OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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After checking in with our front desk receptionist upon arrival, a veterinary student will escort you to an examination room, gather a history from you about your pet and perform a physical examination. Once the student’s initial evaluation has been completed, they will present their findings to the doctors on the case which will include a board-certified veterinary internist as head of service and a resident or intern. The doctors and student will discuss your case as a team and rejoin you in the examination room. Students will be involved in the discussion about how to best move forward with your pet’s care; however, all final medical decisions will be overseen by the board-certified veterinary internist managing the clinical service, in conjunction with you. Please note that we try our best to perform diagnostic tests, which may include laboratory tests and imaging, on the day of your appointment, but these tests, and advanced imaging or endoscopic procedures, may be scheduled on another day based on availability.
Because we are a teaching hospital providing state-of-the-art treatment for complex medical issues, your appointment will likely take longer than a typical veterinary office visit. Your initial appointment will take at least two hours for your initial assessment. However, be prepared to spend a half to a full day at the hospital to complete added testing and procedures. Future recheck visits are often shorter but depends on the needs of your pet and the hospital schedule.
The Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital provides your pet with the best possible care while training students and future veterinary specialists. In addition to internal medicine services, our hospital offers surgical, critical care, cardiology, oncology, diagnostic imaging, and anesthetic services. Our hospital is staffed 24/7 with veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians to best care for your pet throughout the day and night.
Veterinary Students: Veterinary students complete four years of focused training in veterinary medical school (3 years of intensive coursework and 1 year of clinical rotations) in addition to 3 to 4 years of college prior to veterinary school. During the year of clinical rotations, students are in the teaching hospital learning how to work with animals and their families to determine the best care with the support and supervision of specialty trained veterinarians. Upon graduation, veterinary students earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.
Interns: Interns have graduated veterinary school and are pursuing an optional additional year of training after earning their degree. These veterinarians are receiving more in-depth training in a variety of specialties (including internal medicine) to become more proficient practitioners or enter a residency program. Interns at the teaching hospital manage clinical cases under the close supervision of specialized faculty and residents.
Internal Medicine Residents: Residents are veterinarians who have been accepted into an internal medicine residency program. Residency programs are 3 years of intensive training in the diagnosis and management of a diverse internal medicine diseases including, but not limited to, diseases of the urinary, intestinal, musculoskeletal, and respiratory tracts. Internists also diagnose and treat infectious diseases as well as disease of the pancreas, liver, and immune systems. Residents manage clinical cases under the close supervision of specialized faculty and residents.
Veterinary Technicians: Veterinary technicians are essentially the registered nurses of veterinary medicine. Our hospital employs professional, licensed veterinary technicians to assist with client communication, scheduling, student teaching, and patient care.
Board-Certified Internal Medicine Specialists: Board-certified internists are veterinarians who have completed a residency program and passed an examination to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Using innovative technology, our internists are trained in several specialized procedures including biopsy and cytologic evaluations, endoscopic procedures (rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy , cystoscopy, and colonoscopy), and minimally invasive procedures including ectopic ureter laser ablation and stent placement.
Our costs are comparable to private practice specialty clinics; however, medical needs can vary according to an animal’s illness or injury. Please be advised it is not possible for our veterinarians to determine the cost of diagnosing and treating your pet until after the initial evaluation appointment. The initial evaluation is approximately $200-250. There are additional costs associated with emergencies. The initial evaluation includes a physical examination and discussion with a veterinarian regarding additional diagnostic testing and treatments. Once you have agreed to a plan, you will be provided an estimate of the charges. It is important to discuss future estimated costs of your pet’s medical treatment with the veterinarian in charge of your case. If your pet is admitted to the hospital for diagnosis or treatment, a deposit of half the high end of the estimate will be required prior to service. The estimate may be updated as we progress through your case and depending on the need of your pet. If it becomes apparent that the cost of your animal’s treatment will exceed the original estimate, it is our policy to notify you. If you elect to continue treatment, an additional deposit may be required.
