• Before making an appointment with our specialists, you must request a referral from your pet’s primary veterinarian. He or she may call us or use the referral portal system available on our website. 

NOTE: ***A referral is not necessary if seeing our emergency service***

• Please ask your primary doctor to fax/email your pet’s records prior to the appointment and/or bring a copy of all pertinent information [e.g. records, radiographs, blood test results etc].

• We recommend fasting your pet for 12 hours prior to the appointment to avoid interference with certain diagnostics [e.g. certain types of bloodwork, abdominal imaging etc]; however, pets with certain conditions [for example, diabetes mellitus, history of low blood sugar or very young] should not be fasted. Please call us prior to the appointment if you have any questions/concerns about fasting your pet.

• The internal medicine veterinary assistant will first greet you, collect vitals on your pet and ask some routine health questions.
• The internist will then perform a detailed physical examination, listen to your concerns, ask additional questions and discuss the next steps.
• We pride ourselves in timely communication with your pet’s primary doctor and will call them the same day of the appointment with an update and send paperwork within 24 hours.
• If diagnostics are sent to outside laboratories, we will call you with results as soon as available and reviewed.
• We will always have your pet best interest at heart and may refer you to another hospital if a particular diagnostic modality or treatment option is recommended but currently not offered at Skyline Veterinary Specialists & Emergency (for example, advanced imaging such as CT with contrast, MRI).