How Veterinarians Refer a Patient to Animal Dermatology Group

Updated

Veterinarians can refer a patient to Animal Dermatology Group (ADG) through the Refer a Patient option on animaldermatology.com, or by using the Veterinary Referral Portal for online case submission. Before referring, confirm that a specialist clinic is convenient for the client by checking the Find a Clinic location list, and decide whether the case also needs Dermatopathology (biopsy/histopathology review) or Immunotherapy services. The site does not publish the portal's required fields, turnaround times, or fee terms, so those details should be confirmed directly with the receiving clinic.

The referral pathways ADG lists for veterinarians

ADG's navigation separates its audience into Pet Owners and Veterinarians. Under the veterinarian side, the site lists:

  • Refer a Patient — the referral entry point for general practice veterinarians.
  • Veterinary Portal — an online portal for referring clinics.
  • Dermatopathology Services — specialist review of skin biopsy and pathology samples.
  • Clinical Support FAQ — guidance for referring clinicians on working with ADG.
  • Immunotherapy — a service line relevant to allergy cases that may follow a dermatology workup.

The site describes ADG as a veterinary dermatology specialty company whose board certified dermatologists treat pet skin conditions, with clinics across many U.S. states. That geographic spread is the main practical constraint on a referral: the client must be able to reach a listed location.

Step-by-step referral workflow

  1. Identify the case type. Confirm the patient needs dermatology specialty care (for example, chronic or recurrent skin disease, ear disease, or suspected allergic skin disease) rather than a primary-care workup. If a biopsy has already been taken or is planned, note that Dermatopathology is a separate service line on the site.
  2. Choose the receiving clinic. Use Find a Clinic and the All Locations list to select the site closest to the client. ADG lists locations by state, including multiple clinics in California, Texas, Florida, and other states, so pick the specific city rather than the state alone.
  3. Submit the referral. Use Refer a Patient or the Veterinary Referral Portal from the veterinarian section of the site. The site does not document the exact form fields, so have the patient's history, current medications, and prior diagnostics ready to attach or summarize.
  4. Check clinical support questions. If you are unsure what records or sample handling the specialist expects, consult the Clinical Support FAQ before submitting rather than after.
  5. Tell the client what to do next. The client-facing path is Request an Appointment; the site also lists Pharmacy and FAQ for pet owners. Direct the client to request the appointment at the chosen clinic and mention the referral.
  6. Verify receipt. Because the site does not state portal response times, follow up with the selected clinic if you have not heard back within a reasonable period.

What to prepare before you submit

The site does not publish a required document checklist, so treat the following as practical preparation rather than an ADG requirement:

Item Why it matters for a dermatology referral
Prior treatment history Shows which therapies have already failed or partially worked
Cytology, skin scrapings, cultures Avoids repeating basic diagnostics at the specialist visit
Biopsy samples or slides Relevant if Dermatopathology review is requested
Medication and diet list Supports the allergy and immunotherapy assessment
Client contact details Needed for the clinic to schedule via Request an Appointment

Points that commonly cause friction

  • Referring to a state, not a clinic. ADG lists many cities within a single state; the referral should name the specific location so the client is not sent to an inconvenient site.
  • Assuming the portal is the only route. The site presents both Refer a Patient and the Veterinary Portal; use whichever the receiving clinic confirms it monitors.
  • Confusing dermatology consultation with pathology review. Dermatopathology is listed as its own service, so a sample review request is not the same as booking a clinical appointment.
  • Expecting published timelines or fees. Neither is stated on the site; confirm scheduling and any cost questions with the clinic directly.

Choosing between the referral routes

Use Refer a Patient when you want the standard referral path and the client will book through the clinic. Use the Veterinary Referral Portal when your practice prefers to submit case information online and track it from your side. If the case hinges on tissue interpretation, ask the receiving clinic whether Dermatopathology should be arranged alongside the appointment. In all cases, the Find a Clinic list is the first check, because a referral only works if the client can realistically travel to a listed location.