Tips for Vet Visits
Make an appointment and be on time. In case of emergency, please call ahead so we can plan for when you come in.
Have your dog on a leash and your cat in a carrier. We never know how many pets will be waiting. Keep your pets under your control, and safe.
In the exam room, answer the doctor's questions truthfully. Don't tell us Fluffy never goes outside, only to mention she's always coming in with ticks and burrs in the next breath. Either she goes out or she doesn't. And don't say she never leaves the deck, especially when it's obvious she's been hit by a car. Unless your deck has been ripped from the back of your house, I'm not going to believe that she never leaves the deck. So, 'fess up. I'm not the cat police.
If we ask if Fido eats people food, don't say no only to later mention how you adorn his dog food with leftovers and gravy. Leftovers and gravy is people food. Fido is a dog. If Fido is sick, we especially need to know this. Now is not the time to pretend you're Mr. Perfect Dog Owner. And when Fido pukes up the sausages and biscuits, I'll know you're lying anyway.
If Fido runs loose in the neighborhood, in violation of the leash law, we need to know this too. If Fido is sick, we need to know if it's possible he raided the neighbor's trash, ate the dead deer entrails in the woods, or could have lapped up some antifreeze.
If you are new to our clinic, bring your previous records. This requires a bit of advanced planning, but is essential. In this day and age of HIPPA laws and confidentiality, many places won't give US the records without YOUR authorization. So get them before you come.
If you have any money concerns, let us know. We will happily give you an estimate (at our clinic we give them ALWAYS). We won't work for free, but we can pick and choose what tests to run first. If your pet is very sick, there may be no way we can shave the bill.
If you decline tests and elect minimal treatment (often against our advice), don't call us every hour to demand to know what is wrong with your pet and when he/she will get better. If you don't authorize tests, we don't know the answers. They don't hand out crystal balls upon graduation from vet school, nor do they give them to us when we get our licenses. I doubt you'd want me to pull out my kid's magic 8 ball, but that's in effect what you are asking.
If you tie my hands behind my back, I really can't help you. Pet's can't talk, so unless their problem is very obvious, we usually need to do a few tests to find out what's really going on.
If you don't like what I have to say, you are welcome to try the specialty practice up the street. Heck, we consult with them regularly on complex cases and refer them when pets need 24-hour care.
Trust me when I say that we vets WANT TO HELP YOU and YOUR PET. Make our jobs a little bit easier by being helpful, cooperative, and informative.
And don't forget the checkbook. The landlord won't waive the rent because we love animals.
Have your dog on a leash and your cat in a carrier. We never know how many pets will be waiting. Keep your pets under your control, and safe.
In the exam room, answer the doctor's questions truthfully. Don't tell us Fluffy never goes outside, only to mention she's always coming in with ticks and burrs in the next breath. Either she goes out or she doesn't. And don't say she never leaves the deck, especially when it's obvious she's been hit by a car. Unless your deck has been ripped from the back of your house, I'm not going to believe that she never leaves the deck. So, 'fess up. I'm not the cat police.
If we ask if Fido eats people food, don't say no only to later mention how you adorn his dog food with leftovers and gravy. Leftovers and gravy is people food. Fido is a dog. If Fido is sick, we especially need to know this. Now is not the time to pretend you're Mr. Perfect Dog Owner. And when Fido pukes up the sausages and biscuits, I'll know you're lying anyway.
If Fido runs loose in the neighborhood, in violation of the leash law, we need to know this too. If Fido is sick, we need to know if it's possible he raided the neighbor's trash, ate the dead deer entrails in the woods, or could have lapped up some antifreeze.
If you are new to our clinic, bring your previous records. This requires a bit of advanced planning, but is essential. In this day and age of HIPPA laws and confidentiality, many places won't give US the records without YOUR authorization. So get them before you come.
If you have any money concerns, let us know. We will happily give you an estimate (at our clinic we give them ALWAYS). We won't work for free, but we can pick and choose what tests to run first. If your pet is very sick, there may be no way we can shave the bill.
If you decline tests and elect minimal treatment (often against our advice), don't call us every hour to demand to know what is wrong with your pet and when he/she will get better. If you don't authorize tests, we don't know the answers. They don't hand out crystal balls upon graduation from vet school, nor do they give them to us when we get our licenses. I doubt you'd want me to pull out my kid's magic 8 ball, but that's in effect what you are asking.
If you tie my hands behind my back, I really can't help you. Pet's can't talk, so unless their problem is very obvious, we usually need to do a few tests to find out what's really going on.
If you don't like what I have to say, you are welcome to try the specialty practice up the street. Heck, we consult with them regularly on complex cases and refer them when pets need 24-hour care.
Trust me when I say that we vets WANT TO HELP YOU and YOUR PET. Make our jobs a little bit easier by being helpful, cooperative, and informative.
And don't forget the checkbook. The landlord won't waive the rent because we love animals.
posted by Dr. Snark @ 5:49 AM
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