The Referral Process
PRIOR to SURGERY
Step 1: If you feel that your pet has an orthopedic issue, please schedule an appointment to have your family veterinarian examine them, and perform any diagnostic tests that are necessary. In addition to a physical examination, radiographs and recent blood work are often necessary to determine a diagnosis and rule out other illness(es) in your pet.
Step 2: Your vet will submit a referral reqest to ROVRS for your pet, along with their medical record and any diagnostic testing that has been performed.
Step 3: Upon receiving your pet’s referral request, the ROVRS team will contact you within 1 business day to discuss the next steps and schedule a consultation with Dr. MacDonald (our sugeon). If additional testing is required either before the consultation or before surgery, the ROVRS team will instruct you or your vet accordingly.
Step 4: Once Dr MacDonald has examined your pet, she will discuss your pet’s condition and possible treatment options with you. We will provide an estimate of the anticipated costs of the procedure at the time of consultation. If and when you have decided you would like to proceed with treatment, our ROVRS team will schedule your pet for their procedure or whatever treatment you have elected to pursue.
Step 5: Prior to surgery: Our team will provide more information about surgery and will send reminders via email and text. This will include instructions about fasting, and medications.
DAY OF SURGERY
Admission: If not already signed, CPR instructions and your consent form will be provided and signed for. We will need to know all medications and times of administration. Please note that we will supply food for your pet, but if they have specific allergies, we can accommodate using their own food as long as it is cooked. We do not allow RAW food in the hospital.
A deposit of 80% of the high end of the estimate will be required, with the remainder due at the time of discharge.
Keeping you informed: We will send you a message by phone or text when your pet is going into surgery, and again once they are recovering from anesthesia. Dr MacDonald will call you after the procedure is complete and update you on how everything went with your pet.
Recovery: Your pet will likely stay overnight following surgery, under the care of our overnight team of doctors, technicians and assistants, to ensure that they are comfortable, calm, and receive all necessary medications. Most patients are ready for discharge to their families following day.
FOLLOWING SURGERY
Discharge: A discharge time will be scheduled for your pet when Dr. MacDonald calls with the post-surgical update. Preliminary discharge instructions for your pet will be emailed to you that evening, so that you can read them and make notes of any questions you may have.
By 9am on the morning after surgery, our team will update you on how your pet did overnight and confirm their discharge time.=
The discharge instructions provided by Dr. MacDonald will be reviewed with you by a ROVRS team member at the time of your pet’s discharge, or over the phone if that is preferable or more conducive to your schedule.
A recheck appointment for your pet will be scheduled at the time of their discharge.
FOLLOW-UP FOR YOUR PET
3-5 days after surgery discharge: The ROVRS team will reach out to you to see how your pet is recovering.
Day 10-14 after surgery discharge: This is your first recheck appointment with Dr. MacDonald and the ROVRS team.
Weeks 6-12 after surgery discharge: A recheck examination and radiographs (xrays) will usually be scheduled for your pet, to ensure that they have healed well prior to allowing them to have any unrestricted activity. If radiographs are necessary, your pet will require sedation. The ROVRS team will instruct you on fasting and any medications that should be given prior to this appointment.
Please note: For clients and patients who are unable to return to Calgary for follow-up, we are happy to work with your family veterinarian to ensure that your pet is recovering well.
If at any time, you are concerned about your pet during recovery, we encourage you to call us at (825)-855-ROVR (7687), or email us at info@rovrs.ca. If you have urgent / emergent concerns after 5pm, we encourage you to contact the emergency team at Fish Creek Pet Hospital directly at (403) 873-1700.