Preparing Pets for their Veterinary Appointment

Dogs

•  Please keep your dog in a carrier or on a leash while at the clinic.  This is for the safety of your own pet, in case they got loose or if they encountered an unfriendly dog or cat in the lobby or parking lot.
• If your dog has a favorite treat or toy, bring that along!  Having something familiar and positive with them will do a lot to reduce stress.
• If you have any questions for the veterinarian or staff, write it down.  We will go over a lot during your appointment, and it is easy to forget what you wanted to ask.
• To save time during your visit, request medication refills (and heartworm and flea prevention) at the front desk before your appointment.  Our receptionists will get those together for you during your appointment. 
• If your pet is coming in for a medical issue, please ask if there are any special instructions.  Some examples are below:
  • Urine problems – we will need a sample so please don’t let your dog go outside before coming into the clinic
  • Ears – do not use cleaner in the ears prior to the visit.  We often sample the ears to test for infection.
  • Vomiting/Diarrhea – bring in a fresh fecal sample when you come if possible.  We understand that is gross.  It is extremely helpful with diagnosis, especially if we are unable to get a sample at the clinic. 

Cats

• Set carrier out a few days in advance when possible.  This gives them time to adjust to the carrier being out before they get put into it. 
• If your cat is nervous or stressed about being in the carrier, try using a product like Feliway to calm them in the carrier.
• If your cat is food motivated, you can offer them treats or pieces of food while they are in the carrier as positive reinforcement. 
• It may not seem like much, but it can help a lot to put one of your worn t-shirts in the carrier with the cat.  Being near your smell can help alleviate fear. 
• Once you arrive at the clinic, try to keep your pet under your chair and away from high trafficked areas, especially if there are dogs nearby. 
• Cats seem to prefer small spaces during the exam, and often we can do most of the exam with them in their carrier by just taking the top off.  We also have scales that they like to lay in and another popular hiding place for them in our exam rooms is the sink!  Not the easiest place to do an exam though! 
• Clients are often very surprised at how easy it is to get their cat back into their carrier once we are done with the exam.  They just want to get away from us and happy to crawl back into safety if it means going home!

Our mission is to provide high quality, compassionate veterinary care with a personal touch.  We strive to maintain a friendly and comfortable environment for pets and owners and are committed to building strong, respectful, and honest relationships with our clients.  Through teamwork, we are dedicated to ensuring the best care possible and treating pets as if they were our own.  Call us today if you need to get your pet on tick prevention this spring, 217-529-4499!