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No, while information from your referring veterinarian is helpful, it is not a requirement to be seen.
Your initial neurologic exam and evaluation is $195. If after this the neurologist recommend that higher level imaging is recommended (MRI or CT) this would be between $3,000-$4,000*. This price would include the imaging itself, the anesthesia, any pre-anesthetic blood work the doctor feels is necessary, any radiographs the doctor feels are necessary, and a spinal fluid tap and testing of the spinal fluid. If after the initial exam and evaluation the neurologist recommend some other form(s) of diagnostics, an estimate specific to those recommendations would be compiled for you.
*Prices evaluated annually and subject to change. Call the hospital at 573-882-7821 for the most up to date cost estimate.
We work constantly to shorten the wait for our clients and apologize for the delay to get an appointment. If you ever perceive that your pet is experiencing a neurologic emergency, please call us and we would be happy to evaluate the situation and make appropriate recommendations. If you are concerned about your pet, but uncertain if this is an emergency, please have your primary veterinarian consult with the neurologist on duty to determine the most appropriate appointment time. As ever, we appreciate your patience.
You should bring any medications your pet is taking in their original bottles. As long as you have provided the name and contact information of your referring veterinarian, comprehensive records will have already been requested prior to your pet’s appointment. Please do not bring toys, blankets or bones/chews. We avoid putting anything that might be a choking hazard in cages with pets. All bedding is changed frequently, so it is likely that your personal blankets could be incorporated with hospital laundry and lost to you if you leave them. Thank you for understanding.
Although it is unlikely your pet would be going under general anesthesia at their initial appointment, sometimes sedation may be warranted to perform radiographs or other diagnostics. We recommend you not feed your pet on the morning of the appointment, but your pet may still have water available.
We do not perform any same-day MRIs unless it is an emergency. At your pet’s initial exam and evaluation by the neurologist, their condition will be evaluated and recommendations on how best to proceed will be made from there. If what is recommended by our neurologists involves an MRI, this will be scheduled for the following day or soon thereafter.
Generally, our appointments are two-day appointments; the first day is spent evaluating and examining your pet, and sometimes performing minor diagnostics such as blood work and radiographs. If you would prefer to stay in Columbia overnight, you’re more than welcome to do so, there are many hotels to choose from.
If an MRI is planned for the following day, most owners elect to leave their pets here in the hospital overnight. However, it is completely up to the owner if they would prefer to take their pet to a hotel in town or drive their pet back home and return to the hospital the next morning.
No, our neurologists need to examine and evaluate your pet before any higher-level imaging can be recommended and performed.
Our hospital works with a finance company to allow clients an option if they would like to apply for a credit line. Please call us ahead of time to alert us of this possibility so that we might put you in touch with the cashier’s office for more information.
This depends on the nature of your pet’s condition. Occasionally surgery will need to be delayed to allow for surgical planning or additional diagnostics if the condition is somewhat more involved. In addition, if the procedure is relatively simple and can be handled as an outpatient procedure, we may set up a time when you can drop your pet off with us in the morning to allow us to do the procedure and send them home later that same day. However, most commonly, if your pet is dealing with a spinal condition such as IVDD, surgery will immediately follow your pet’s MRI. The neurologist handling you pet’s case will be able to discuss this with you more following you pet’s initial examination.
All major surgeries are completed by the attending board-certified faculty or residents. The faculty and residents perform clinical duties on a rotational basis. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to ask during your appointment.
This depends on the condition your pet is presenting for and the type of surgery it may need. After your pet’s initial exam, the neurologist will be able to give you a better idea of what to expect from your pet’s hospital stay. However, for the majority of spinal surgeries, an average hospital stay of five to seven days post-op is expected.
Absolutely. We cannot allow visitations the day of surgery because we will want them to rest quietly after their procedure and seeing you may get them overly excited. But we typically can allow visitations starting the day after surgery and will provide a quiet room for you to spend some time together.
