Veterinary referrals are an important component of the veterinary system. They provide pet owners with access to specialist care for their beloved animals. They are the go-to experts when it comes to advice, diagnosis, treatments and more. With their deep knowledge and experience, vets provide invaluable services that help keep pets healthy and happy.

Overview of Vet Services

Vet services are essential for all pet owners, providing routine care and medical attention when needed. General care vets provide a broad range of services including: vaccinations, parasite control treatments, nutrition advice, wound management, minor surgery, preventive care to diagnostics including blood tests, imaging scans and clinical pathology to name just a few. Other important services include dental care, behavioural advice and end-of-life support. These can help prolong quality life for affected animals as well as improve their comfort levels when they reach the end stage of life.
More specialised services such as orthopaedic surgery or specialist imaging may be referred to veterinary hospitals with specialist staff and equipment. Some veterinary hospitals provide 24/7 emergency services so pets can receive the best possible care if they become ill or injured during off-hours. These 24-hour centres often have specialist vets on staff.

Vet Referral Process Explained

A vet referral is a redirection from one veterinarian to another, usually for a specialised treatment or procedure. Referrals are typically between general practitioners and specialists that have an additional range of qualifications or expertise in treating specific animal conditions. Knowing how the referral system works can save pet owners time and money in seeking medical care for their animals.

The first step of the referral process is to call your local vet clinic and explain why you need to make a referral appointment. Your vet may ask some questions about your pet’s health history or current symptoms before providing a referral recommendation. If your vet decides a referral is necessary, they will provide you with information on which specialist hospital or clinic they would prefer their patient be referred to.

Once you have decided on which specialist clinic to refer your pet to, it is important that the relevant paperwork be filled out completely and returned promptly so that appointment times can be confirmed in advance.

When veterinary services are referred, they should be provided with relevant clinical notes and records on the patient’s condition so that the specialist can make an accurate assessment. In addition to this, X-ray images or other laboratory results may also be required to establish a diagnosis or determine the best course of action. Once all the necessary information has been collected by the specialist, they will provide their opinion on what steps need to be taken next based on their professional experience and knowledge in treating animals.

Advantages of Vet Referrals

Referring pets to veterinary specialists has become an increasingly common option for pet. Referrals offer many advantages compared to traditional methods of care and treatment, particularly when a pet’s condition is complex or difficult to diagnose.

The benefits of referring pets to specialists can include access to advanced diagnostic tools that may not be available at local clinics, such as CT scans and MRI machines. This allows the specialist to more accurately identify the underlying problem and recommend appropriate treatments, often leading to improved outcomes for dogs and cats. Specialists also tend to have extensive experience with specific conditions which can lead to quicker diagnosis and more effective therapy plans than would otherwise be possible with general practitioners.

Veterinary specialists have deep knowledge about specific areas such as surgery, dentistry, dermatology, cardiology, oncology and internal medicine. They also use advanced diagnostic tools such as X-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans to identify potential health risks that may not be detected by regular vets. As a result, pet owners can rest assured that their furry friends will receive the highest quality health care available from qualified professionals in their field.

Vet referrals are an important part of ensuring that the best possible care is provided to animals. By referring patients to specialist vets, general practitioners can provide a higher standard of service for their patients. Referrals also help improve collaboration between different veterinary disciplines and create a more integrated system for delivering care.

Admissions: 7.30am – 8.30am

Your pet has been referred and booked in for an ultrasound. Please read the following information so you know what to expect on the day.

It is important that all food is with-held from 9.00pm-10pm the night before admission. In some instances, fasting is not appropriate, if this is the case with your pet then we will discuss this with you prior to the day. If your cat is not usually around in the mornings, it might be a good idea to keep them inside the night prior to the ultrasound. Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.

On the day of the ultrasound, drop off can be anytime between 7:30am and 9:00am. There will be a short admission conversation with a nurse to go through how your pet is going currently, if your pet requires any medications in clinic, a discussion in regard to sedation and the risks associated and when to expect your pet to be ready to go home.

If you are unsure if your pet should have their morning medications prior to admission, please bring them with you for us to administer in clinic if required. If your pet has been dispensed pre-sedation, you can administer this with a small amount of food if needed and ensure the admission nurse is aware of the time it was given.

Abdominal Ultrasounds

Once admitted, your pet will have a full physical exam performed by a vet/nurse to ensure your pet is safe for a sedation. A sedation plan is made individually for your pet. An intravenous catheter will be placed to administer sedation. Sedation or low dose pain killers and relaxants are used rather than a general anaesthesia. Your pet will then be placed on a comfy bedding on a table on their back. In order to obtain a high quality diagnostic image, their hair will be clipped from the back of their rib cage to just in front of their back legs. A nurse will then closely monitor their heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and temperature during the ultrasound and necessary interventions made to ensure the safety of your pet during their ultrasound.

If indicated and deemed safe by the ultrasonographer, a fine needle aspirate (FNA) may be taken. The ultrasonographer will use the ultrasound to guide a very fine needle into the point of interest to collect cells to send to an external laboratory for cytology. Serious complications after fine needle aspirations are rare, bleeding from the site of the FNA can occur. We monitor your pet closely after an FNA is taken by checking their vital signs are stable throughout their recovery. When the ultrasound is complete your pet will be placed in a recovery cage. Your pet will be fed once they have fully come round from any sedation. If your pet is on a special prescription diet, please bring some with you.

Cardiac Ultrasounds

Once admitted, your pet will have a full physical exam performed by a vet/nurse. Your pet will then be administered a light sedative so they aren't too stressed when restrained on their side for the ultrasound. Your pet will have a small shaved patch behind their elbow.

Once your pet has recovered from their sedation, a nurse will call to arrange a pick up time. This is usually early afternoon but can be later if there are a lot of cases on the day. We do get busy so please don’t hesitate to call us for an update if you haven't heard anything from us. Your pet should be kept inside and quiet for the rest of the evening after a sedation.

The ultrasound report will be sent to your referring vet clinic on the day of the ultrasound. Your vet knows your pet best, and will discuss the ultrasound report with you and make a plan in light of this and other results. Therefore, when you collect your pet, unfortunately we will not be able to talk about any findings with you. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions.