Did you forget your pet's baby book? Is that dog beside you a suspect for Parvovirus? What will you do to your puppy who just vomited on your newly car washed auto?
Generally, there are two major types of visits in your vet’s office:
Wellness Visit
If you’re visiting to have your pet’s vaccines and dewormings done, this is called a wellness visit.
Checkup Visit
If your pet needs to be checked up, collected with blood, receive treatment, confined, or undergo a surgery, this is a checkup visit.
If you want to jump to the 15 tips for your checkup visit, scroll down faster.
15 TIPS FOR YOUR WELLNESS VISIT
#1 Double Check
Check your pet’s due dates by browsing through its most recent vaccination card. For dogs, you have to take note of the last dates of its Rabies shot, 5-in-1 shot, deworming, and heartworm shot. For cats, simply Rabies, 4-in-1 shot, and deworming.
#2 Walk-in or Appointment?
Call your vet’s office to know their arrangements and how the current pandemic will influence your consultation. Request for a range of price that you may possibly pay, payment options, and how long will you stay at the hospital.
#3 Advanced mag-isip
Write down questions that you want to ask your vet about your pet, and the stuff that you need to buy once you are there
#4 Arrange your Pet Travel Kit
Vaccination Card
Previous prescriptions
Previous laboratory tests
Travel crate
Diaper
Leash and collar
Plastic bag for poop
Pet wipes
Alcohol
Towel
Treats and food
Water and bowl
First aid kit
Face mask and face shield for yourself
(Best if most of the items above are in a bag)
#5 Arrive early
If you have an appointment, be there 15 minutes early to secure a good parking slot. If you’re walking in, ask the receptionist the best time to come.
#6 Wait patiently
If the waiting area is full, wait at your car. Be sure you have notified ALL the receptionists that you have an appointment or verified that your name is at the waiting list, and to call you at the car for your turn.
#7 Is your seatmate a Parvo pup?
Make sure your pet is leashed or inside a secure crate while you make your way through the common spaces. There are incidents when pets get injured by dog attacks at the common area. If you are staying at a common area, do not allow other people or pets to go near your pet. Remember that you are in a hospital where sick animals go. With sick it may mean an infectious viral disease or a non-infectious disease such as allergy. Better be safe. If you feel that the pet near you is an infectious case, ask help from the staff.
#8 Clean and safe
Before you place your pet on the floor, table, or weighing scale, ensure it is clean. You never know if the prior user had some disease. If it is unsanitary, call the staff’s attention or clean it on your own. If you need to use the rest room, ask a staff member to watch over your pet. Do not leave it unsupervised.
#9 Say hello!
Your vet may had seen a dozen patients before you, so be a human being and say hello! Practice kindness and courtesy. Nobody wants to talk to an arrogant, over demanding and know-it-all pet parent. Don't forget to state your main purpose of visit (updating of shots/deworming)
#10 Bring out your notepad
State your other concerns (checkup or consultation) from number 3 plus request the following: ear cleaning, nail trimming and facial hair trimming (may have additional costs). Remember to take notes as your memory may not be a reliable source of information at times.
#11 Before leaving
Before you leave, request for a follow up slip. Ask the vet to write down all the next visits for the next 12 months. Asking your vet if they also offer emergency services late at night and the fees involved is also helpful.
#12 Shopping!
Present your to buy items list at the cashier and let them do the shopping for you, or give it while you wait in the vet’s office
#13 Give thanks
Thank the staff before you leave, and provide feedback when necessary.
#14 Next visit?
At home, save your follow up dates on your phone’s calendar and paste the follow up slip at your mirror (or at a place where you’ll see it daily).
#15 Disinfect
Keep the travel kit at a safe place, and disinfect the crate with LYSOL® after washing it thoroughly.
15 TIPS FOR YOUR CHECKUP VISIT
#1 Q&A
Know why your pet needs to be seen by a licensed veterinary professional.
