Preparing for a sick visit
So your furry friend is not feeling well. Here are a few tips to make their visit to the vet rewarding so they'll get better fast.
1) If your pet is having diarrhea please bring in a small sample. We will want to run some fecal diagnostics and often when pets have diarrhea their bowels are empty and we cannot get a sample.
2) If your pet is having urinary tract problems or inappropriate urination please try to catch a sample in a tupperware container the same day as your appointment and refrigerate it until you come in. PLEASE DO NOT WALK YOUR DOG OUTSIDE IF IT IS HAVING URINARY PROBLEMS. We will often want a sterile sample of urine which requires a full bladder.
3) If your pet is vomiting do not try to feed them but allow access to water. Have in mind when the vomiting started, how many times it has occurred, and the consistency. Depending on their situation we will likely want to run bloodwork or take abdominal x-rays.
4) If your pet is sneezing or coughing please keep them outside until the hospital staff is ready to bring them directly into an exam room. Try not to interact with other animals in the hospital waiting area as upper respiratory infections can be carried on your clothes.
5) If you are unsure if your pet needs to be seen just call and talk it over with one of our technicians. It's usually better to come in and have it be a minor issue than put off veterinary care until your pet is really doing poorly.