If this is your first time visiting us, please arrive 10 minutes early so we can have plenty of time to prepare your pet’s medical record.
A Few Things To Remember
- Dogs must be on a leash, and cats must be in a pet carrier. This is for everyone’s safety, pets and people.
- Please bring any vaccination and medical records that you have on your pet. If you cannot locate these, bring along your previous veterinarian’s name and phone number, and we will be happy to call and find them for you. You can also have your previous veterinarian fax the vaccine records to us at (720)208-0621. If you call our receptionist before your appointment with any tidbits of information regarding the last place of vaccination, we would be happy to do that research for you!
- Please be able to provide the name of the food you are feeding your pet and the names of any supplements or prescriptions they are taking if not previously scripted by our office.
- You are advised to bring a fresh stool sample (within the same day) so that we can make sure your pet is free from internal parasites. Our hospital’s protocol is to run a parasite screen yearly to help protect your family and your pets from diseases that can, in some cases, be passed from pets to people.
IF YOUR DOG IS COUGHING OR SNEEZING, PLEASE DON’T BRING THEM INTO OUR WAITING ROOM.
Upper respiratory diseases are very contagious, especially in dogs! Feel free to call us from your cell phone and let us know you are here or leave your dog in the car with the window cracked (briefly) if it’s a cool day to tell us you’re here. Once the waiting room is free of other dogs, we will bring your dog directly into the examination room. Thank you for understanding!
During your visit, the Dr. may ask questions such as:
- Do you have any concerns regarding your pet?
- What type of food (brand) does your pet eat?
- Any vomiting or diarrhea? Coughing or sneezing? Any change in your pet’s thirst?
- Does your dog take heartworm preventative?
- Does your cat ever go outside?
Your pet’s annual veterinarian examination will include a “nose to tail” inspection of all body systems. Small dogs and cats will be put on the examination table, while large dogs are often examined on the floor. We will look into your pet’s eyes, ears, and mouth. The Dr. will examine your pet’s coat, palpate your pet’s abdomen, and listen to their heart and lungs. We will feel your pet’s joints and assess their body weight. What may look like a “doggie massage” is also our way of searching for any lumps or bumps. The examination by a veterinarian is one of the most essential aspects of your pet’s health care!
After the exam, the Dr. will discuss any findings with you and review options and recommendations. Here are some possible scenarios:
- Your pet is very healthy, and the doctor will then discuss which vaccinations are indicated to keep them protected and healthy.
- Your pet is slightly overweight, and the doctor talks to you about ways to reduce calories to help your pet lose some weight.
- Your pet shows some evidence of dental disease, and the doctor may talk to you about home care options or a dental cleaning.
- The doctor noticed a lump and may recommend a Fine Needle Aspirate. This simple procedure involves putting a tiny needle into your pet’s lump and submitting the cells for cytology. The cytology (reading of the cells) often can tell us what the lump is and whether or not it should be removed.
- If you have a senior pet, the doctor may recommend senior bloodwork to ensure all organs are functioning well.
These are a few possible scenarios to give you an idea of what to expect. You are involved at every step of the process! We will never treat your pet or do any diagnostic work-up without your approval. Before any testing, we are always more than happy to provide you with a written treatment plan so that you know the costs before we begin.
If you have any questions along the way, please ask!
Remember, We’re Here to Show You How to:
- Clean your pet’s ears
- Trim their toenails
- Brush their teeth
These demos are free of charge!