FAQ

Is the Veterinary Neurological Center open during the weekend?

• The Veterinary Neurological Center in Phoenix is open on Saturday from 9:00am-5:00pm and the doctors are on call Sunday for neurological emergencies. Regular office hours are Monday-Saturday from 9:00am-5:00pm.
  
  
• If patients are hospitalized, the VNC provides 24 hour patient care every day of the week. Owners seeking immediate medical care for their pet between the hours of 5:00pm to 9:00am and are unable to go to their regular veterinarian, should contact their local emergency animal hospital.

►Click here to view a list of 24-hour emergency animal hospitals in the Phoenix area.
►Click here to contact the Veterinary Neurological Center.

Where is the Veterinary Neurological Center located?

The Veterinary Neurological Center is located at 4202 E. Raymond St., Phoenix, AZ 85040-1935

►Click here for map and directions

What is a veterinary neurologist?

Click here to search nerologist in vetneuro.com's Glossary

What should I do if my pet is having a seizure?

In order to avoid being bitten unintentionally, do not restrain your pet or place your hands near your pet's mouth. If your pet is having convulsions, it is a good idea to place rolled up blankets or pillows around him/her to prevent injury. Keep track of the type and how long the seizure lasts and notify your veterinarian as soon as possible.

►Click here to learn more about seizures.

Where can I go to learn more about epilepsy?

Click here to search epilepsy in vetneuro.com's Glossary

What should I do if my pet is suddenly unable to use his/her legs?

Have your veterinarian examine your pet as soon as possible. Paralysis or paresis of one or more limbs could be due to many reasons. Intervertebral disk disease is common in many dog breeds and should be treated quickly if surgery is required.

►Click here to view some diseases that could cause paralysis/paresis of one or more limbs.

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My veterinarian has referred my pet to see a doctor at the Veterinary Neurological Center. May I call and speak directly to the doctor before my appointment?

Since your pet has not been examined by a VNC doctor, any veterinary questions/concerns that our client service representatives cannot answer should be addressed by your referring veterinarian. Your referring veterinarian may call and consult with a VNC doctor prior to your visit.

How far in advance must an appointment be scheduled?

A patient can usually be seen within 1 or 2 days after calling to schedule an appointment. Neurological emergencies are seen as quickly as possible, often the same day. In all cases, the referring veterinarians should call prior to the client scheduling an appointment.

►Click here to view the VNC's referral process.

Should I withhold food, water and medication from my pet prior to the appointment?

In the event that diagostic procedures are recommended, all patients should be fasted for 12 hours prior to the appointment to avoid alterations in blood samples (e.g. lipemia) and anesthetic complications due to nausea, vomiting or aspiration of food. Small amounts of water may be provided to avoid dehydration. If your pet is diabetic, consult with your veterinarian about feeding prior to the appointment. Your referring veterinarian should advise you as to whether or not you should continue giving any current medications.

What should I bring to the appointment?

1. All of your pet's medical records, history, and current bloodwork should be sent with you or faxed/emailed to the VNC by your referring veterinarian as soon as possible.
2. Radiographs (if applicable). These will be imported into our digital imaging system and returned to you at the time of your appointment.
3. Current medications
4. Payment for the examination (and possibly a deposit for testing/treatment)
5. Your pet. The VNC doctor must physically examine your pet to accurately assess the problem and determine which course of action will best help resolve the problem.

How long will the appointment take?

The typical appointment generally lasts about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Recheck appointments usually take less than 30 minutes.

Can I drop my pet off for the appointment and pick him/her up later?

We require that the pet owner be present for the entire examination in order to properly discuss your pet's history as well as to make medical and financial decisions regarding your pet's health.

What happens if my pet has to be admitted to the hospital?

You will be presented with an estimate for services. A 50% deposit for testing/treatment is required prior to your pet's admission. Your attending VNC veterinarian will be in contact with you throughout the period that your pet is hospitalized. Please search the Diagnostics and Treatment sections of the website to learn more about the VNC's services.

Can testing be completed on the same day as the appointment?

Yes. Diagnostic testing requiring anesthesia can often be performed the same day as your appointment. Many pets can be discharged by the end of the same day. However, overnight hospitalization may be required depending on the severity of the problem and the time of day your pet was admitted.

How will my veterinarian know what happened at this appointment?

The VNC doctor will contact your veterinarian. If hospitalization is required, your veterinarian will recieve a fax or email referral summary. The summary will include the findings, test results, treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis.

My pet was seen in your office several years ago and is exhibiting some of the same signs. Do I need to be re-referred?

Yes. Many non-neurological conditions can have signs that are similar to neurological signs. In order to verify that it is indeed a neurological problem, it is best for your veterinarian to examine your pet prior to scheduling an appointment at the Veterinary Neurological Center.