Answer the following:
Problem:
Start of problem:
Frequency of problem happening in a day or week:
Emergency or not an emergency:
What you think it is:
What you want to happen after your vet visit:
#2 Walk-in or Appointment?
Call your vet’s office to know their arrangements and how the current pandemic will influence your consultation. Request for a range of price that you may possibly pay, payment options, and how long will you stay at the hospital. If this is an emergency, ask if they can reserve a slot for you before you arrive.
#3 Advanced mag-isip
Write down questions that you want to ask your vet about your pet, and the stuff that you need to buy once you are there
#4 Arrange your Pet Travel Kit
Complete your Basic Pet Travel Checklist:
Vaccination Card
Previous prescriptions
Previous laboratory tests
Travel crate
Diaper
Leash and collar
Plastic bag for poop
Pet wipes
Alcohol
Towel
Treats and food
Water and bowl
Pillows and blanket (if for confinement)
Thrash bag
First aid kit
(If your pet will be confined, ensure that you have labelled your pet’s stuff with its name and your surname. Bring a large black garbage bag too with a label for the staff to dispose any secretion-stained pet item that you checked in, that you don’t want them to throw away.)
#5 Arrive early
If you have an appointment, be there 15 minutes early to secure a good parking slot. If you’re walking in, ask the receptionist the best time to come.
#6 Patiently wait
If the waiting area is full, wait at your car. Be sure you have notified ALL the receptionists that you have an appointment or verified that your name is at the waiting list, and to call you at the car.
#7 Is your seatmate Lepto+?
Make sure your pet is leashed or at a secure crate while you make your way through the common spaces. There are incidents when pets get injured by dog attacks at the common area. If you are staying at a common area, do not allow other people or pets to go near your pet. Remember that you are in a hospital where sick animals go. With sick it may mean an infectious viral disease or a non-infectious disease such as allergy. Better be safe. If you feel that the pet near you is an infectious case, ask help from the staff. If you feel your pet has an infectious disease, politely push away all pets and humans that will come near you.
#8 Clean freak
Before you place your pet on the floor, table, or weighing scale, ensure it is clean. You never know if the prior user had some disease. If it is unsanitary, call the staff’s attention or clean it on your own. If you need to use the rest room, ask a staff member to watch over your pet. Do not leave it unsupervised.
#9 Say hello!
With your vet in front of you, discuss your answers from number 1.
Your vet may had seen a dozen patients before you, so be a human being and say hello! Practice kindness and courtesy. Nobody wants to talk to an arrogant, over demanding and know-it-all pet parent.
#10 Don't forget
State your other concerns from number 3 plus request the following: ear cleaning, nail trimming and facial hair trimming (may have additional costs)
#11 To admit or not to admit?
Wait for the vet to finish his or her physical exam and recommendations.
If you agree with the recommended procedures, treatment or laboratory work, ask for a quotation.
If you feel you can not afford everything, ask for an alternative and plan for a next visit to perform the other recommendations.
Before you leave, request for a follow up slip. Ask the vet to write down all the next visits for the next 12 months. Asking your vet if they also offer emergency services late at night and the fees involved is also helpful.
If you will leave your pet for confinement, it is handy if you present the nurse with:
- Your preferred mode of update (Viber, call, e-mail, etc) and contact details
- Items and quantity of your pet’s stuff that you’re leaving
- Instructions on how to feed your pet
- Times for poop and pee
- Information that will help the staff to take care of your pet the way you want them to
#12 Checkout
Present your to buy items list at the cashier and let them do the shopping for you, or give it while you wait in the vet’s office. Do not forget to tell the cashier to send you a daily running bill if you are living your pet behind
#13 Gratitude
Thank the staff before you leave, and provide feedback when necessary.
#14 Remember, remember the 5th of November
At home, save your follow up dates on your phone’s calendar and paste the follow up slip at your mirror (or at a place where you’ll see it daily).
#15 Clean freak 2.0
Keep the travel kit at a safe place, and disinfect the crate with LYSOL® after washing it thoroughly.