visualize structures as small as 1-2mm in size. 

Our helical, 4-slice CT scanner is able to perform imaging studies much faster than older, conventional scanners that are often found in veterinary medicine. Using newer equipment and software, we are able to perform most studies in less than a minute (actual scanning time). This reduction in time also comes with increased quality and sensitivity: advantages that translate to shorter anesthetic times for our patients, even the ability to perform some studies under a light plane of sedation.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is sedated or anesthetized and placed on the CT imaging table. The CT technician positions the patient and programs the CT computer for the desired type of study. The patient table then advances through the CT gantry (which is a large, donut shaped opening) while an x-ray tube and sensors rotate at high speed around the patient. Usually, the scan is performed twice, the second time with administration of an intravenous contrast agent that highlights blood vessels and other structures. These images are reconstructed on a computer console attached to the CT machine, then reviewed by our specialists.

Brain - Trauma with suspected fracture, acute intracranial injury in an unstable patient

Spine – Fractures, mineralized disc rupture, neoplasia

Nasal Cavity & Sinuses – Chronic nasal discharge and/or sneezing, nasal distortion/deformation, neoplasia

Orbit/Ocular – Orbital trauma with suspected fracture, neoplasia

Head/Neck – Dental-related neoplasia, head/neck trauma with suspected fracture

Thorax - Metastatic screening, primary lung neoplasia, pneumothorax, lung lobe consolidation, chronic pneumonia, pleural effusion, mediastinal disease

Abdomen – Upper urinary tract evaluation, ectopic ureter, renal/ureteral calculi, clarification and surgical planning for large organ masses (including liver, spleen, kidney, GI tract), investigation of suspected portosystemic shunts

Musculoskeletal – Elbow dysplasia, suspected incomplete ossification of the humeral condyles, complex fractures

Neoplasia – Surgical planning for tumor removal or debulking, Lung metastasis screening

Cardiovascular – Pulmonary embolism

Other – General trauma

Anesthesia or sedation is required to perform a CT Scan. We use the most up to date and safest anesthetic agents, preanesthetic laboratory screening, tailored anesthetic protocols, and state of the art monitoring equipment to ensure safety for your pet before, during, and after anesthesia.

It is common for pets to not have a bowel movement for the first 24-72 hours after returning home. However, this is not the case with all conditions so please refer to your discharge instructions.   

The changes in their defecation pattern are often due to a different eating schedule in the hospital and some medications can contribute to this. If you are concerned, your pet seems uncomfortable, or is trying to defecate but is unable (straining) please call us.

It is common for pets that were on IV fluids to have increased urine production. Therefore, they may need to urinate more frequently. This may last for 24-48 hours. If they are straining or not producing urine, please call us immediately.

This is not normal as most animals will urinate within 24 hours of returning home.   If your pet is not urinating, or having difficulty while urinating, please call us immediately.   

Pets' sleep cycles in the hospital environment are altered so it is not uncommon for them to be tired when returning home. This may last for 24 hours.  If your pet appears listless, unable to ambulate, or you are concerned please call us. 

Suture removal is done complimentary for all patients that had a surgical procedure. If further procedures (x-rays, bandage changes, additional diagnostic tests, etc.) or additional medications are indicated there will be applicable fees. 

We predominantly treat dogs and cats. If you think you are having an emergency with a different species, please contact us via phone for advice.

An e-collar prevents a pet from licking an area we want to protect until it is healed. This may be a wound, irritation or an incision. Please refer to your discharge instructions for specifics.

Generally we remove sutures 10-14 days post placement. Please refer to your discharges instructions for specifics. 

Not necessarily. Dogs and cats have a higher body temperature than people so often feel warm. You can purchase a rectal digital thermometer (doesn’t need to be animal specific) and obtain your pet's rectal temperature. This is the most accurate assessment. Normal temperature for a dogs and cats is 99.5—102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.  

A specialty hospital does not offer any routine or preventative care. Our veterinarians have advanced training in specific disciplines such as surgery, oncology, internal medicine, emergency and critical care medicine, physical rehabilitation and neurology among others. We also have equipment that most primary veterinarians don’t have such as CT scans, MRI, endoscopic equipment, and specialized surgical tools.  We work closely with your primary veterinarian to offer these services to you.

Physical examination: Physical exam is the cornerstone of every good workup. A full physical exam focused on the heart and lungs will be performed by the cardiologist at CVRC during your pet’s appointment. Physical exam abnormalities (heart murmur, arrhythmia, trouble breathing, e.g.) will help define which diagnostic tests are the most appropriate for your pet. 

Cardiac Imaging:

• Echocardiography (Echo): Echocardiography is an ultrasound of the heart which shows its structure and function. An echo is by far the best way to assess heart disease, because it shows things we cannot see on chest X-rays (better assessment of chamber size, contractility, valve shape, etc.) or hear during osculation (listening with stethoscope). An echo will be recommended in most patients on their first visit to CVRC as this is the best way to make a specific diagnosis, identify severity of disease, and formulate a monitoring and treatment plan. Echo's are non-invasive and not dangerous.  An echo requires specialized ultrasound equipment and ideally should be performed by someone with advanced education and training, preferably a board certified cardiologist. At CVRC, we generally perform echo's without sedation and they are painless.
• Doppler echocardiography: Doppler echo is an advanced form of echocardiography in which the direction and speed of blood flow in the heart and great vessels can be visualized and documented. It is essential in quantifying the severity of some forms of heart disease, in assessing for high blood pressure within the lungs (pulmonary hypertension), and in assessing the risk of heart failure (fluid in the lungs) occurring. Doppler echo provides significantly more information about heart disease than standard echocardiography, and is part of every echo performed at CVRC.
• Chest X-Rays: Chest X-rays are taken to evaluate the heart and lungs. At CVRC, all X-rays are digital and of the highest quality. Interpretation by board certified radiologists is available when indicated. Chest X-rays might be recommended in a patient who is having trouble breathing or exhibiting a cough. Chest X-rays are necessary to make a diagnosis of heart failure (fluid in the lungs). 

ECG/EKG

• 6-Lead Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG):  This is the test that shows electrical function of the heart. An ECG is necessary for any animal diagnosed with an arrhythmia, or irregular heart rate or rhythm.  A 6-lead ECG provides more information than a single lead ECG, and all ECGs performed by the Cardiology service at CVRC are 6-lead. The ECG allows for a specific arrhythmia diagnosis which is necessary to gauge the risk of the arrhythmia and to formulate a treatment plan.
• Holter Monitor (ambulatory ECG monitoring): A Holter is an ambulatory ECG monitor that your pet would wear home in a little backpack. CVRC’s digital Holter units can record heart rate and rhythm for up to 48 hours (although 24 hours is standard) and results are usually back in a few days. Holters increase the ECG sampling period tremendously compared with an ECG performed during an appointment, so it will be recommended in animals in which the in-house 6-lead ECG does not provide enough information about the significance of an arrhythmia. 

Blood Pressure Monitoring: Blood pressure is affected by heart disease and high blood pressure can increase the work of the heart. For this reason, if your veterinarian hasn’t done so recently, blood pressure is often checked when your pet has an appointment with the Cardiology service at CVRC. The technique is non-invasive, nonpainful, and involves an inflatable cuff placed around a limb or tail and a special monitor.

Bloodwork: Some heart medications require bloodwork monitoring to ensure they are working properly and not having systemic side effects.  If your veterinarian hasn’t performed bloodwork recently, it may be recommended when you bring your pet to the Cardiology service at CVRC. Some bloodwork, such as checking electrolytes and kidney values, is performed in-house so results will be available during your pet’s appointment. Other bloodwork might be sent out to other laboratories, in which case we will contact you when results return.

Fluid Taps: Heart disease can sometimes lead to the accumulation of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity or the pericardium (sac surrounding the heart). This fluid accumulation can be life threatening and might sometimes require a removal, which can be performed at CVRC. This is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, or pericardium and fluid is removed. Your pet might be lightly sedated for this procedure for his or her safety.

Angiography: Angiography refers to delivering contrast or dye through an intravenous catheter into the bloodstream so that blood flow can be seen using fluoroscopy (real time continuous X-ray).  Angiography is performed at CVRC in the Cath Lab to better identify heart and vessel size and shape in order to guide interventional procedures such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure and balloon dilation valvuloplasty for pulmonic stenosis (PS) and subaortic stenosis (SAS).

Cath Lab and Interventional Procedures:  Using extensive specialized equipment, training, and expertise, minimally invasive procedures to correct or address heart or blood vessel abnormalities can be performed.  These procedures require the use of fluoroscopy and include pacemaker placement, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure and balloon dilation valvuloplasty for pulmonic stenosis (PS) or subaortic stenosis (SAS).

Pacemaker Placement:  Pacemaker placement is the most common interventional Cath Lab procedure that we perform.  It involves accessing the heart via a peripheral blood vessel, and implanting a set of electrodes (called leads) into the heart to correct for certain arrhythmias.  The lead is connected to the pacemaker device, which sends the electrical impulses through the leads to the heart.  The pacemaker device is implanted under the muscle on the side of the neck, while the lead extends through the jugular vein into the heart.  We have the ability to adjust the programming of the pacemaker onsite when needed.

Oxygen Therapy:  Oxygen supplementation can be delivered to your pet when indicated via flow by, intranasal, or environmentally controlled oxygen cage.  Delivering a higher percentage of oxygen to the lungs can help maximize oxygen delivery to tissue in cases of respiratory or cardiac dysfunction.

If you are a new client to CVRC, we encourage you to fill out our New Patient Registration Form ahead of time online, or bring the form with you. Otherwise, please arrive to your appointment approximately 10 minutes early to complete this form in our office.

Visits with the Cardiology service at CVRC tend to take about an hour. If your pet’s care is more complicated, additional time might be needed. Your visit will start with the cardiology technician meeting you and your pet and getting a full history from you. Please bring any medications that your pet is taking so that we can confirm dosing. The cardiology technician or the cardiologist will go over diagnostic plans and costs with you. After making a plan for diagnostics, we will take your pet to our treatment area or echocardiography suite to perform any tests (echocardiogram, ECG, X-rays, blood pressure, bloodwork, etc.). When testing is done, we will return your pet to you while the cardiologist is interpreting tests and writing a summary report.  The cardiologist will explain the results of the exam and diagnostic tests after they are completed and answer any questions you may have. We will also communicate with your primary veterinarian during this process to ensure a collaborative treatment plan for the care of your pet. You will be given a printed visit summary with the diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and follow up care. A full report will be sent to your family veterinarian as well. We welcome your progress reports, questions and concerns any time and will maintain an ongoing relationship with your primary care doctor to ensure the best experience for you and the best care for your pet.

