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 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 less than 1mm in size. 

Our 16 slice, GE Optima 520 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 visualize and diagnose 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.

CUSA stands for cavitronic ultrasonic surgical aspirator. Charleston Veterinary Referral Center is one of a limited number of veterinary hospitals to have one and it is among the advanced technologies that we use to improve the quality of life of our patients. it is the same equipment used by human hospitals to perform delicate neurosurgery, including the removal of brain and spinal cord tumors. 

The idea of neurosurgery is very stressful for pet owners, and rightfully so. With CUSA, procedures can be performed with increased precision, giving the surgeon and the patient a greater advantage.

Depending on the nature of your pet's 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 dogs and cats is 99.5—102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.