Although we are happy to deal with all patients and conditions we cannot see pets and their owners directly. We are a specialist referral hospital and all our patients have to be referred by veterinary surgeons. If you would like to have your pet examined or treated at NDSR all you need to do is to discuss this with your regular veterinary surgeon who will be happy to arrange this if appropriate.

The reasons for referral are various. In some cases your vet has made a diagnosis but feels the patient would benefit from treatment by a specialist who is more familiar with the condition. In some cases your vet has been unable to make a diagnosis and feels a specialist opinion is necessary. Sometimes a case requires specialist facilities to make a diagnosis or treat a condition which are not available in routine practice.

To help assess your pet it is important the specialist has the previous history, test results and radiographs relating to your case. Your vet may send these directly to us or ask you to bring them with you. Unless your pet is diabetic or less than 12 weeks old, your pet should not have food after 9pm the evening before the appointment. Water should only be withdrawn on the morning of the appointment. This allows us to start tests on the day that require fasting such as certain blood tests. Also your pet may need sedation or anaesthesia for certain diagnostic tests or procedures.

The specialist will take a thorough history of your pet’s problem from you. They will then perform a full physical examination of your pet and review the tests already performed by your veterinary surgeon. Based on the findings they will discuss the possible causes of the problems, further investigations required and possible treatments. The specialist will also give an estimate of costs involved in the initial investigation and treatment. You will be able to ask further questions and can decide if you wish to proceed with further investigation. Consultations last from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the type of problem you have been referred for.

The majority of patients referred to cardiology, ophthalmology and dermatology or seen for re-examinations are seen on a day patient basis. For most services patients will be hospitalised. This allows close observation and monitoring which can be helpful in diagnosis and treatment. Patients will commonly be admitted for 24-48 hours for routine investigations, treatment and surgical procedures. During your pet’s stay the specialist will keep you updated daily on any changes in your pets condition or test results. You are free to call us daily after 10 am for updates from the nursing staff dealing with your pet.

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If your pet is hospitalised for a period of time then we are happy to arrange visiting where it would be beneficial to the patient. In certain circumstances we will advise against visiting where it would cause distress or interfere with a quiet recovery. Visits are by prior arrangement with the nursing staff who will book a specific time for the visit.

The costs involved in advanced investigations and treatments can be substantial. The specialist will give an estimate of the costs during your consultation. Medical investigations and treatment can be unpredictable and deviations from the estimate can occur. We will try to keep you updated and you are welcome to obtain a daily update from reception. We accept cash, cheques or most major debit and credit cards as payment. Accounts must be paid in full when your pet is discharged from the hospital.

As soon as your appointment is booked it is advisable to contact your insurance company and inform them you have been referred to a specialist. You will need two claim forms; one for your own vet to claim for any treatment already given and a second for us to complete for treatment given by us. You will need to bring the form with you when you settle your account in order that we can ensure your claim is processed and forwarded to your insurance company rapidly.

Although we will submit your insurance claim form to your insurance company we cannot make direct claims unless they have preauthorised the payment prior to the appointment. If you wish to have a claim preauthorised you should contact us prior to the appointment as the process can take several days. It is your responsibility to check your policy limits and exclusions before your appointment. There are in excess of 400 different pet insurance policies and we are unable know the specific details of each policy.