Did you know that there are a few simple ways to ensure that you and your pet get the most value out of each veterinary visit?
Follow these tips from our team and you’ll keep routine veterinary visits as smooth as a sphynx cat and as happy as a labrador with a lick mat!
Know your pet’s history
It’s always best if your pet is accompanied by someone who knows that pet’s history well, including their recent eating, drinking and toileting habits, their parasite control routines, any known health issues, and the names of any medications they may be on. This information will help us to make the most appropriate treatment recommendations for your pet.
If their primary caregiver can’t accompany the pet, it’s usually most efficient if the caregiver writes down the above information for the vet to read through at the visit (rather than trying to sync up a phone call), along with a confirmation of the intended purpose of the veterinary appointment.
Request longer appointments if appropriate
As we usually run on a reasonably tight schedule, it’s important to let us know at the time of booking if you would like to discuss more than one health concern in your pet, so that we can book a longer appointment if required.
Whilst we always want to address any concerns you may have about your pet’s health, if you book a standard appointment and then mention multiple issues, we realistically may not have time to address each problem as thoroughly as we would like.
Collect relevant samples
If your pet is unwell, bringing along appropriate samples for testing can help us to make a more rapid diagnosis. A poo sample obtained within the last 12-24 hours can be useful if your pet is suffering from diarrhoea, whilst a urine sample (obtained on the morning of the appointment) can provide useful information in pets showing urination or drinking changes, or as part of a general health check.
Here we’ve got a handy tip for you: there is no need to refrigerate the samples. Sometimes refrigeration kills the bacteria we are looking for. However, make sure the samples are kept in a watertight container to prevent evaporation. This helps avoid any misleading results, such as false crystal formation.
We understand that handling these samples might not be the most pleasant task, yet it’s vital for your pet’s best care. We truly appreciate your effort!
Train your pet for veterinary visits
From the youngest possible age, try to practice “examining” your pet daily, whereby you check their teeth, open their mouth, handle their paws, lift their tail etc, with frequent treats given to reward calm behaviour.
This will help to ensure they are comfortable with general veterinary handling and procedures, which makes each visit smoother and more pleasant for everyone involved!
Extra help for anxious or uncooperative pets
If you know that your pet tends to show very anxious or uncooperative behaviours in veterinary situations, it’s best to mention this at the time of booking.
Depending on your pet’s particular tendencies, we can then adjust our approach to better support their needs and keep everything low-stress. This may involve measures such as:
- A longer appointment so we can take things slowly
- Examining your pet outside the clinic
- Pre-appointment calming medications or sedatives for your pet
- The use of a comfortable muzzle so we can safely handle your pet
If you have any concerns about veterinary visits for your pet, please have a chat with our team. We’re here to help!