First and most importantly, bring your pet to all visits. Follow your normal routine for medications and feeding the day of your visit, unless you have been instructed otherwise by our staff. Also, please bring all medications that your pet is receiving so that we can verify the dosages.  Ensure that the person bringing your pet in has a good knowledge of your pet's medical history, as this is an important part of the consultation.  Records can be faxed or emailed to us from your primary care veterinarian prior to the appointment. If your pet has had any x-rays taken recently, please bring those with you as well. We can request records and digital x-rays on your behalf from your family veterinarian once you have scheduled a visit with us.  Ensuring that you bring all related information will minimize the risk of needed to repeat any diagnostics or tests.

Echocardiography is a type of ultrasound that uses special probes and software, as well as requiring advanced training, to perform real time imaging of the heart and surrounding structures. At CVRC, echocardiograms are performed by our board certified specialists, who have undergone extensive education and training in echocardiography to aid diagnosis and treatment of all cardiac-related diseases.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is positioned appropriately on the echocardiography examination table. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. The area of interest is clipped to allow the probe to make contact with the skin. The study is performed and interpreted by one of our trained clinicians. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform.  Echocardiography is painless and noninvasive. 

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard on physical exam with a stethoscope, which develops when blood flow in the heart or great vessels is turbulent. This occurs when blood flow is too fast and is often (although not always) a sign of heart disease. The loudness of a heart murmur (grade) is related to the severity of the heart disease in some cases, but not all. If the disease is severe, your pet might be at risk to show symptoms of heart disease (trouble breathing, cough, exercise intolerance, lethargy, abdominal distention, weakness, collapse, etc.). The best way to investigate the cause and significance of a heart murmur is with heart imaging, and echocardiography is superior to chest X-rays for this purpose. Echo's and chest X-rays are offered at CVRC through the Cardiology service. Information provided by echo will be used to formulate the best treatment plan to keep you pet as comfortable and happy as possible for as long as possible.

Heart murmurs can be benign, significant, or somewhere between.  If your puppy or kitten has a loud heart murmur, it is probably because he or she was born with a heart defect.  An echocardiogram (echo) is strongly recommended for these cases, as some heart defects are fixable in the Cath Lab, while others can be managed with medications to improve quality of life and life expectancy. A workup should be performed sooner rather than later, so that management can be started before the heart changes irreversibly and symptoms develop. Waiting to perform a workup until clinical signs develop worsens the prognosis. If your puppy or kitten has a soft heart murmur, it might still be because he or she was born with a defect, but a soft heart murmur can also be completely benign (not associated with underlying disease). An echo is the only way to know the difference. If you are going to have an echo performed in a young animal with a heart murmur, it should be a complete echo with Doppler performed by a cardiologist.  Heart defects can be very complicated and cardiologists are specially educated and trained in this area. Doppler provides information about severity of disease, which is essential to guide treatment plans.

Some heart defects that animals are born with can be completely fixed, while others can be improved by interventional procedures performed in the Cath Lab. These procedures are modeled after interventional procedures performed in people. We can fix or improve some heart defects by accessing the heart through catheters placed in peripheral veins and arteries in the neck and the groin. In this way, we can treat heart defects that used to be treatable only with open chest surgery (sometimes open heart surgery). Other heart defects that your pet might have been born with can be better managed with medications. After the workup at CVRC, the cardiologist will speak with you about what the options for treatment are. 

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rate or rhythm. Arrhythmias are a consequence of dysfunction of the heart’s electrical system. An ECG is required to diagnose what arrhythmia your pet has, which is necessary to make the best treatment and monitoring plan. If severe, arrhythmias can cause symptoms such as weakness, collapse, restlessness, and even sudden death. Treatment for arrhythmias depends on whether the arrhythmia is too fast or too slow. If the arrhythmia is too fast, treatment is usually with medications. If the arrhythmia is too slow, treatment is usually pacemaker implantation. The cardiologist at CVRC will be able to interpret the ECG and explain the significance, treatment options, and prognosis with you.  

Heart failure is a group of symptoms that occurs when the heart can no longer keep blood moving forward effectively. It results in the accumulation of fluid in or around the lungs (or less commonly, in the abdomen). The most common and significant symptom of heart failure is trouble breathing. Other symptoms include cough, exercise intolerance, lethargy, decreased appetite and abdominal distention. Chest X-rays are required to diagnose most cases of heart failure. If your pet has heart failure diagnosed, a workup with the cardiologist at CVRC will help optimize the treatment and monitoring plan for your pet, increasing life expectancy for as long as possible. Animals can be effectively treated for heart failure for over a year, with a good quality of life.

A large heart on chest X-rays usually signifies heart disease of some variety. If your veterinarian is concerned that your pet has a large heart on chest X-rays, an echocardiogram (echo) would be the next diagnostic step. An echo is much more sensitive and gives more information than a chest X-ray to identify specific heart diseases (many of which can cause a large heart), and is needed in order to optimize management and outcome. Sometimes, an echo will show that the heart is actually normal, even though it has looked abnormal on chest X-rays. This also is important to know so that unnecessary medications or treatments can be avoided.

The Cath Lab is the room in which the cardiologist at CVRC performs interventional procedures. These procedures require extensive specialized equipment and training.  They are minimally invasive procedures in which the heart is accessed using catheters placed in the peripheral blood vessels in the neck and groin. In this way, heart disease can be treated without open chest or open heart surgery. The most common cardiac procedure performed in the Cath Lab is pacemaker implantation in dogs that are collapsing because of very slow heart rates. Other procedures include patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure and balloon dilation valvuloplasty for pulmonic stenosis (PS) or subaortic stenosis (SAS). These procedures can cure or improve heart diseases, leading to better quality of life and life expectancy. 

While referrals are recommended to see one of our specialists, they are not required. It is always better to speak to your veterinarian about a referral so we can collaborate with your veterinarian to ensure the best care for your pet.

We work closely with your primary veterinarian and ensure they receive copies of all medical records. We also communicate via phone and they have the ability to access a portal into our medical record system. 

• Superior image quality.
• Faster study times (Approximately 4 seconds to acquire each image)
• More efficient – more X-ray studies can be performed in less time
• Less anxiety for the animal from reduction in study time
• Reduces patient and staff exposure time to radiation
• Allows for superior image manipulation
• Instantaneous viewing on all computers in the hospital
• All images can be viewed and assessed by a Board Certified Veterinary Radiologist
  via telemedicine

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is sedated or anesthetized and placed on the CT imaging table. The CT technician positions the patient and programs the CT computer for the desired type of study. The patient table then advances through the CT gantry (which is a large, donut shaped opening) while an X-ray tube and sensors rotate at high speed around the patient. Usually, the scan is performed twice, the second time with administration of an intravenous contrast agent that highlights blood vessels and other structures. These images are reconstructed on a computer console attached to the CT machine, then reviewed by our specialists.

Brain – Trauma with suspected fracture, acute intracranial injury in an unstable patient

Spine – Fractures, mineralized disc rupture, neoplasia

Nasal Cavity & Sinuses – Chronic nasal discharge and/or sneezing, nasal distortion/deformation, neoplasia

Orbit/Ocular – Orbital trauma with suspected fracture, neoplasia

Head/Neck – Dental-related neoplasia, head/neck trauma with suspected fracture

Thorax – Metastatic screening, primary lung neoplasia, pneumothorax, lung lobe consolidation, chronic pneumonia, pleural effusion, mediastinal disease

Abdomen – Upper urinary tract evaluation, ectopic ureter, renal/ureteral calculi, clarification and surgical planning for large organ masses (including liver, spleen, kidney, GI tract), investigation of suspected portosystemic shunts

Musculoskeletal – Elbow dysplasia, suspected incomplete ossification of the humeral condyles, complex fractures

Neoplasia – Surgical planning for tumor removal or debulking, lung metastasis screening

Cardiovascular – Pulmonary embolism

Other – General trauma

**CT and MRI overlap in their use, and the decision of one modality over another is based on availability, cost, anticipated findings and patient stability.**

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is anesthetized and placed in the MRI. The MRI technician positions the patient and programs the MRI computer for the desired type of study. An MRI study typically takes 30 minutes to one hour to complete, and requires general anesthesia, as the animal must be perfectly still for the duration of the study. The images are reconstructed on a computer console attached to the MRI, then reviewed by our specialists. 

MRIs are performed by technicians who have received advanced education and training in magnetic resonance imaging.

Brain – Brain disorders, seizures, cranial nerve signs, vestibular disease, ataxia, head tilt, behavioral changes, central blindness, pituitary disease, metastatic disease, congenital abnormalities, head trauma

Spine – Acute or progressive tetraparesis or hindlimb paresis, CP deficits, spinal pain, nerve root signature, spinal trauma, congenital abnormalities, discospondylitis

Peripheral Nervous System – Suspected peripheral nerve neoplasia, progressive single limb atrophy or pain

Nasal Cavity & Sinuses – Chronic nasal discharge and/or sneezing, nasal distortion/deformation, neoplasia

Orbit/Ocular – Exophthalmous, pain opening mouth, retrobulbar swelling or neoplasia, optic nerve disease

Head/Neck – Soft tissue masses or swelling, including lymph nodes, salivary glands, larynx, thyroid, maxilla, mandible, chronic ear disease, head tilt

Abdomen – Small organ masses including the pancreas, lymph nodes and adrenal glands, surgical planning for clarification or margins and involvement of neoplasia of large organs, including the liver, spleen, kidney, and GI tract

Musculoskeletal – Pain or lameness localized to a joint in the limb (particularly ligaments, tendons, menisci, cartilage, bone, or joint swelling)

Neoplasia – Soft tissue masses, especially for surgical planning, metastatic screening, lymph node and bone marrow evaluation

Cardiovascular – Pericardial effusions, pericardial masses, suspected large vessel thrombus

Other – Suspected foreign bodies, chronic draining tracts

**CT and MRI overlap in their use, and the decision of one modality over another is based on availability, cost, anticipated findings and patient stability.**

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is positioned appropriately on the ultrasound examination table. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. The area of interest is clipped to allow the probe to make contact with the skin. The study is performed and interpreted by one of our trained clinicians. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform. Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive. 

Applications for ultrasound include:

• Evaluation of the abdominal organs, including the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, lymphatic system, kidneys, urinary tract, and endocrine organs
• Pregnancy evaluation
• Imaging of thoracic and abdominal masses
• Imaging of fluid accumulation in the abdomen or thorax
• Imaging of the neck, including thyroid and parathyroid glands
• Imaging of blood vessels and flow, in and around the heart, and throughout the body
• Imaging of the eye (for masses and retinal detachment)
• Assessment of internal injuries after trauma (called an AFAST/TFAST scan)
• Minimally invasive techniques to obtain samples of organs for diagnosis of illnesses and cancers (fine needle aspirates, ultrasound-guided biopsies and cystocentesis, gall bladder secretions)

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is positioned appropriately on the echocardiography examination table.  For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required.  The area of interest is clipped to allow the probe to make contact with the skin.  The study is performed and interpreted by one of our trained clinicians.  The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform.  Echocardiography is painless and noninvasive. 