Clients who need medication refills must allow us 48 hours (during regular business days) to refill or call in a prescription to a compounding or general pharmacy. Urgent refill requests will incur an additional fee.
Our hospital does not stock prescription dog or cat foods. You may be provided with a food sample depending on your pet’s medical condition. If your pet is to continue on a prescription diet, we can provide a prescription for you to purchase the food from your veterinarian or website.
Clinical trials explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective for patients. Our clinical trials follow strict scientific standards set by the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) which are defined through state and federal law to protect patients and help produce reliable study results. It is important for owners to know their pet’s involvement makes a difference in the advancement of medical knowledge, and the data from their pets’ involvement will live on to support future veterinary patients.
If you are interested in a clinical trial, we need to have your veterinarian contact us with a referral to make sure their pet would fit trial criteria.
Once a patient is enrolled in a clinical trial, the study time points/appointments are very specific and cannot be changed unless the study coordinator or investigator have been consulted first. Some of the trials require the owner to fill out questionnaires about their pet’s health/activity in addition to a take home journal. Because clinical trials require commitment and dedication from owners, most of our clinical trials have either monetary or serviceable discounts.
Your participation in clinical trials is entirely voluntary and you may withdraw your pet at any time. If a pet is withdrawn from the study for any reason (client or investigator decision), data already collected may continue to be used for research purposes.
Please visit our clinical trials page for more information and to learn about current research studies or clinical trials available at Oregon State.
You can either contact the veterinary clinic directly for an appointment or be referred through your primary veterinarian. Your primary veterinarian can do a physical exam and initial testing that will determine if a referral is necessary. If so, the veterinarian will contact us with referral information and an appointment can be made.
The referral process allows your pet’s regular veterinarian and the specialists at the veterinary teaching hospital to work together to provide optimum care. To work as a team, communication is crucial, and it often begins even before the appointment is scheduled. Your regular veterinarian can call us to discuss your pet’s case and decide if a trip to our hospital is warranted, as well as which specialty is best equipped to deal with your pet’s issues. Your veterinarian will email or fax your pet’s medical records before your visit or send paper copies along with you. By having these records on hand, we can avoid repeating tests than have been performed recently unless there is a valid need to do so.
Communication continues after your pet is seen at our hospital. We notify your veterinarian about our initial findings and plans. If your pet remains hospitalized, your veterinarian will be given regular updates on its progress. When it is time for your pet to go home, we typically call your veterinarian. In addition, we send copies of the same discharge instructions we provide to you to their office.
This teamwork often continues well after your pet has returned home. We are glad to work with your veterinarian during your pet’s recovery and continued care, even for chronic diseases. Although some recheck examinations might need to be performed at our hospital, often your local veterinarian can examine your animal and discuss the results of those visits with our specialists. A collaborative approach and open communication help our specialists become familiar with the case and keeps your regular veterinarian informed with the care and treatment of your pet.
Please ask reception for a flier on pet friendly hotels in the area, options for grocery stores, and a map of the Corvallis area.
Please contact the Small Animal Internal Medicine service if you have any questions following your appointment with us. We try to provide a high-level of information and detail in the Visit Summary (discharge instructions), so please refer to that document. When you call or email the Small Animal Internal Medicine service with a question, please allow 1 full business day for a reply.
At this time, our hospital does not have a designated walk-in emergency service. In case of an emergency, please contact your local pet emergency clinic immediately. Please alert the emergency care team that your pet is undergoing care with the Small Animal Internal Medicine service. The emergency care team can contact us for questions or concerns regarding care of your pet related to their diagnosis. After your pet has been seen by an emergency clinic, please request that all records from the visit are sent to the OSU Small Animal Internal Medicine service.
During business hours (Monday-Friday) and some weekends, we offer limited emergency services for our current patients. Please call our front desk to inquire whether we can accommodate an emergency appointment. If not, we can direct you to the nearest pet emergency clinic for care.