What to Expect with your Visit

Appointments are required in order to see the oncology service. If you have not already scheduled an appointment, please call 573-882-7821 and ask for the appointment desk. If any tests or evaluation of your pet have been done prior to your visit here, it is very important to obtain these records prior to your appointment. Recent notes from your regular veterinarian are helpful, and notes on major illnesses or injuries in the past are of interest to us, but a copy of every visit your pet has ever had is usually not needed. We will also ask about your pet’s history of vaccinations and parasite control including heartworm testing and prevention.

On the day of or prior to your visit, you should obtain any radiographs (x-rays) or other images (ultrasound, CT scans, etc.) that have been done on your pet and it is helpful if you can bring the actual images with you in addition to a report of the findings. Laboratory results such as bloodwork and biopsy results also are very important. Please contact Ms. Lisa Boland, our oncology nurse, at the number listed above to coordinate getting these results to our service before your visit. Lisa can tell you where to send or fax the reports if you send them ahead of time. Please do not feed your pet breakfast the morning of your appointment in case procedures requiring sedation are recommended. If this is a concern for you or your pet is diabetic, please contact Lisa ahead of time.

Once you arrive, you must check in at the appointment desk. The receptionists will then page the student assigned to your case. If no one has greeted you within 10 minutes, do not hesitate to ask if the receptionists were able to locate your student caregiver. Once your student caregiver greets you, typically you and your pet will go to an examination room where the student will collect a complete history of your pet’s health. Emphasis will be on the recent history. Questions will include, “When did the problem start?” or “when did you first notice the tumor?” and “What clinical signs is your pet showing as a result of this problem?” and “How has the problem/tumor progressed since it was first noticed?” and “Have any treatments been given? Did they help? Are the treatments still being given?” Additionally it will be important for us to know what your goals are for the day and if you have any limitations on your time.

After the student has collected this information, a physical examination will be performed. Please let us know ahead of time if there are any procedures your pet will resist. Some pets will bite or scratch if an examination or certain procedures are performed and it is in the best interest of your pet and the safety of our student if this is addressed in advance.

When the examination is complete, the student will leave the room and discuss your pet with one of the clinicians on oncology. This typically takes approximately 15 minutes. The clinician will then return with the student, perform their own examination, clarify any questions about the medical information, and discuss a plan of action with you.

Often we request that you allow us some time to perform any needed initial tests such as bloodwork or radiographs (x-rays). We will give you an estimate of the time needed to complete these tests. It is important to understand that as a teaching institution we have many specialty services operating at the same time. Sometimes it can take even several hours to complete these tests because the hospital is caring for many animals at the same time. The first time a pet is seen by oncology, it may take most of the day to complete the needed procedures. You are welcome in almost all instances, to step out and run errands, return to work, or pick up some lunch while you are waiting. It is helpful if we can reach you during your absence (by cell phone or at work, etc.). If you leave, please check in at the front desk when you return. Even if you tell us you will be back at a given time, we may not realize you are waiting until the front desk pages us.

Once all needed tests and procedures are completed, we will meet with you to review the findings and plan further tests or treatments. Sometimes it takes even 2-3 days to gather the needed information to choose the best treatment option for your pet. We will review all options with you and discuss the benefits and risks. It is helpful for some clients to write down questions they have throughout the visit so that each can be addressed when we meet with you. Sometimes surgery is recommended, and an appointment is scheduled for you to return on a separate day to meet directly with the surgery team and admit your pet for surgery.

If there are any clinical trials for which your pet would be eligible, we will discuss them as one of the possibilities. Many clinical trials offer unique and promising new therapies that are not yet available to the general public. In addition, these trials often offer a financial advantage by covering some of the cost of treatment, and the knowledge gained can help many animals for years to come. We only offer trials if we truly feel there is a benefit for your pet. There will be many treatment options for your pet and we will discuss each option and help you choose the best for you and your pet.

The oncology group at the University of Missouri-Columbia is a large team of dedicated individuals. Because we have many duties within the teaching hospital and College of Veterinary Medicine, we do not all see patients all the time. We ‘take turns’ spending time off clinics (not seeing appointments) so that we can teach, publish, do research, etc. Because of this commitment, we can bring cutting edge cancer care to our patients. If you are here more than once, you will very likely see more than one clinician. Please remember that we work as a team and discuss our cases in addition to keeping complete records to provide good continuity of care. In addition, our nurses are always on duty and able to help maintain this continuity. Because we are a teaching institution, students rotate through oncology regularly. Approximately every 2 weeks, usually on Wednesday, we will have a new group of student caregivers. If your pet is here more than once, you will meet many of our talented and compassionate students. Again, we strive for good continuity of care.

If you have any additional questions about your pet’s visit, please do not hesitate to contact either Ms. Lisa Boland, our oncology nurse, or Ms. Debbie Tate our clinical trials coordinator at 573-882-7821.