• Pericardial effusions
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Mitral regurgitation
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Pulmonary stenosis
• Ventricular septal defects
• AV valve dysplasia
• Patent ductus arteriousus
• Developmental defects
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Heartworm disease
• Heart based masses
• Advanced feline restrictive cardiomyopathy
• Right to left shunts
• Atrial septal defects
• AV valve stenoses
• Coronary artery defects
• Occult dilated cardiomyopathy
• Cor triatriatum
• Persistent left cranial vena cava
• Canine hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Feline diastolic dysfunction

A specialty hospital does not offer any routine or preventative care. Our veterinarians have advanced training in specific disciplines such as surgery, oncology, internal medicine, emergency and critical care medicine, physical rehabilitation and neurology among others. We also have equipment that most primary veterinarians don’t have such as CT scans, MRI, endoscopic equipment, and specialized surgical tools. We work closely with your primary veterinarian to offer these services to you.

The following list is just some of the services available through CVRC's Internal Medicine Department:

• Diagnostic Imaging including: digital radiography, ultrasound, echocardiography, fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI
• Flexible and rigid endoscopy
• Full in-house laboratory including blood chemistry, hematology, coagulation profile, urinalysis, and cytology
• Full complement of external laboratories for advanced testing
• In-house pharmacy with full complement of oral and injectable medications to treat disease or symptoms
• Dedicated Intensive Care Unit staffed 24 hours a day
  • Oxygen support
  • Advanced Fluid Therapy
  • Continuous patient monitoring including: electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure (indirect and direct arterial), oxygen saturation, temperature, and capnography (CO2 monitoring)

Gastroenterology – the study of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Typical conditions include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), food allergies, hiatal hernias, polyps, foreign bodies, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or cancers.

• Nutritional consultation
• Endoscopy: utilizing small and flexible endoscopes to examine and obtain (in a minimally invasive way) biopsies of the larynx, oropharynx, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, ileum and colon. Also to retrieve foreign objects that your pet may have ingested.
• Minimally invasive colonic polyp removal
• Minimally invasive placement of feeding tubes

Respiratory Medicine – the study of the upper and the lower respiratory tract. Diseases include nasopharyngeal polyps and cancers, chronic rhinitis (inflammation), nasopharyngeal stenosis, laryngeal paralysis, collapsing trachea, tracheal hypoplasia (congenital disorder), fungal infections of the nasal passages and lungs, feline asthma, chronic bronchitis, and infectious pneumonias.

• Endoscopy: utilizing small flexible and rigid endoscopes to examine and obtain in a minimally invasive way biopsies of the upper respiratory tract (rhinoscopy), and to examine the lower airways (bronchoscopy)
• Airway secretion collection for diagnosis of lower airway diseases and infections
• CT Scan or MRI of the upper and lower airway tracts
• Tracheal stenting for collapsing trachea and tracheal cancers (stents placed into the trachea without surgery)
• Oxygen therapy

Endocrinology – the study of multiple glands of the body (parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, pituitary and hypothalamus glands). Common endocrine diseases include diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, adrenal tumors, hyper and hypoparathyroidism, hyper and hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, as well as excessive drinking and urinating.

• Comprehensive testing, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of advanced endocrine disorders
• Glucose curves to assess proper diabetic control
• Fine needle aspirates (obtaining cells using a small needle by ultrasound guidance) and ultrasound-guided biopsies of organs to obtain samples to diagnose conditions in a minimally invasive way
• Ethanol ablation of parathyroid tumors

Nephrology/Urology – the study of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, and urethra. Conditions that are diagnosed and treated include acute and chronic kidney failure, kidney and bladder stones, prostatitis and prostate cysts, bladder polyps, kidney infections, congenital kidney diseases, urinary incontinence and urethral/bladder/prostate cancer.

• Cystoscopy: using small rigid or flexible scopes to visualize and obtain biopsies of the lower urinary tract
• Percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL): bladder and urethral stone removal with a much smaller incision into the bladder and using cystoscopy
• Urethral stenting: stents placed in urethras to relieve obstructions causes by cancers
• Antegrade pyelograms and intravenous pyelograms: diagnostic techniques using a dye (contrast) and fluoroscopy to better visualize the urinary system
• Urethral collagen injections: for incontinence using cystoscopy

Hematology – dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the blood (containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, proteins, clotting agents) and its precursors. Diseases include hemophilia and congenital/hereditary diseases, bleeding disorders, hemolytic anemias (destruction of red blood cells by the animal’s immune system caused by infectious agents), infectious and destructive platelet disorders, and bone marrow disorders.

• Bone marrow aspirates and biopsies: to evaluate blood product precursors and diagnose blood disorders
• Treatment of coagulation disorders
• Blood product transfusions and typing of your pets’ blood type
• Treatment of various types of anemia using erythrocyte stimulating agents: medications such as darbepoetin used to stimulate red blood cell production (for example: anemia caused by kidney disease)

Infectious Diseases – is the branch that aims to diagnose and treat infectious agents that may afflict cats and dogs. In certain instances, these diseases can be transmitted from one pet to another, from a vector (such as ticks) to animals, and even from pets to humans (zoonosis). Infectious diseases include: Leptospirosis, Influenza, Herpes, Lyme, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and rickettsial agents, among others.

Interventional Medicine – a relatively new branch of veterinary medicine. It aims to provide minimally invasive procedures to treat common problems in animals. Interventional Medicine involves using stents placed in areas to keep them open (trachea for tracheal collapse, urethra for cancers), endoscopy and fluoroscopy (to diagnose diseases and guide the placement of stents).

• Tracheal, nasopharyngeal and urethral stents
• Urethral collagen injections to treat urinary incontinence

If you are a new client to CVRC, we encourage you to fill out our New Patient Registration Form ahead of time online, or bring the form with you. Otherwise, please arrive to your appointment approximately 10 minutes early to complete this form in our office. If you are transferring for continued care from your primary veterinarian, please come to CVRC at your earliest convenience.

Internal medicine consultation usually begins with your family veterinarian diagnosing a disease or condition that requires advanced expertise, diagnostics, therapeutics, and patient monitoring. A full history, medical record review, and complete physical examination are performed. After examination and discussion, an initial treatment plan will be presented for the diagnostic workup and/or treatment.

Our internal medicine specialist will communicate with you during the work-up or treatment process to keep you informed on your pet's progress. We will also communicate with your primary veterinarian during this process to ensure a collaborative treatment plan for the care of your pet. Upon discharge, you will be given a printed visit summary with the diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and follow up care.  A full report will be sent to your family veterinarian the same day. We welcome your progress reports, questions and concerns any time and will maintain an ongoing relationship with your primary care doctor to ensure the best experience for you and the best care for your pet.

First and most importantly, bring your pet to all visits. You may be instructed to withhold food and water from midnight the night before your appointment to allow for certain diagnostic testing. If your pet is on any medications, please let us know and we will advise you whether or not to administer them on the morning of your appointment. Also, please bring a list of all medications, strengths and dosages, or the pill vials. Records, including recent laboratory work, can be faxed or emailed to us from your primary care veterinarian prior to the appointment. If your pet has had any x-rays taken recently, please bring those with you as well. We can request records and digital x-rays on your behalf from your family veterinarian once you have scheduled a visit with us.

While referrals are recommended to see on one of our specialists, they are not required.  It is always better to speak to your veterinarian about a referral so we can collaborate with your veterinarian to ensure the best care for your pet.

We work closely with your primary veterinarian and ensure they receive copies of all medical records. We also communicate via phone and they have the ability to access a portal into our medical record system. 

Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool used to obtain more detailed information about internal body structures.Ultrasound machines use sound waves administered by a small handheld device called a probe, waves are reflected back to the probe, and a computer formats these into visual pictures on a monitor for the clinician to review. Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive.

Ultrasound is a modality that requires significant training and experience by the clinician to achieve an accurate diagnosis and interpretation of the study.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is positioned appropriately on the ultrasound examination table. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. The area of interest is clipped to allow the probe to make contact with the skin. The study is performed and interpreted by one of our trained clinicians. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform. Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive. 

Applications for ultrasound include:

Evaluation of the abdominal organs, including the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, lymphatic system, kidneys, urinary tract, and endocrine organs

Pregnancy evaluation

Imaging of thoracic and abdominal masses

Imaging of fluid accumulation in the abdomen or thorax

Imaging of the neck, including thyroid and parathyroid glands

Imaging of blood vessels and flow, in and around the heart, and throughout the body

Imaging of the eye (for masses and retinal detachment)

Assessment of internal injuries after trauma (called an AFAST/TFAST scan)

Minimally invasive techniques to obtain samples of organs for diagnosis of illnesses and cancers (fine needle aspirates and ultrasound-guided biopsies).

Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. Certain advanced procedures (biopsy or aspirate) may require sedation or anesthesia for patient comfort and compliance.

Endoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that uses flexible and rigid scopes to visualize internal structures of a patient, including the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, nasal passages, respiratory tract, and urinary tract.

After a full physical examination, the patient is sedated or anesthetized. A specialized scope is passed into the area of interest (gastrointestinal, urinary, or respiratory tract), and a camera hooked up to the scope displays live images of these structures. Using special instruments, biopsy samples can be obtained, as well as foreign material removed.

Endoscopy is used to visualize the gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tract, and to obtain diagnostic tissue samples to diagnose conditions affecting these body systems. Polyps can be removed. Endoscopy can also be used to extract upper gastrointestinal foreign material, and to assist in placement of feeding tubes. 

Anesthesia or sedation is required to allow for the passage of an endoscopy into the area of interest. We use the most up to date and safest anesthetic agents, preanesthetic laboratory screening, tailored anesthetic protocols, and state of the art monitoring equipment to ensure safety for your pet before, during, and after anesthesia.

Echocardiography is a type of ultrasound that uses special probes and software, as well as requiring advanced training, to perform real time imaging of the heart and surrounding structures. At CVRC, echocardiograms are performed by our board certified specialists, who have undergone extensive education and training in echocardiography to aid diagnosis and treatment of all cardiac-related diseases.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is positioned appropriately on the echocardiography examination table. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. The area of interest is clipped to allow the probe to make contact with the skin.  The study is performed and interpreted by one of our trained clinicians. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform.  Echocardiography is painless and noninvasive. 

Echocardiography is used to diagnose the following conditions:

Pericardial effusions

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Mitral regurgitation

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Pulmonary stenosis

Ventricular septal defects

AV valve dysplasia

Patent ductus arteriousus

Developmental defects

Pulmonary hypertension

Heartworm disease

Heart based masses

Advanced feline restrictive cardiomyopathy

Right to left shunts

Atrial septal defects

AV valve stenoses

Coronary artery defects

Occult dilated cardiomyopathy

Cor triatriatum

Persistent left cranial vena cava

Canine hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Feline diastolic dysfunction

Echocardiography is painless and noninvasive. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. Certain advanced procedures may require sedation or anesthesia for patient comfort and compliance.

