As an outpatient, referral-based specialty center, all of our patients are referred to us from their family veterinarian. Your veterinarian has referred you to our center because they are looking to determine what may be causing your pet to be ill, the extent of disease, or for pre-surgical imaging. Veterinarians also refer to us when their feline patients need treatment for hyperthyroidism.

Your veterinarian trusts in the expertise of our radiologists to use advanced imaging techniques such as Ultrasound, MRI, CT, and Nuclear Medicine in order to “look inside” your pet. Our radiologists perform the imaging and then report any findings and treatment recommendations to your veterinarian so that you can decide together what steps to take next in your pet’s care. Outpatient specialty centers are commonplace in human medicine, and our goal is to offer this same level of quality care for pets.

Your family veterinarian and the radiologists at VICSD are both Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVMs). This requires four years of veterinary college in addition to an undergraduate degree, as well as becoming licensed both at the state and national levels.

The radiologists at VICSD are a type of veterinary specialist, meaning that they’ve chosen to concentrate on a particularly defined area of veterinary medicine. Becoming a veterinary radiologist requires an additional four years of specialty training, including an internship and residency. All of our radiologists are board-certified, meaning that they have passed further tests and training requirements imposed by the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR).

Your veterinarian is responsible for the primary and preventative care of your pets. Most advanced imaging procedures performed by our radiologists fall outside the scope of general veterinary care. Your family veterinarian and the veterinary radiologists at VICSD work together to offer the best care for your animals.

All patients must be referred to us by their family veterinarian. Upon physical examination of your pet, as well as laboratory tests and X-rays in some cases, your vet will determine whether your pet requires attention from a specialist. If your veterinarian believes that your pet could benefit from the proficiency of a veterinary specialist, they will begin to discuss referral options. Ask your veterinarian if outpatient imaging from VICSD is an appropriate option for your pet.

It is important for your pet’s health to maintain regular checkups with your veterinarian. Be sure to disclose as much information as possible about your pet’s behavior, eating habits, overall health, and more. If your pet is acting out of the ordinary, always call your veterinarian. In order for an animal to qualify for outpatient imaging at our center, they must be in stable condition.

It is very important that we are shared on the entire medical history of an animal before they come to VICSD, which is maintained by the family veterinarian. We also require that an animal be examined by their family veterinarian before they are referred to our specialty center, as we do not offer general veterinary services. A referral from your veterinarian is in the best interest of your pet’s health, and also helps us to know more about him or her so that we can achieve the most accurate diagnosis possible.

The way that the referral process for our outpatient center works is very similar to human medicine. In order for you to receive a referral to a specialist, you must first be examined by your family doctor. Your doctor knows your medical history, has observed your clinical signs, and will recommend you see a specialist if they deem necessary.

Veterinary radiology is a type of medical specialty that allows for visualizing the inside of an animal through the use of imaging in order to both diagnose and treat disease. Our radiologists rely on X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI, and Nuclear Medicine technology in order to view inside an animal’s body. All services performed at our hospital are non-invasive and do not cause any physical pain to the animals.

To learn more about how we use veterinary radiology at our center, visit our imaging services page, talk to your veterinarian, or give us a call at (858) 634-5430.

 

Our center is not equipped for emergency cases. If your pet is in a critical state, please call your family veterinarian to determine the best course of action for your pet. Depending on the severity, your veterinarian will have you come to their hospital or refer you to the nearest emergency facility.

If your pet comes to our center, their time spent here varies depending on the type of imaging being performed. Some procedures also require that your pet be fasted, or that certain medications are discontinued, and more. To learn more about what to expect, look through our imaging services, talk to your veterinarian, or give us a call at (858) 634-5430.

When calling around to different hospitals, it’s a good idea to be as thorough as possible when price shopping. A simple question such as “How much do you charge for an MRI?” can produce a wide range of answers between hospitals. One reason for this is that what is included in the base price—such as anesthesia administration and monitoring—varies from hospital to hospital. Always be sure to ask what is included in the price and what additional charges there might be. For example, our I-131 Therapy package is $1,100, which is an all-inclusive flat rate. Elsewhere, you might be quoted a lesser amount but the fee might not include any pre-treatment screening or hospitalization.

We currently accept Visa, Mastercard, cash, check, and Care Credit.