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Will my pet be safe under anesthesia?

Routine anesthesia is generally safe but there is always an inherent risk when patients are administered general anesthesia. However, this risk can be significantly reduced. Prior to anesthesia the doctors at the Veterinary Neurological Center perform a thorough physical examination and review the patient's history and bloodwork for signs of systemic problems that could possibly lead to anesthetic complications. If a particular problem warrants further investigation, the procedure could be rescheduled until a systemic problem (or possibility of one) is resolved. Also, the doctors and technicians at the Veterinary Neurological Center are skilled in anesthesia monitoring and take great care in every patient anesthetized.

►Click here to learn more about Anesthesia Monitoring at the Veterinary Neurological Center.

When may I visit my pet?

Please call and speak to one of our client service representatives. They will coordinate a time that is both convenient for you and does not interfere with your pet's treatments.

Should I report my pet's seizures to the VNC?

Yes. We maintain a seizure calendar and log on each patient who sufffers from seizures. Every time a seizure is reported, the neurologist will review the patient's file, look for patterns, assess medication dosages and possiblly adjust them in order to optimize the patient's treatment. Clients may contact the VNC or use the online Seizure Report to notify their VNC doctor(s) about the details of an episode.

Do I need to pick up all prescribed medication for my pet from the VNC?

No. Many of the medications we prescribe can be filled by your local pharmacy. We can fax a prescription to them or you can fill out a Prescription Refill Request online. Occasionally, a prescription will need to be compounded at a special pharmacy.

My pet has not had an epileptic episode in over a month. Should I discontinue anticonvulsant medication?

No. Never abruptly discontinue an anticonvulsant medication without your veterinarian's approval.

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What are your fees?

The initial neurological examination and consultation with the VNC doctor is $229. Based upon the examination, the neurologist may then recommend diagnostic testing. The cost of veterinary care will vary depending on the care your pet needs, the length of stay and other medical concerns, such as age or other condtions your pet may have. At the time of your visit, our doctors will discuss the best treatment options for your pet's condition. We will provide you with a detailed estimate for your pet's care. Our goal is to work with you to provide the best quality care for your pet at a reasonable cost. Prior to any services being rendered a deposit, 50% of the estimate, will be required. Payment for the remaining balance is necessary upon discharge.

►Click here to learn about the neurological examination at the VNC.

Do you accept payment plans?

Yes, we accept PaymentBanc payment plans and provide a variety of other options for payment:

• Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express
• Care Credit
• Check (in-state)
• Money order or Cashier's check
• Cash

For additional financial resources, click here.

What is Care Credit?

Care Credit is a low interest credit card specific for health care services. A client can call Care Credit for pre-approval (1-800-333-1071) or apply online at www.carecredit.com. Applications may also be completed at our offices and funds used immediately, if approved. Care Credit card holders can choose between repayment plans from 3 months at no inerest up to 5 years at low monthly rates.

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What is the primary purpose of this website?

1. To provide an overview of the services that the Veterinary Neurological Center offers to owners, their pets, and referring veterinarians. Guests will quickly be able to navigate throughout the website to gain an overall understanding of the VNC.
2. To provide detailed information about veterinary neurology in general. Guests seeking such information will find links throughout the website that provide elaboration on veterinary-related words and topics.

Is there an easy way to learn more about the neurological terms that are on the website?

Yes. Many terms (underlined by a dashed line) found throughout the website are linked to definitions in the Glossary.

• Clicking on the link below the definition will provide further information by linking to an outside website.
• Clicking on a Related Word at the bottom of a definition will link to other terms within the Glossary.
• Guests may easily find the Glossary from any page by selecting it from the Quicklinks menu or by navigating to Resources>Glossary.
• Searching for a particular term can be found by navigating to the Category List of either the Glossary page or Neurological Signs & Diseases page. The categories are:
  • Anatomy
  • Signs/Problems
  • Disorders/Diseases
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Miscellaneous
• Many of the complex terms in the Glossary are organized and explained in the Neurology Overview.

Is there a page which would help provide a basic understanding of veterinary neurology?

Yes. Located in the Resources section of the website, the Neurology Overview provides information about how the nervous system works, an outline of neuroanatomy and neurological terms, and classification of neurological diseases. This umbrella of introductory neurological information will provide guests with the basic tools to process more complex concepts found throughout the website.

Acknowledgements:

There are several individuals who have contributed to our website. In particular, Tony Romano who captured many of the excellent content pictures visible throughout the website and the group from Playerocity.com (James, Jared, and Michael) who provided many hours of guidance and patience during the design of www.vetneuro.com. Thank you to James and Ridge for your excellent designing and helpful guidance through the redesign of vetneuro.com

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