CT Scan is a non-invasive imaging modality that performs 360^◦, cross-sectional imaging of our patients. CT Scan uses x-ray technology to acquire these images, but does so with vastly increased detail and sensitivity, allowing us to visualize structures as small as 1-2mm in size. 

Our helical, 4-slice CT scanner is able to perform imaging studies much faster than older, conventional scanners that are often found in veterinary medicine. Using newer equipment and software, we are able to perform most studies in less than a minute (actual scanning time). This reduction in time also comes with increased quality and sensitivity: advantages that translate to shorter anesthetic times for our patients, even the ability to perform some studies under a light plane of sedation.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is sedated or anesthetized and placed on the CT imaging table. The CT technician positions the patient and programs the CT computer for the desired type of study. The patient table then advances through the CT gantry (which is a large, donut shaped opening) while an x-ray tube and sensors rotate at high speed around the patient. Usually, the scan is performed twice, the second time with administration of an intravenous contrast agent that highlights blood vessels and other structures. These images are reconstructed on a computer console attached to the CT machine, then reviewed by our specialists.

Brain – Trauma with suspected fracture, acute intracranial injury in an unstable patient

Spine – Fractures, mineralized disc rupture, neoplasia

Nasal Cavity & Sinuses – Chronic nasal discharge and/or sneezing, nasal distortion/deformation, neoplasia

Orbit/Ocular – Orbital trauma with suspected fracture, neoplasia

Head/Neck – Dental-related neoplasia, head/neck trauma with suspected fracture

Thorax – Metastatic screening, primary lung neoplasia, pneumothorax, lung lobe consolidation, chronic pneumonia, pleural effusion, mediastinal disease

Abdomen – Upper urinary tract evaluation, ectopic ureter, renal/ureteral calculi, clarification and surgical planning for large organ masses (including liver, spleen, kidney, GI tract), investigation of suspected portosystemic shunts

Musculoskeletal – Elbow dysplasia, suspected incomplete ossification of the humeral condyles, complex fractures

Neoplasia – Surgical planning for tumor removal or debulking, Lung metastasis screening

Cardiovascular – Pulmonary embolism

Other – General trauma

Anesthesia or sedation is required to perform a CT Scan. We use the most up to date and safest anesthetic agents, preanesthetic laboratory screening, tailored anesthetic protocols, and state of the art monitoring equipment to ensure safety for your pet before, during, and after anesthesia.

Depending on the nature of your pet's disease or condition, the diagnostics or treatments performed, and their timing, you pet may or may not need to stay overnight. For general medical workups, overnight hospitalization is generally not necessary. Our doctor or veterinary nurse will discuss the expected hospital stay during admission to the hospital.

All patients have round-the-clock care. We always have doctors and veterinary nurses on premises to monitor and care for your pet. No pet is ever left unattended. 

We always allow owners to visit with their pets. Please call and speak with your doctor or nurse so we can coordinate a time that is best for your pet and you. We try to limit visits to twice a day for 15 minutes as to not interfere with your pet's treatment. It is generally discouraged to visit on a day when your pet underwent general anesthesia as sometimes this can be disruptive to their recovery. 

If you feel there is an extenuating circumstance, please discuss this with your doctor.  

It is best to call after 10 am to receive an update. The doctors are in rounds from 8 am - 9 am every morning. After rounds, every patient is examined by their doctor. If the situation warrants, we will call you before this time.

Yes, you are welcome to bring things from home to make your pet feel more comfortable. Please note, however, we cannot always guarantee the return of these items as they may get soiled, lost or damaged.

In an emergency situation, the priority is for you and your pet to get to CVRC. Once it is determined that your pet is going to be hospitalized, you may bring all prescription medications your pet is currently receiving. We carry most common medications if this is not feasible. Our doctor will determine if these should be continued during your pet's stay. 

We have a full range of diets to feed our hospitalized patients.  However, if your pet is on a prescription or special diet we will gladly feed that if you provide it for us.

It is common for pets to not have a bowel movement for the first 24-72 hours after returning home. However, this is not the case with all conditions so please refer to your discharge instructions.   

The changes in their defecation pattern are often due to a different eating schedule in the hospital and some medications can contribute to this.  If you are concerned, your pet seems uncomfortable, or is trying to defecate but is unable (straining) please call us.

It is common for pets that were on IV fluids to have increased urine production. Therefore, they may need to urinate more frequently. This may last for 24-48 hours. If they are straining or not producing urine, please call us immediately.

This is not normal as most animals will urinate within 24 hours of returning home. If your pet is not urinating, or having difficulty while urinating, please call us immediately.   

Pets sleep cycles in the hospital environment are altered so it is not uncommon for them to be tired when returning home. This may last for 24 hours. If your pet appears listless, unable to ambulate, or you are concerned please call us. 

An e-collar prevents a pet from licking an area we want to protect until it is healed. This may be a wound, irritation or an incision. Please refer to your discharge instructions for specifics.

Generally we remove sutures 10-14 days post placement. Please refer to your discharges instructions for specifics. 

Suture removal is done complimentary for all patients that had a surgical procedure. If further procedures (x-rays, bandage changes, additional diagnostic tests, etc.) or additional medications are indicated there will be applicable fees. 

Not necessarily. Dogs and cats have a higher body temperature than people so often feel warm. You can purchase a rectal digital thermometer (doesn’t need to be animal specific) and obtain your pet's rectal temperature. This is the most accurate assessment. Normal temperature for a dogs and cats is 99.5—102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.  

A specialty hospital does not offer any routine or preventative care. Our veterinarians have advanced training in specific disciplines such as surgery, oncology, internal medicine, emergency and critical care medicine, physical rehabilitation and neurology among others. We also have equipment that most primary veterinarians don’t have such as CT scans, MRI, endoscopic equipment, and specialized surgical tools. We work closely with your primary veterinarian to offer these services to you.

Medical Neurology

• Seizure Disorders
• Vestibular (Balance) Disease
• Brain, Spinal Cord, and peripheral nerve Tumors
• Neuromuscular Diseases
• Encephalitis (infectious and inflammatory brain diseases)
• Diskospondylitis
• Chronic Pain Management
• Traumatic Injury (Head Trauma, skull fractures, fibrocartilagenous emboli)

Neurosurgery

• Spinal Cord
  • Intervertebral disc surgery
    • Ventral Slot
    • Hemilaminectomy
    • Dorsal laminectomy
    • Partial lateral corpectomy
    • Disc fenestration
  • Wobbler syndrome (surgical and medical management)
  • Lumbosacral disease (surgical and medical management)
  • Durotomy and durectomy procedures
  • Tumor removal and biopsy
  • Diskospondylitis treatment(biopsy, culture, stabilization, medical management)
• Spinal Stabilization
  • Spinal Fractures
  • Atlanto-axial subluxation
  • Atlanto-occipital subluxation
  • Other congenital defects

• Brain
  • Foramen Magnum decompression
  • Ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement and management
  • Craniotomy for tumor removal or biopsy
  • Skull-based tumor removal
  • Skull Fracture and Trauma surgery

• Nerve and Muscle diseases
  • Biopsy and interpretation
  • Peripheral nerve repair

Physical rehabilitation for return to function after brain or spinal cord injury, disease, or surgery.

Imaging and Other Diagnostics

• Digital Radiography
• Fluoroscopy
• Computed Tomography (CT scan)
• Myelography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Cerebrospinal fluid collection and analysis
• Fine needle aspiration and analysis (for brain, spinal cord, and vertebral tumors and infectious diseases)
• Surgical Biopsy and analysis (for brain, spinal cord, nerve, muscle, or bone lesions)
• Tensilon Testing for Myasthenia Gravis
• Myringotomy for middle ear disease
• Hearing testing (Brainstem auditory evoked response-BAER)
• Electrophysiology testing

If you are a new client to CVRC, we encourage you to fill out our New Patient Registration Form ahead of time online, or bring the form with you. Otherwise, please arrive to your appointment approximately 10 minutes early to complete this form in our office. If you are transferring for continued care from your primary veterinarian, please come to CVRC at your earliest convenience.

Neurology consultation usually begins with your family veterinarian diagnosing a disease or condition that requires advanced expertise, diagnostics, therapeutics, and patient monitoring. A full history, medical record review, and complete physical examination are performed. After examination and discussion, an initial treatment plan will be presented for the diagnostic workup and/or treatment.

Our neurologist will communicate with you during the work-up or treatment process to keep you informed on your pet's progress. We will also communicate with your primary veterinarian during this process to ensure a collaborative treatment plan for the care of your pet. Upon discharge, you will be given a printed visit summary with the diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and follow up care. A full report will be sent to your family veterinarian the same day. We welcome your progress reports, questions and concerns any time and will maintain an ongoing relationship with your primary care doctor to ensure the best experience for you and the best care for your pet.

First and most importantly, bring your pet to all visits. You may be instructed to withhold food and water from midnight the night before your appointment to allow for certain diagnostic testing. If your pet is on any medications, please let us know and we will advise you whether or not to administer them on the morning of your appointment. Also, please bring a list of all medications, strengths and dosages, or the pill vials. Records, including recent laboratory work, can be faxed or emailed to us from your primary care veterinarian prior to the appointment. If your pet has had any x-rays taken recently, please bring those with you as well. We can request records and digital x-rays on your behalf from your family veterinarian once you have scheduled a visit with us.

While referrals are recommended to see on one of our specialists, they are not required. It is always better to speak to your veterinarian about a referral so we can collaborate with your veterinarian to ensure the best care for your pet.

We work closely with your primary veterinarian and ensure they receive copies of all medical records. We also communicate via phone and they have the ability to access a portal into our medical record system. 

Consultation with our neurologist, review of history, full physical examination, and discussion with you will dictate the necessity of either MRI or CT Scan. Please be aware that CT and MRI overlap in their use, and the decision of one modality over another is based on desired tissue resolution, availability, cost, anticipated findings and patient stability.

Depending on the nature of your pet's neurological issue, time of your appointment, and schedule for the day, we can often offer imaging after your appointment. Please let us know when scheduling your appointment if you know at that time that you would like this option.

CT scan is a non-invasive imaging modality that performs 360^◦, cross-sectional imaging of our patients. CT scan uses x-ray technology to acquire these images, but does so with vastly increased detail and sensitivity, allowing us to visualize structures as small as 1-2mm in size. 

Our helical, 4-slice CT scanner is able to perform imaging studies much faster than older, conventional scanners that are often found in veterinary medicine. Using newer equipment and software, we are able to perform most studies in less than a minute (actual scanning time). This reduction in time also comes with increased quality and sensitivity: advantages that translate to shorter anesthetic times for our patients, even the ability to perform some studies under a light plane of sedation.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is sedated or anesthetized and placed on the CT imaging table. The CT technician positions the patient and programs the CT computer for the desired type of study. The patient table then advances through the CT gantry (which is a large, donut shaped opening) while an x-ray tube and sensors rotate at high speed around the patient. Usually, the scan is performed twice, the second time with administration of an intravenous contrast agent that highlights blood vessels and other structures. These images are reconstructed on a computer console attached to the CT machine, then reviewed by our specialists.

CT can be used for imaging a wide variety of body tissues. For neurological purposes, it is generally used to images diseases or disorders of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system.

Anesthesia or sedation is required to perform a CT Scan. We use the most up to date and safest anesthetic agents, preanesthetic laboratory screening, tailored anesthetic protocols, and state of the art monitoring equipment to ensure safety for your pet before, during, and after anesthesia.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an advanced, non-invasive, non-radiating imaging modality that has become commonplace in human medicine, and has rapidly expanded into the veterinary field.

MRI uses a strong magnetic field that aligns protons of the body tissues within the field. A radio frequency signal (RF) is then applied to the field which disrupts the alignment of these protons, after which they return to their original state. The RF signals are collected by a receiver (called a coil) and then transmitted back to a computer, which creates visual images from this information.

These images are easily constructed in axial, dorsal, sagittal and oblique planes for review by the clinician or radiologist. MRI is often performed using an intravenous contrast agent that enables us to better visualize certain structures and abnormalities. MRI yields the highest level of soft tissue detail compared to other imaging modalities. This sensitivity allows for highlighting desired structures or tissues by adjusting settings on the MRI machine.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is anesthetized and placed in the MRI. The MRI technician positions the patient and programs the MRI computer for the desired type of study. An MRI study typically takes 30 minutes to one hour to complete, and requires general anesthesia, as the animal must be perfectly still for the duration of the study. The images are reconstructed on a computer console attached to the MRI, then reviewed by our specialists. 

MRIs are performed by technicians who have received advanced education and training in magnetic resonance imaging.

While MRI can be used for imaging a wide variety of body tissues, for neurological purposes, it is used to image diseases or disorders of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system.

Anesthesia or sedation is required to perform an MRI.  We use the most up to date and safest anesthetic agents, preanesthetic laboratory screening, tailored anesthetic protocols, and state of the art monitoring equipment to ensure safety for your pet before, during, and after anesthesia.

Depending on the nature of your pets' neurological issue, the diagnostics or treatments performed, and their timing, your pet may or may not need to stay overnight.  When only imaging (MRI or CT) is performed, your pet can usually return home the same day of the imaging procedure. Our doctor or veterinary nurse will discuss the expected hospital stay during your visit or admission to the hospital.

All patients have round-the-clock care. We always have doctors and veterinary nurses on premises to monitor and care for your pet. No pet is ever left unattended. 

We always allow owners to visit with their pets. Please call and speak with your doctor or nurse so we can coordinate a time that is best for your pet and you. We try to limit visits to twice a day for 15 minutes as to not interfere with your pet's treatment. It is generally discouraged to visit on a day when your pet underwent general anesthesia as sometimes this can be disruptive to their recovery. 

If you feel there is an extenuating circumstance, please discuss this with your doctor.  

It is best to call after 10 am to receive an update. The doctors are in rounds from 8 am - 9 am every morning. After rounds, every patient is examined by their doctor. If the situation warrants, we will call you before this time.

Yes, you are welcome to bring things from home to make your pet feel more comfortable. Please note, however, we cannot always guarantee the return of these items as they may get soiled, lost or damaged.

In an emergency situation, the priority is for you and your pet to get to CVRC. Once it is determined that your pet is going to be hospitalized, you may bring all prescription medications your pet is currently receiving. We carry most common medications if this is not feasible. Our doctor will determine if these should be continued during your pet's stay. 

We have a full range of diets to feed our hospitalized patients. However, if your pet is on a prescription or special diet we will gladly feed that if you provide it for us.

It is common for pets to not have a bowel movement for the first 24-72 hours after returning home. However, this is not the case with all conditions so please refer to your discharge instructions.   

The changes in their defecation pattern are often due to a different eating schedule in the hospital and some medications can contribute to this. If you are concerned, your pet seems uncomfortable, or is trying to defecate but is unable (straining) please call us.

It is common for pets that were on IV fluids to have increased urine production. Therefore, they may need to urinate more frequently. This may last for 24-48 hours. If they are straining or not producing urine, please call us immediately.

This is not normal as most animals will urinate within 24 hours of returning home. If your pet is not urinating, or having difficulty while urinating, please call us immediately.   

Pets' sleep cycles in the hospital environment are altered so it is not uncommon for them to be tired when returning home. This may last for 24 hours. If your pet appears listless, unable to ambulate, or you are concerned please call us. 

An e-collar prevents a pet from licking an area we want to protect until it is healed. This may be a wound, irritation or an incision. Please refer to your discharge instructions for specifics.

Generally we remove sutures 10-14 days post placement. Please refer to your discharges instructions for specifics. 

Suture removal is done complimentary for all patients that had a surgical procedure. If further procedures (x-rays, bandage changes, additional diagnostic tests, etc.) or additional medications are indicated there will be applicable fees. 

Consultation with our neurologist, review of history, full physical examination, and discussion with you will dictate the necessity of physical rehabilitation. Many patients respond very well and have a faster return to function after injury or surgery. We have several certified rehabilitation specialists who collaborate with our neurology team to ensure the best outcome for your pet.

Not necessarily. Dogs and cats have a higher body temperature than people so they often feel warm. You can purchase a rectal digital thermometer (doesn’t need to be animal specific) and obtain your pet's rectal temperature. This is the most accurate assessment. Normal temperature for a dogs and cats is 99.5—102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.  

A specialty hospital does not offer any routine or preventative care. Our veterinarians have advanced training in specific disciplines such as surgery, oncology, internal medicine, emergency and critical care medicine, physical rehabilitation and neurology among others.  We also have equipment that most primary veterinarians don’t have such as CT scans, MRI, endoscopic equipment, and specialized surgical tools. We work closely with your primary veterinarian to offer these services to you.

Coming Soon

If you are a new client to CVRC, we encourage you to fill out our New Patient Registration Form ahead of time online, or bring the form with you. Otherwise, please arrive to your appointment approximately 10 minutes early to complete this form in our office. If you are transferring for continued care from your primary veterinarian, please come to CVRC at your earliest convenience.

Oncology consultation usually begins with your family veterinarian diagnosing a disease or condition that requires advanced expertise, diagnostics, therapeutics, and patient monitoring. A full history, medical record review, and complete physical examination are performed. After examination and discussion, an initial treatment plan will be presented for the diagnostic workup and/or treatment.

Our oncologist will communicate with you during the work-up or treatment process to keep you informed on your pet's progress. We will also communicate with your primary veterinarian during this process to ensure a collaborative treatment plan for the care of your pet. Upon discharge, you will be given a printed visit summary with the diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and follow up care. A full report will be sent to your family veterinarian the same day. We welcome your progress reports, questions and concerns any time and will maintain an ongoing relationship with your primary care doctor to ensure the best experience for you and the best care for your pet.

First and most importantly, bring your pet to all visits. You may be instructed to withhold food and water from midnight the night before your appointment to allow for certain diagnostic testing. If your pet is on any medications, please let us know and we will advise you whether or not to administer them on the morning of your appointment. Also, please bring a list of all medications, strengths and dosages, or the pill vials. Records, including recent laboratory work, can be faxed or emailed to us from your primary care veterinarian prior to the appointment. If your pet has had any x-rays taken recently, please bring those with you as well. We can request records and digital x-rays on your behalf from your family veterinarian once you have scheduled a visit with us.

While referrals are recommended to see on one of our specialists, they are not required. It is always better to speak to your veterinarian about a referral so we can collaborate with your veterinarian to ensure the best care for your pet.

We work closely with your primary veterinarian and ensure they receive copies of all medical records. We also communicate via phone and they have the ability to access a portal into our medical record system. 

Our oncologist often sees pets that are suspected of having cancer even if a definitive diagnosis has not yet been made. Using imaging modalities, laboratory tests, physical exam findings and procedures we can determine if your pets clinical signs are resulting from cancer. 

This answer is highly variable depending on the condition of your pet, type and stage of cancer, any other related medical conditions, and the treatment protocol used. Please schedule an appointment with our oncologist to discuss the options for diagnosis and treatment for your pet. At that time, the oncologist will be able to give you an expectation level of survival time.

The most common side effect of chemotherapy in our patients is decreased appetite and nausea. These are usually mild, short in duration, and easily controlled with some medications. Occasionally vomiting and diarrhea may occur. Please be in contact with us immediately if your pet is having any side effects so that we can address them and adjust our treatment protocols if necessary. In very rare instances side effects requiring hospitalization and more aggressive therapy may be required.

Depending on the stage and type of cancer, response to treatment, and your pet's overall health condition, this can vary greatly. Our oncologist will provide a detailed treatment protocol to you with the expected duration and frequency of treatments at your appointment.

Usually the visit for chemotherapy takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. The oncologist will perform a full examination at every visit and review laboratory work to ensure your pet can receive treatment. Some medications require a longer time to administer to minimize the side effects to your pet.

We are happy to offer drop off chemotherapy appointments if that works better for your schedule. We also have regularly scheduled appointment times and try to be accommodating of your schedules as much as possible.

Injectable drugs are given through a small needle directly into a vein or under the skin and cause no more discomfort to animals than a routine vaccine. Some chemotherapeutic protocols will use oral medications that are given by you at home, or by us in the hospital. For your pet’s safety, we use the Phaseal® system which is the only clinically-proven Closed System Drug Transfer Device (CSTD) that prevents hazardous drug interaction with the environment. This allows quick and safe administration, so your pet can be back home with you as soon as possible.

The cost associated with the diagnosis and treatment of your pet's condition varies significantly with the type of cancer as well as the type of treatment. Our oncologist will discuss the costs associated with treatment at the time of your appointment.

Some cancers can be cured (depending on the type of cancers), and many can be kept in remission for long periods of time.

Cancer staging is the diagnostic process of determining how much cancer is in the body, and where it is located. This is typically done with diagnostic tools like CT Scan, x-ray and ultrasound, as well as a detailed physical examination.

It is important because it tells us if different body areas are affected by the cancer, if it has spread, as well as if our chemotherapy is working effectively.

Metronomic chemotherapy is a new way of dosing traditional chemotherapy in our patients for certain types of cancer. It consists of oral drugs compounded into VERY SMALL doses and given at home on a daily basis. The goal of this type of dosing is to target the blood vessels that supply blood and nutrients to the remaining tumor cells (these cells require blood supply and nutrients to regrow). This therapy has minimal side effects.

A blood transfusion is a procedure performed when a patient has a low red blood cell count, low platelets, or other deficiencies in their blood. Blood typing is performed to ensure recipient-donor compatibility. An intravenous catheter is placed into their leg, and a bag of donor blood is delivered into their vein over several hours. The patient is closely monitored during this time for any immune reaction to the donor blood.  Most patients respond very well to this treatment when needed.

