Located in the SAVS Facility
What to Expect at Your Visit
Before your visit:
- Obtain referral from primary care veterinarian
- Have primary care veterinarian send your pet’s medical records
- Fill out and email us the new client information form
- Check out our Veterinary Cancer Information page for information regarding your pet's cancer
- Write down questions or concerns to discuss with your veterinary oncologist at your visit
- IMPORTANT! Bring all your pet’s current medications
- FASTING!! Most patients should be fasted prior to their initial consultation appointment. Some diagnostic tests are more accurate in pets being fasted and if any sedation or anesthesia is required for your pet, there is a lower risk of complications if your pet is fasted. Please remove any food for 12 hours prior to the appointment but continue access to water at all times. Please contact us prior to your appointment to discuss recommendations if your pet has a specific medical condition requiring special feedings or medications (ie. diabetes, insulinoma, seizures).
At your visit:
New Consultations:
At your initial visit with your pet, we will discuss your pet’s cancer diagnosis, review any further testing recommendations to obtain more pertinent information about the diagnosis, and offer staging evaluation to determine if your pet’s cancer has metastasized. Based upon this information, we will review all treatment options and work together to develop the best treatment plan for you and your pet. We will also discuss your pet’s overall prognosis to the best of our ability and information available from the diagnostic testing and treatment options selected. Many diagnostic tests are available in our hospital that may be completed the day of your visit, although some will require separate appointment scheduling or be sent to an outside laboratory. During your visit, we will be available to answer any and all questions you may have regarding your pet’s cancer.
Please allow 1-2 hours for initial consultation visits. If further testing or treatment is recommended, we discuss options for performing the testing or treatments the same day (for which you can wait or leave your pet with us for a time period) or you can schedule a separate appointment for these procedures.
Recheck Visits:
Depending on your pet’s specific cancer type, the treatment options selected, and their cancer status, your pet will likely return frequently for treatments and monitoring. Appointments for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other treatments will be scheduled based upon the amount of time required for the specific treatment modality. This also applies for pets needing more advanced diagnostic testing such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or tissue biopsy. Drop-off appointments are available to accommodate your personal schedule which allow you to leave your pet with us for a few hours or for the day. We are NOT a 24-hour hospital, so all pets will need to be dropped off and picked up within our normal business hours.
After your visit:
- All medical records for each visit will be emailed to you and directly to your primary care veterinarian
- We will schedule any follow-up or continued treatment appointments for your pet
- An oncology technician helpline will be available for pets actively undergoing treatment for their cancer. Details will be provided at your appointment
- Contact our office for any questions or concerns during normal business hours
- If you have a veterinary emergency outside of our normal business hours, please contact your primary care veterinarian or the nearest 24-hour veterinary hospital
