The inital physical examination is the time when we will get to know you, your animal, and the history behind your animal’s problem. If your pet is ill, it would be helpful if you could provide us with the following information as it applies to your animal:
- What methods have been used in the past to help your animal’s illness and in addition what has and has not worked.
- What drugs ,herbs or vitamins and food products you animal is using or has used in the past. If you still have the bottles, bring them in with you to your appointment
- If your animal has diarrhea, bring in a teaspoon sized stool sample no more than 4 hours old. If it’s urinating inappropriately, try to collect a free catch of urine using a pie plate or bread dish. Refrigerate the sample in a sealed container and try to bring it with you, or submit it within 24 hours of collection.
- If your animal has been vomiting, please note the rate, duration, and consistancy.
- The medical records from your previous veterinarian(s) who may have done some very valuable diagnostic work ups. This information includes but is not limited to radiographs or ultrasound reports,blood tests and other internal diagnostics. It helps our Dr’s. to better serve your pet’s needs if they have as much information as possible on your furry friend.
If you are a new client, please arrive 15 minutes prior to the examination time so you have time to provide us with pertinant information and allow us to put your medical file together. Prior to your appointment with the doctor, our well trained nursing staff will weigh your pet, take a heart rate, respiration and temperature as well as an intensive history.
If your dog or cat has the tendency to attack, bite, scratch or just generally maul vets, we would greatly appreciate being informed previous to the staff’s interaction with your patient. If you feel your dog needs a muzzle, increased physical restraint, or sedation, please let us know and we do what is your pets best interests as well as our own.
LIST OF THINGS TO REMEMBER FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT:
- Arrive 15 minutes early
- Medical records
- Radiographs
- Cat Scans and MRI’s
- Blood work
- Stool or urine samples (if needed)