Chemotherapy will be present in your pet’s urine up to 21 days. The specifics can vary depending on the specific drugs used and it is highly recommended to take some basic precautions to prevent exposure.

• Any accidental urination in the house should be cleaned up promptly and disposed of in a separate bag.
• Be sure to wear gloves when handling stool or urine clean-ups.
• Keep children and other pets away from areas where accidents have occurred.
• When allowing pet to urinate outside, take to an area which is not visited by other pets or children.
• If accidental skin contact is made with urine, wash skin thoroughly with soap and water.
• Floors can be cleaned by thoroughly washing with a detergent cleanser. 

We are very excited to be offering electrochemotherapy (ECT) at Charleston Veterinary Referral Center. Please follow this link for more information about ECT. 

Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool used to obtain more detailed information about internal body structures.Ultrasound machines use sound waves administered by a small handheld device called a probe, waves are reflected back to the probe, and a computer formats these into visual pictures on a monitor for the clinician to review. Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive.

Ultrasound is a modality that requires significant training and experience by the clinician to achieve an accurate diagnosis and interpretation of the study.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is positioned appropriately on the ultrasound examination table. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. The area of interest is clipped to allow the probe to make contact with the skin.  The study is performed and interpreted by one of our trained clinicians. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform. Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive. 

Applications for ultrasound include:

Cancer staging: Evaluation of the abdominal organs, including the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, lymphatic system, kidneys, urinary tract, and endocrine organs

Imaging of thoracic and abdominal masses

Imaging of fluid accumulation in the abdomen or thorax

Imaging of the neck, including thyroid and parathyroid glands

Imaging of blood vessels and flow, in and around the heart, and throughout the body

Minimally invasive techniques to obtain samples of organs for diagnosis of illnesses and cancers (fine needle aspirates, ultrasound-guided biopsies and cystocentesis, gall bladder secretions)

Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive. For most patients, sedation or anesthesia is not required. Certain advanced procedures (biopsy or aspirate) may require sedation or anesthesia for patient comfort and compliance.

Consultation with our oncologist, review of history, full physical examination, and discussion with you will dictate the necessity of a CT Scan.

Depending on the nature of your pet's condition, time of your appointment, and schedule for the day, we can often offer imaging after your appointment. Please let us know when scheduling your appointment if you know at that time that you would like this option.

CT Scan is a non-invasive imaging modality that performs 360^◦, cross-sectional imaging of our patients. CT Scan uses x-ray technology to acquire these images, but does so with vastly increased detail and sensitivity, allowing us to visualize structures as small as 1-2mm in size. 

Our helical, 4-slice CT scanner is able to perform imaging studies much faster than older, conventional scanners that are often found in veterinary medicine. Using newer equipment and software, we are able to perform most studies in less than a minute (actual scanning time). This reduction in time also comes with increased quality and sensitivity: advantages that translate to shorter anesthetic times for our patients, even the ability to perform some studies under a light plane of sedation.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is sedated or anesthetized and placed on the CT imaging table. The CT technician positions the patient and programs the CT computer for the desired type of study. The patient table then advances through the CT gantry (which is a large, donut shaped opening) while an x-ray tube and sensors rotate at high speed around the patient. Usually, the scan is performed twice, the second time with administration of an intravenous contrast agent that highlights blood vessels and other structures. These images are reconstructed on a computer console attached to the CT machine, then reviewed by our specialists.

CT can be used for imaging a wide variety of body tissues. For neurological purposes, it is generally used to images diseases or disorders of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system.

Anesthesia or sedation is required to perform a CT Scan.  We use the most up to date and safest anesthetic agents, preanesthetic laboratory screening, tailored anesthetic protocols, and state of the art monitoring equipment to ensure safety for your pet before, during, and after anesthesia.

Aspirates and biopsies are the acquiring of a tissue sample to diagnose the cell composition of a tissue. We use these to diagnose the type of tumor. Often special laboratory tests are required to come to a final diagnosis. Tissue can be acquired surgically, endoscopically, by needle aspiration, using ultrasound or CT guidance, or by impression smear of a tumor.

When we are analyzing a sample in our internal laboratory, results are usually available within hours. Many samples get sent out to reference laboratories for further analysis or special testing. These can take 2-5 business days depending on the test. We will be in contact with you once the results are available.

Depending on the nature of your pet's condition, the diagnostics or treatments performed, and their timing, you pet may or may not need to stay overnight. Overnight stays are uncommon for our cancer patients. Our oncologist will discuss the expected hospital stay during your visit or admission to the hospital.

All patients have round-the-clock care. We always have doctors and veterinary nurses on premises to monitor and care for your pet. No pet is ever left unattended. 

We always allow owners to visit with their pets. Please call and speak with your doctor or nurse so we can coordinate a time that is best for your pet and you. We try to limit visits to twice a day for 15 minutes as to not interfere with your pet's treatment. It is generally discouraged to visit on a day when your pet underwent general anesthesia as sometimes this can be disruptive to their recovery. 

If you feel there is an extenuating circumstance, please discuss this with your doctor.  

It is best to call after 10 am to receive an update. The doctors are in rounds from 8 am - 9 am every morning. After rounds, every patient is examined by their doctor. If the situation warrants, we will call you before this time.

Yes, you are welcome to bring things from home to make your pet feel more comfortable. Please note, however, we cannot always guarantee the return of these items as they may get soiled, lost or damaged.

In an emergency situation, the priority is for you and your pet to get to CVRC. Once it is determined that your pet is going to be hospitalized, you may bring all prescription medications your pet is currently receiving. We carry most common medications if this is not feasible. Our doctor will determine if these should be continued during your pets stay. 

We have a full range of diets to feed our hospitalized patients. However, if your pet is on a prescription or special diet we will gladly feed that if you provide it for us.

It is common for pets to not have a bowel movement for the first 24-72 hours after returning home. However, this is not the case with all conditions so please refer to your discharge instructions.   

The changes in their defecation pattern are often due to a different eating schedule in the hospital and some medications can contribute to this. If you are concerned, your pet seems uncomfortable, or is trying to defecate but is unable (straining) please call us.

It is common for pets that were on IV fluids to have increased urine production. Therefore, they may need to urinate more frequently. This may last for 24-48 hours. If they are straining or not producing urine, please call us immediately.

This is not normal as most animals will urinate within 24 hours of returning home. If your pet is not urinating, or having difficulty while urinating, please call us immediately.   

Pets sleep cycles in the hospital environment are altered so it is not uncommon for them to be tired when returning home. This may last for 24 hours. If your pet appears listless, unable to ambulate, or you are concerned please call us. 

An e-collar prevents a pet from licking an area we want to protect until it is healed. This may be a wound, irritation or an incision. Please refer to your discharge instructions for specifics.

Generally we remove sutures 10-14 days post placement. Please refer to your discharges instructions for specifics. 

Suture removal is done complimentary for all patients that had a surgical procedure. If further procedures (x-rays, bandage changes, additional diagnostic tests, etc.) or additional medications are indicated there will be applicable fees. 

Not necessarily. Dogs and cats have a higher body temperature than people so often feel warm. You can purchase a rectal digital thermometer (doesn’t need to be animal specific) and obtain your pet's rectal temperature. This is the most accurate assessment. Normal temperature for a dogs and cats is 99.5—102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.  

A specialty hospital does not offer any routine or preventative care.   Our veterinarians have advanced training in specific disciplines such as surgery, oncology, internal medicine, emergency and critical care medicine, physical rehabilitation and neurology among others.  We also have equipment that most primary veterinarians don’t have such as CT scans, MRI, endoscopic equipment, and specialized surgical tools.  We work closely with your primary veterinarian to offer these services to you.

• Orthopedic injuries and repair such as cruciate disease
• Fractures
• Spinal cord injuries such as intervertebral disc disease
• Neurologic conditions
• Traumatic injuries
• Chronic pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Wounds such as burns and abrasions
• Obesity
• Increasing strength and maintaining the condition of working and sporting dogs

If you are a new client to CVRC, we encourage you to fill out our New Patient Registration Form ahead of time online, or bring the form with you. Otherwise, please arrive to your appointment approximately 10 minutes early to complete this form in our office.

At the initial rehab visit, we will discuss the options available for rehab, assess muscle mass and range of motion, evaluate gait and mobility, obtain stance analyzer measurements, and assess pain level. A customized plan of treatment is developed to address the particular challenges of your pet. The initial rehab visit will take approximately 1.5 hours. We will discuss management options with you to determine a schedule of visits. Postoperative patients may initially be managed as inpatients, but the majority of treatments are performed on an outpatient basis.

The education of owners to perform simple strength and coordination exercises at home is an important component of therapy. The response to rehabilitation is closely monitored and your pet’s program will be adjusted accordingly.

First and most importantly, bring your pet to all visits.  Records, including recent laboratory work, can be faxed or emailed to us from your primary care veterinarian prior to the appointment. If your pet has had any x-rays taken recently, please bring those with you as well.  We can request records and digital x-rays on your behalf from your family veterinarian once you have scheduled a visit with us. 

The rehabilitation session lasts approximately 1 hour, and is centered on various exercises and therapeutic treatments that are targeted specifically to the goals of your pet’s rehabilitation plan.  Each session is fully inclusive of all the treatment modalities that we have available and are appropriate for your pet.  The rehabilitation nurse or doctor is actively tracking your pet’s progress during all rehabilitation sessions, ensuring that the exercises are appropriate and we are making progress towards our goals. At the end of the session we will go over any change to the home exercise plan and may prescribe new exercises. At the completion of a series of sessions, all measurements will be repeated to help evaluate progress.

Bring your pet, and please arrive 5-10 minutes early to fill out history paperwork for your pet. If your pet has food allergies or dietary restrictions we encourage you to bring the appropriate treats or food with you so they can be rewarded during their therapy.

We will do our best to accommodate your request to observe your pet during a rehabilitation session. However, we have found this can often be more of a distraction.  We have windows outside the rehab room that are available for viewing, if appropriate.  Availability will depend on how many patients we have, the time of day, etc., and is at the discretion of the rehab staff.

While referrals are recommended to see one of our specialists, they are not required.  It is always better to speak to your veterinarian about a referral so we can collaborate with your veterinarian to ensure the best care for your pet.

We will communicate with your primary veterinarian during this process to ensure a collaborative treatment plan for the care of your pet. A full report will be sent to your family veterinarian the same day as your visit. We welcome your progress reports, questions, and concerns any time, and will maintain an ongoing relationship with your primary care doctor to ensure the best experience for you and the best care for your pet.  Your primay vet may also have the ability to access an online portal into your pet’s medical record.

The number of sessions required depends on many factors.  Your rehabilitation clinician will tailor a plan to meet your pet’s and your individual needs.

