Have you ever heard of veterinary specialty hospitals? Has your veterinarian recommended that you take your pet to one of these facilities, or are you looking into the possibility on your own? If any of this is true, you may find yourself wondering what to expect from this type of veterinary facility, and you’re not alone.
In the article below, we’ll walk you through the basics of information you need to know about veterinary specialty hospitals. This information can help you choose whether or not this type of vet is right for you and your pet. If you have any questions, feel free to call Veterinary Specialties Referral Center in Pattersonville at (518) 887-2260.
Acute Treatments
One of the most common uses of a veterinary specialty hospital is the treatment of acute problems. These problems may include injuries, sudden severe illness, or worsening of known conditions, among others. They can affect any pet at any time.
On arrival, your pet will be triaged. This means that they will be examined thoroughly by nurses and it will be determined whether or not their situation is life-threatening.
Life-threatening situations will be responded to first, followed by those that are severe but not necessarily life-threatening. Therefore, it can take some time for your pet to be seen for an acute problem.
In this way, a veterinary specialty hospital can function like an emergency room for humans. Some of these facilities are open 24/7 to make it even easier for them to offer prompt medical care for pets who are dealing with a sudden and unexpected crisis situation.
Once your pet has been called back, they will go to an examination room and will receive an exam as well as any treatments you choose to move forward with. The nurses and doctor will make their rounds and talk with you about options for your pet.
Pets who must be held for a long time in the hospital may have visitation hours during which their human family members can stop by to see them. Check with the hospital in question to find out whether or not they offer this for you and your pet.
When your pet is ready to be discharged, you will receive an ongoing care plan which you will need to follow at home. You’ll also need to schedule an appointment with their regular vet within a few days so they can be checked out and updated by the vet.
Ongoing Management
Another purpose of specialty veterinary hospitals is ongoing management, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic health conditions. Pets may be referred to hospitals so they can have specific lab work performed, undergo CT scans, or have an MRI, among other procedures. These diagnostic procedures are some of the most common performed by specialty vet hospitals.
Additionally, pets may need to undergo an ultrasound or video scoping to diagnose certain health conditions. These facilities may offer these types of imaging tools as well, and they will work with your vet to determine the underlying cause of your pet’s health problems.
Pets may also need more invasive procedures to be performed at the specialty hospital. These may include laparoscopic surgeries, ventilator use, and spinal taps, among others. Just like a hospital for humans, a veterinary specialty hospital is ready and prepared to perform any and all of these procedures at a moment’s notice.
Of course, these hospitals can also provide ongoing treatments such as chemotherapy for pets who have cancer. If your pet has cancer, you will likely be referred to a specialty hospital for treatments, and you will likely work with an on-site oncologist to manage your pet’s cancer and related health problems as well.
Finally, some types of therapeutic treatments may also be offered at specialty vet hospitals. These may include laser therapy, physical therapy, and hydrotherapy. Your pet may be treated as an inpatient or an outpatient, depending on the type and frequency of the treatment needed.
For the most part, if you’re wondering how a veterinary specialty hospital works for ongoing condition management or diagnoses, think of how a human hospital works. These locations are very similar to their human counterparts and function in just about the same way, too. You can expect similar processes at a specialty vet hospital.
Contact our Veterinary Specialty Hospital
Now that you know a little bit more about veterinary specialty hospitals, you can determine whether or not to take your pet to one of these locations. Of course, you might still have questions, and if you do, that’s okay too. You can always call us at (518) 887-2260.
As always, make sure you work with a trusted regular vet when it comes to decisions about your pet’s health and wellbeing. This way, you’ll be sure to have the best possible medical recommendations for your furry friend.
