WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT

Receipt of referral form from the referring veterinarian

The clinic will receive a form from your veterinarian detailing the pertinent information about the client they wish to refer as well as the history of the patient. The referral form will ask which department, and in some cases, which doctor, they wish their client to see.

This form may be mailed or faxed. In some instances, the veterinarian may choose to send the form, along with X-rays or other information, directly with the client to the appointment.

Owner calls to schedule consultation appointment

It is helpful if the referral form has already been faxed by your veterinarian when you make the appointment. This will help the receptionist schedule you with the appropriate department (i.e. surgery, medicine, cardiology). If the referral form has not yet been sent, this is not a problem. Consider asking your veterinarian which department or doctor they would suggest.

All incoming new patients will likely be recommended to be NPO prior to the initial consultation in preparation for any procedures. This involves no food usually after 8pm the night before the procedure and no water the morning of the appointment.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A SURGICAL CONSULTATION

Initial consultation appointment

1. Doctors will perform a full physical examination on each patient and obtain a detailed history of clinical signs as well as previous diagnostics and treatments.
2. Recommendations are then made for any surgical procedures.
3. Certain procedures may be scheduled for the same day; others may be scheduled for a date in the future.
4. An itemized written estimate is generated and discussed with you.

Post-operatively

1. The majority of surgical patients recover in the ICU unit where a technician is available 24 hours/day for monitoring and medication administration.
2. You will be contacted daily with patient updates.
3. You will receive detailed at-home instructions upon discharge.

Recheck appointments

1. Recheck appointments are scheduled when your pet is discharged
2. Some patients may require sedation at the recheck appointment. Please feel free to ask at the discharge appointment if sedation will be required at future appointments.
3. It is usually recommended to have sutures/staples removed 10-14 days following the surgical procedure. This may also be scheduled at the time of discharge.