• Cold Laser Therapy
• Under Water Treadmill
• Land Treadmill
• Therapeutic Ultrasound
• Electrical Stimulation (e-stim) both neuromuscular and transcutaneous
• Hot/Cold Therapy
• Massage
• Therapeutic Exercises

Laser therapy is used to increase quality and strength of tissue repair, decrease inflammation, reduce edema and give pain relief. The effects are photochemical, not thermal and happen at the cellular level. Benefits include faster wound healing, increased vascular activity, stimulated nerve function, reduction of scar formation, decreased pain, and decreased inflammation. Laser therapy is beneficial for wound management, soft tissue injuries, inflammation, chronic pain, arthritis, and acupressure points.

• Wound management
• Soft tissue injuries
• Inflammation
• Chronic pain
• Arthritis
• Acupuncture

Water is an excellent environment in which to exercise. The principle of buoyancy combined with that of resistance make this a unique and safe method of rehabilitation. We have an underwater treadmill that provides an opportunity to strengthen muscles with little to no pressure on the patient’s joints and is beneficial for neuromuscular re-education.  Walking on the treadmill improves cardiovascular stamina and is a key component of most weight loss programs. The warmth of the water helps to increase flexibility and mobility of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that surround the joints as well as enhance circulation. In addition, our treadmill is enhanced with therapeutic jets that can be used for massage, like a whirlpool, or provide increased resistance for conditioning. Hydrotherapy has the overall benefit of earlier return to function for many of our patients and also helps to increase self-confidence.

It is not unusual for an animal that is not using a limb on land to use it when walking in the water. They often use the limb in an exaggerated motion which adds to the therapeutic benefits of hydrotherapy.

We can adjust variables of speed, duration of treatment, and water level during each treatment to maximize the therapeutic results.

• Comfortable movement
• Earlier return to function
• Muscle strengthening
• Increased cardiovascular stamina
• Neuromuscular re-education
• Weight loss
• Increase range of motion
• Increase in patient’s self confidence

• Orthopedic injuries and repair such as cruciate disease
• Fractures
• Spinal cord injuries such as intervertebral disc disease
• Neurologic conditions
• Traumatic injuries
• Chronic pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Obesity
• Increasing strength and maintaining the condition of working, sporting, and agility dogs

While both therapies are beneficial for cardiovascular fitness, the UWT provides total body therapy by working both the front and rear limbs while allowing for control of the water level, treadmill speed, and water resistance. When animals swim, they typically use the front legs, but may either rudder with the back legs, keeping them tucked under their body or sporadically kick, but not in a controlled manner. For this reason, we primarily use the underwater treadmill for walking/trotting in our rehabilitation regiment here at CVRC although swimming is appropriate in certain cases.

We begin with a slow introduction to the underwater treadmill that involves a lot of positive reinforcement. We will never rush this process and will take whatever time is necessary to be sure your pet is comfortable in the UWT before proceeding. If your pet is one of the rare patients that does not tolerate working in the UWT, there are a number of other activities that we can do to help your pet recover from injury or surgery.  While some dogs are able to swim in the UWT, the majority will not. As mentioned earlier, walking in the UWT provides a more controlled exercise environment for our patients and is often preferred over swimming while your pet is recuperating from surgery/injury.

We will do our best to get your pet as dry as possible before he goes home. We have grooming dryers to supplement towel drying after the UWT session and in most instances your pet will be dry.

Therapeutic ultrasound produces both thermal and non-thermal effects. The thermal effects of a therapeutic ultrasound occur through warming of tissues and can be very beneficial in treating soft tissue injuries. It can be used to increase the flexibility of muscles while decreasing muscle spasm and scar tissue. We have also found it can increase circulation and minimize inflammation of damaged tissues. The non-thermal effects aid in tissue regeneration, soft tissue repair, bone healing along with reduction of swelling, muscle spasm, and pain.  Using ultrasound to increase extensibility of collagen can help increase joint range of motion. Therapeutic ultrasound is beneficial for many conditions including orthopedic injuries and fractures, wound healing, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and tendon injuries.

Electrical Stimulation (e-stim) is the application of electrical impulses to a muscle or muscle group stimulating their contraction.  Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can be used to prevent atrophy of a muscle or muscle group, particularly in neurologic cases. NMES is also helpful in reducing swelling, inflammation, and edema, as well as overcoming muscle reflex inhibition and assisting in tendon and fracture healing.   Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) aids in pain management.

Massage is a focused, intentional, and deliberate touch using a variety of strokes. Massage is a non-invasive way to improve your pet’s health and utilizes soft tissue manipulation to achieve different goals such as relaxation, stimulation, and relief of muscle problems. It allows the body to function efficiently by helping to restore muscle tone. Massage increases circulation bringing oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and provides relief from many common ailments as well as enhances performance. With regular massage therapy sessions, we often see improved muscle function, flexibility and range of motion, as well as decreased pain, soreness and stiffness. We utilize massage in many of our patients including those recovering from surgery and sports injuries, geriatric patients with arthritis and weakness, and neurologic patients recovering from or living with debilitating disease.

We evaluate each patient and design a set of exercises that are most effective in that patient’s rehabilitation. These are designed to achieve the goals for that patient’s recovery. Exercises may be directed at helping the patient with strengthening specific muscles or stretching to increase flexibility or learning how to regain the feeling and use of a foot or limb. We demonstrate each activity and teach our pet owners to perform these at home on a prescribed schedule. We try to incorporate the special needs and skills of patients and their families.

Appropriately timed in the rehabilitation process, cold and heat can be very beneficial in decreasing pain and inflammation.

Initially, in the first 72 hours, we use cold therapy to decrease the pain and inflammation associated with surgery or trauma. This occurs by decreasing pain perception, decreasing blood flow and decreasing inflammation. Cold therapy may also be indicated following exercise sessions to manage exercise induced inflammation and pain.

Heat therapy is used later in the healing process to increase blood flow, increase muscle flexibility decrease pain and increase healing. Heat therapy is also appropriate as a warm up to some exercises.  The therapy team will direct you when to use hot or cold therapy for your pet.

Unfortunately, many pets are overweight or have poor conditioning.  This makes it more likely for them to develop a variety of health conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, ligament injuries, and dysfunction of body systems such as the circulatory, digestive and excretory systems.  Conditioning, fitness, and weight loss are goals that can be obtained with a comprehensive plan from our physical rehabilitation department.

Definitely! Just like people, pets can benefit from a regular exercise program. If you are interested in setting up a conditioning program for your pet, please contact us to schedule an initial consult. This will allow us to evaluate your pet and make sure there are no contraindications to your pet beginning our conditioning program.

Depending on your pet’s condition, rehabilitation is often introduced during the initial hospital stay after surgery or injury.  Our rehabilitation team will collaborate with your primary doctor at CVRC to discuss and offer rehabilitation if it is appropriate for your pet’s condition.

We are happy to offer day boarding for our rehabilitation patients to assist with scheduling needs.  Please let us know when scheduling that you will be leaving your pet with us.  Also, please bring any medications that will need to be administered while your pet is at CVRC. Please note: additional fees may apply.

Results of therapy are much better when a home exercise plan (HEP) is followed.  We evaluate each patient and design a set of exercises that are most effective in that patient’s rehabilitation. These are designed to achieve the goals for that patient’s recovery. Exercises may be directed at helping the patient with strengthening specific muscles, stretching to increase flexibility, or learning how to regain the feeling and use of a foot or limb. We demonstrate each activity and teach our pet owners to perform these at home on a prescribed schedule. We try to incorporate the special needs and skills of patients and their families.

The home exercise program (HEP) is meant to complement your pet's rehabilitation sessions performed here at CVRC. We recognize that your lifestyle and time constraints may not be conducive to performing all the additional exercises at home. We will work with you to develop a program that will fit your schedule while still benefitting your pet. Please let us know what you feel you can perform and our rehabilitation team will work with you to make this a positive part of your pet's rehabilitation experience.

Absolutley!  After assessing your pet, we can form a rehabilitation plan that works logistically for you and your pet.  This can be a plan where most of the activity is done at home, with only an occasional visit to CVRC for reevaluation.

It is very common for your pet to be tired after rehabilitation, especially early on in the treatment plan.  This should improve over time as your pet’s physical condition improves.  If your pet seems sore or uncomfortable, please let us know so that we can adjust the rehabilitation plan, or prescribe medications if needed.

Consultation with your pet’s surgeon, or family veterinarian, review of history, full physical examination, and discussion with you will dictate the necessity of physical rehabilitation.  Many patients respond very well to physical rehabilitation and have a faster return to function after injury or surgery.  We have several certified rehabilitation specialists who collaborate with our surgical team to ensure the best outcome for your pet.

A specialty hospital does not offer any routine or preventative care. Our veterinarians have advanced training in specific disciplines such as surgery, oncology, internal medicine, emergency and critical care medicine, physical rehabilitation and neurology among others. We also have equipment that most primary veterinarians don’t have such as CT scans, MRI, endoscopic equipment, and specialized surgical tools.  We work closely with your primary veterinarian to offer these services to you.

• Abdominal Surgery
  • Gastrointestinal surgery
    • Enterotomy/Gastrotomy (foreign body removal)
  • Mass removals
  • Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)
  • Cystotomy (bladder stone removal)
  • Gastropexy (treatment or prophylaxis for GDV)
  • Splenectomy
  • Biopsy
  • Liver shunt ligation
  • Reproductive procedures
• Thoracic Surgery, including:
  • Mass removal
  • Biopsy
  • Pericardectomy
  • Lung lobectomy
  • Congenital cardiac/vascular defects
    • Persistent right aortic arch (PRAA)
    • Patent ductus arteriosis (PDA)
• Oncologic surgery
  • Mass removal
  • Amputation
  • Biopsy
  • Chemotherapy bead implantation
• Reconstructive surgery, including:
  • Skin flaps
  • Hernia repair
  • Wound management
• Ear, nose and throat surgery, including:
  • Brachycephalic syndrome
  • Laryngeal paralysis
  • Total ear canal ablation
• Endocrine Surgery
• Urogenital Surgery
• Trauma Surgery

• Fracture repair
  • Internal fixation
  • External fixation
  • Minimally invasive fixation
• Surgical management of cruciate ligament tears
  • Lateral suture
  • Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
• Luxating patella correction
• Growth deformity correction
• Joint dislocations
  • Open (surgical) reductions
  • Closed reductions
• Oncologic surgery
  • Amputation
  • Maxillectomy
  • Mandibulectomy
  • Biopsy
  • Mass Removal
• Diagnosis and medical/surgical management of hip dysplasia
  • Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis – Treatment for dogs with hip dysplasia that are very young
  • Triple pelvic osteotomy – Treatment for dogs with hip dysplasia up to about 1 year old
  • Femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO)
  • Total hip replacement
• Diagnosis and medical/surgical management of forelimb lameness
  • Elbow
  • Shoulder

• Arthritis management, pain management and weight loss

Physical rehabilitation for return to function after injury, disease, or surgery.

