Information for Veterinarians

Our Process

Before the visit

  1. Complete the appointment request form. Our simple online form allows you to request an ultrasound, endoscopy or fine-needle aspiration directly.
  2. Schedule an appointment. We will contact you by email or phone within one business day to schedule an appointment.
  3. If possible, please provide us with any relevant lab reports, prior diagnostic images or reports, case histories, clinical signs, and other pertinent information.
  4. Ensure that your client is aware of the process, why we are doing this procedure and any preparations they should make.

Preparing for an Ultrasound

  1. Ensure that patients arrive at your clinic at least one hour prior to their ultrasound appointment. This allows for the patient to acclimatize to their surroundings, for the treating clinician to perform a physical examination, and for the technician team to prepare for sedation.
  2. We recommend and encourage sedation for ultrasounds.
  3. When we arrive, we will perform a full, thorough ultrasound (or other test, as requested), making sure that the relevant system is thoroughly investigated.
  4. Following the procedure, we will meet with you to provide an in-person consultation, discuss the case and determine what next steps could be considered. We try to answer every question you have, so that you can take full advantage of our advanced internal medicine training immediately.
  5. Within that calendar week, we will also provide a custom, fully-written ultrasound report and internal medicine consultation report. All cytology results are submitted through your clinic to ensure you receive any results directly as soon as they are available.

Preparing for an Endoscopy

  1. Endoscopy is a more complicated procedure and requires more extensive preparation.
  2. Clients should be thoroughly instructed in how to prepare their pet for endoscopy, including fasting at least 12 hours before an upper gastrointestinal, bowel cleansing if necessary and stopping certain prescriptions.
  3. Ensure that patients arrive at your clinic at least one hour prior to their endoscopy appointment. This allows for the patient to acclimatize to their surroundings, for the treating clinician to perform a physical examination, and for the technician team to prepare for anesthetic.  
  4. When we arrive, you will prepare and anesthetize the patient, and then we will perform an endoscopy and whatever procedures are needed, including biopsies or removal of foreign objects.
  5. Following the procedure, we will meet with you to provide an in-person consultation, discuss the case and determine what next steps could be considered. We try to answer every question you have, so that you can take full advantage of our advanced internal medicine training immediately.
  6. We can recommend labs to send biopsy samples to, or you may send samples to the lab of your choice.
  7. For diagnostic endoscopies, you will receive an internal medicine consultation report with a discussion of the results, possible diagnoses and treatment recommendations.  This report will be submitted after the lab results are received.

When to Refer

In some cases, patients require more advanced care or diagnostics. There are several situations when we recommend referral directly to a tertiary referral centre:

  • Critical illness or immediate, severe clinical signs that require continuous hospitalization.
  • Illnesses that require advanced imaging (CT, MRI, etc.), such as diseases of the head, neck, or spine.
  • Cases requiring advanced general anesthesia and the services of a board-certified anesthesiologist or surgeon.

We very much welcome and encourage the use of the many skilled specialty hospitals in Southern Ontario. These include:

  1. Kawartha Veterinary Emergency Clinic -- 705-741-5832
  2. Animal Emergency Clinic of Durham Region -- 905-576-3031
  3. Toronto Animal Health Partners – 416-380-7400
  4. Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital -- 416-247-8387
  5. Lakeshore Animal Health Partners -- 905-858-6767
  6. Mississauga-Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital -- 905-829-9444
  7. 404 Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital (Markham) -- 905-953-1933
  8. Ontario Veterinary College (Guelph) -- 519-823-8830
  9. London Regional Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital  519-432-3300

Common Questions

Why do you offer mobile services

We are passionate about the low-risk, high-yield diagnostic utility of ultrasound. Ultrasound is often useful in cases of mild illness, blood work abnormalities, or other situations where hospitalization is not necessary. Ultrasound is a highly mobile diagnostic, as the equipment is relatively lightweight and portable.Although travel to a referral hospital may occasionally be required, we hope to reduce the stress and inconvenience of travel for pets and their families in cases where this is not otherwise necessary.We believe in the importance of a well-informed family veterinarian and are passionate about ensuring that the entire care team is part of the process. We believe that mobile diagnostics help this int

When should I refer directly to a referral centre?

In some cases, patients require more advanced care or diagnostics. There are several situations in which we recommend referral directly to a tertiary referral centre:
- Critical illness or immediate, severe clinical signs that require continuous hospitalization
- Illnesses that require advanced imaging (CT, MRI), such as diseases of the head, neck, or spine
- Cases requiring advanced general anesthesia, and the services of a board-certified anesthesiologist or surgeon

We very much welcome and encourage the use of the many skilled specialty hospitals in southern Ontario. These include:

- Toronto Animal Health Partners (link), North York – phone #
- Toronto Emergency Veterinary Hospital
- Scarborough Veterinary Emergency Clinic
- Toronto Central
- Toronto Veterinary Referral Clinic
- Toronto Mississauga-Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital
- Oakville404 Veterinary Referral Centre
- Newmarket Ontario Veterinary College
- Guelph London Regional Veterinary Emergency
- Referral Hospital, London