• Intervertebral disc surgery (disc protrusion)
  • Ventral Slot
  • Hemilaminectomy
  • Dorsal laminectomy
• Wobbler syndrome (surgical and medical management)
• Lumbosacral disease (surgical and medical management)
• Tumor removal and biopsy
• Spinal Stabilization of fracture or luxation
  • Spinal Fractures
  • Congenital instability/luxation

• Arthroscopy
  • Elbows
  • Shoulders
  • Stifles (knees)
• Laparoscopy
  • Biopsy of abdominal organs/tissue
  • Spays and neuters
  • Gastropexy
• Thoracosopy
  • Pericardectomy
  • Biopsy of thoracic organs/tissue
• Minimally invasive fracture repair (MIPO)

Imaging and Other Diagnostics

• Digital Radiography
• Fluoroscopy
• Computed Tomography (CT scan)
• Myelography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

If you are a new client to CVRC, we encourage you to fill out our New Patient Registration Form ahead of time online, or bring the form with you. Otherwise, please arrive to your appointment approximately 10 minutes early to complete this form in our office. If you are transferring for continued care from your primary veterinarian, please come to CVRC at your earliest convenience.

Surgical consultation usually begins with your family veterinarian diagnosing a disease or condition that requires advanced expertise, diagnostics, therapeutics, or surgery. A full history, medical record review, and complete physical examination are performed. After examination and discussion, an initial treatment plan will be presented for the diagnostic workup and/or treatment.

Our surgeon will communicate with you during the work-up or treatment process to keep you informed on your pet's progress. We will also communicate with your primary veterinarian during this process to ensure a collaborative treatment plan for the care of your pet. Upon discharge, you will be given a printed visit summary with the diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and follow up care.  A full report will be sent to your family veterinarian the same day. We welcome your progress reports, questions and concerns any time and will maintain an ongoing relationship with your primary care doctor to ensure the best experience for you and the best care for your pet.

First and most importantly, bring your pet to all visits.  You may be instructed to withhold food and water from midnight the night before your appointment to allow for certain diagnostic testing.   If your pet is on any medications, please let us know and we will advise you whether or not to administer them on the morning of your appointment. Also, please bring a list of all medications, strengths and dosages, or the pill vials. Records, including recent laboratory work, can be faxed or emailed to us from your primary care veterinarian prior to the appointment. If your pet has had any x-rays taken recently, please bring those with you as well. We can request records and digital x-rays on your behalf from your family veterinarian once you have scheduled a visit with us.

While referrals are recommended to see on one of our specialists, they are not required. It is always better to speak to your veterinarian about a referral so we can collaborate with your veterinarian to ensure the best care for your pet.

We work closely with your primary veterinarian and ensure they receive copies of all medical records. We also communicate via phone and they have the ability to access a portal into our medical record system. 

Consultation with our surgeon, review of history, full physical examination, and discussion with you will dictate the necessity of either MRI or CT Scan. Please be aware that CT and MRI overlap in their use, and the decision of one modality over another is based on desired tissue resolution, availability, cost, anticipated findings and patient stability.

Depending on the nature of your pet's neurological issue, time of your appointment, and schedule for the day, we can often offer imaging after your appointment. Please let us know when scheduling your appointment if you know at that time that you would like this option.

CT Scan is a non-invasive imaging modality that performs 360^◦, cross-sectional imaging of our patients. CT Scan uses x-ray technology to acquire these images, but does so with vastly increased detail and sensitivity, allowing us to visualize structures as small as 1-2mm in size. 

Our helical, 4-slice CT scanner is able to perform imaging studies much faster than older, conventional scanners that are often found in veterinary medicine. Using newer equipment and software, we are able to perform most studies in less than a minute (actual scanning time). This reduction in time also comes with increased quality and sensitivity: advantages that translate to shorter anesthetic times for our patients, even the ability to perform some studies under a light plane of sedation.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is sedated or anesthetized and placed on the CT imaging table. The CT technician positions the patient and programs the CT computer for the desired type of study. The patient table then advances through the CT gantry (which is a large, donut shaped opening) while an x-ray tube and sensors rotate at high speed around the patient. Usually, the scan is performed twice, the second time with administration of an intravenous contrast agent that highlights blood vessels and other structures. These images are reconstructed on a computer console attached to the CT machine, then reviewed by our specialists.

Brain – Trauma with suspected fracture, acute intracranial injury in an unstable patient

Spine – fractures, mineralized disc rupture, neoplasia

Nasal Cavity & Sinuses – Chronic nasal discharge and/or sneezing, nasal distortion/deformation, neoplasia

Orbit/Ocular – Orbital trauma with suspected fracture, neoplasia

Head/Neck – Dental-related neoplasia, head/neck trauma with suspected fracture

Thorax – Metastatic screening, primary lung neoplasia, pneumothorax, lung lobe consolidation, chronic pneumonia, pleural effusion, mediastinal disease

Abdomen – Upper urinary tract evaluation, ectopic ureter, renal/ureteral calculi, clarification and surgical planning for large organ masses ( including liver, spleen, kidney, GI tract), investigation of suspected portosystemic shunts

Musculoskeletal – Elbow dysplasia, suspected incomplete ossification of the humeral condyles, complex fractures

Neoplasia – Surgical planning for tumor removal or debulking, Lung metastasis screening

Cardiovascular – Pulmonary embolism

Other – General trauma

Anesthesia or sedation is required to perform a CT Scan. We use the most up to date and safest anesthetic agents, preanesthetic laboratory screening, tailored anesthetic protocols, and state of the art monitoring equipment to ensure safety for your pet before, during, and after anesthesia.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an advanced, non-invasive, non-radiating imaging modality that has become commonplace in human medicine, and has rapidly expanded into the veterinary field.

MRI uses a strong magnetic field that aligns protons of the body tissues within the field. A radio frequency signal (RF) is then applied to the field which disrupts the alignment of these protons, after which they return to their original state. The RF signals are collected by a receiver (called a coil) and then transmitted back to a computer, which creates visual images from this information.

These images are easily constructed in axial, dorsal, sagittal and oblique planes for review by the clinician or radiologist. MRI is often performed using an intravenous contrast agent that enables us to better visualize certain structures and abnormalities. MRI yields the highest level of soft tissue detail compared to other imaging modalities. This sensitivity allows for highlighting desired structures or tissues by adjusting settings on the MRI machine.

After being thoroughly examined by one of our doctors, your pet is anesthetized and placed in the MRI. The MRI technician positions the patient and programs the MRI computer for the desired type of study. An MRI study typically takes 30 minutes to one hour to complete, and requires general anesthesia, as the animal must be perfectly still for the duration of the study. The images are reconstructed on a computer console attached to the MRI, then reviewed by our specialists. 

MRIs are performed by technicians who have received advanced education and training in magnetic resonance imaging.

While MRI can be used for imaging a wide variety of body tissues, for most veterinary applications, it is used to image diseases or disorders of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system. It may also be used for imaging of muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Anesthesia or sedation is required to perform an MRI. We use the most up to date and safest anesthetic agents, preanesthetic laboratory screening, tailored anesthetic protocols, and state of the art monitoring equipment to ensure safety for your pet before, during, and after anesthesia.

We are very sensitive to the comfort level of your pet. Patients are vigilantly monitored for comfort (as well as other vital parameters), and a multimodal approach to pain management is used with combinations of safe medications used to allow for as comfortable a recovery as possible.

Depending on the nature of your pet's disease or injury, the diagnostics or treatments performed, and their timing, you pet may or may not need to stay overnight. Our doctor or veterinary nurse will discuss the expected hospital stay during your visit or admission to the hospital. Many surgical procedures will necessitate an overnight stay for monitoring of vital parameters, medication delivery, and ensuring patient comfort.

All patients have round-the-clock care. We always have doctors and veterinary nurses on premises to monitor and care for your pet. No pet is ever left unattended. 

We always allow owners to visit with their pets. Please call and speak with your doctor or nurse so we can coordinate a time that is best for your pet and you. We try to limit visits to twice a day for 15 minutes as to not interfere with your pet’s treatment. It is generally discouraged to visit on a day when your pet underwent general anesthesia as sometimes this can be disruptive to their recovery. 

If you feel there is an extenuating circumstance, please discuss this with your doctor.  

It is best to call after 10 am to receive an update. The doctors are in rounds from 8 am - 9 am every morning. After rounds, every patient is examined by their doctor. If the situation warrants, we will call you before this time.

Yes, you are welcome to bring things from home to make your pet feel more comfortable. Please note, however, we cannot always guarantee the return of these items as they may get soiled, lost or damaged.

In an emergency situation, the priority is for you and your pet to get to CVRC. Once it is determined that your pet is going to be hospitalized, you may bring all prescription medications your pet is currently receiving. We carry most common medications if this is not feasible. Our doctor will determine if these should be continued during your pets stay. 

We have a full range of diets to feed our hospitalized patients. However, if your pet is on a prescription or special diet we will gladly feed that if you provide it for us.

Yes, generally a minimum of 2 weeks is needed to allow incisions to heal.  Additional restrictions will be based on the specific procedure performed.  Please refer to your discharge instructions for specific information.

Many surgical patients are discharged with medications to continue at home. These usually medications to help with patient comfort (pain medications, anti-inflammatory medications), but sometimes antibiotics or other medications are necessary.

It is common for pets to not have a bowel movement for the first 24-72 hours after returning home. However, this is not the case with all conditions so please refer to your discharge instructions.   

The changes in their defecation pattern are often due to a different eating schedule in the hospital and some medications can contribute to this. If you are concerned, your pet seems uncomfortable, or is trying to defecate but is unable (straining) please call us.

It is common for pets that were on IV fluids to have increased urine production. Therefore, they may need to urinate more frequently.. This may last for 24-48 hours. If they are straining or not producing urine, please call us immediately.

This is not normal as most animals will urinate within 24 hours of returning home. If your pet is not urinating, or having difficulty while urinating, please call us immediately.   

Pets sleep cycles in the hospital environment are altered so it is not uncommon for them to be tired when returning home. This may last for 24 hours. If your pet appears listless, unable to ambulate, or you are concerned please call us. 

An e-collar prevents a pet from licking an area we want to protect until it is healed. This may be a wound, irritation or an incision. Please refer to your discharge instructions for specifics.

Generally we remove sutures 10-14 days post placement. Please refer to your discharges instructions for specifics. 

Suture removal is done complimentary for all patients that had a surgical procedure. If further procedures (x-rays, bandage changes, additional diagnostic tests, etc.) or additional medications are indicated there will be applicable fees. 

Consultation with your pet’s surgeon, review of history, full physical examination, and discussion with you will dictate the necessity of physical rehabilitation. Many patients respond very well to physical rehabilitation and have a faster return to function after injury or surgery. We have several certified rehabilitation specialists who collaborate with our surgical team to ensure the best outcome for your pet.

Not necessarily. Dogs and cats have a higher body temperature than people so often feel warm. You can purchase a rectal digital thermometer (doesn’t need to be animal specific) and obtain your pet's rectal temperature. This is the most accurate assessment. Normal temperature for a dogs and cats is 99.5—102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.