BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT

PLEASE DO:

....Discuss the referral with your veterinarian prior to calling for an appointment at 605-1610.  Referral through your vet is encouraged but not required. 

....Call us the day before your appointment to verify that we have copies of your pet's medical record.  It is the responsibility of you and your vet to ensure that we have all important information available at the visit.  Missing information at your appointment causes unnecessary delays for you and other clients, as well as incurring additional expense due to the need for retesting in many cases.

....Arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment to complete necessary paperwork, unless you have completed your registration online (links to online registration form on homepage).  We try our very best to stay on schedule, but unfortunately emergencies and late appointments are the primary reasons delays occur.

....Bring your pet on a leash or in a carrier.  We have a small waiting room and our front door is only steps away from traffic.  We also ask that you do not bring along other pets or more than 2 other friends or family members to the appointment, as we are "space-challenged" in our clinic.

PLEASE DO NOT:

....Forget to bring along any recent xrays.  They cannot be faxed!

....Feed your pet for 12 hours prior to the visit unless it has blood sugar problems.  Water is okay.

....Arrive late for your appointment.  Late appointments are a major reason for schedule disruption and delays. 

AT YOUR APPOINTMENT:
  
Please be aware that our office and lobby are small, so dogs must be on a leash and cats in a carrier to ensure their safety.  We usually will direct you into an exam room if available to complete the necessary paperwork.

Timeliness and your wait:
We place very high priority on minimizing any wait time at your appointment.  However due to the nature of our specialty, we see a large number of very sick patients with complicated problems, many of which need to be seen on an emergency basis.  Please be patient, as we know you would want the same attention and care for own your pet.  The next most common cause of scheduling delays are clients who arrive late for their appointment.  This can cause a delay for the entire day, so please be considerate of others and arrive on time for your appointment.

Your pet's exam:
A technician or assistant will obtain your pet's history and vital signs while Dr. Kremer reviews your pet's medical record.  When he is finished evaluating the record, he will come into the exam room to speak with you and examine your pet.  A thorough history is very important - it is often the key to a diagnosis, as well as preventing lots of unnecessary testing, so be prepared for lots of questions!

A few words about safety:
We treat thousands of patients every year and have many, many years of experience, so we are generally very skilled at recognizing subtle (and not so subtle) signs that your pet may exhibit aggression from fear, illness or pain, or the stress of the visit.  While not routine at all, we may wish to place a muzzle over your pet's nose and mouth if we think your pet may bite.  This does not hurt the pet at all and helps ensure our safety and that a complete exam be performed.  Your cooperation is appreciated if we feel the need to muzzle your pet.  

Procedures and policy:
If ultrasound is recommended for your pet, this is generally completed at the initial visit while you wait.  Any procedure that requires anesthesia, such as endoscopy or a biopsy, will need to be scheduled another day after your initial visit.  Just as you would need to see a doctor before an anesthetic procedure is scheduled for yourself, we must evaluate your pet and discuss the procedure with you before scheduling it.

Sorry, pet owners are NOT allowed to accompany their pet for procedures, such as ultrasound.  This rule is in place for many reasons, including liability issues, space constraints in the procedures room, and the simple fact that most pets are actually more cooperative when the owner is not present.  Most pets do not need sedation for an ultrasound, although occasionally sedation is needed for our more anxious patients.

Following the procedure, Dr. Kremer will discuss results with you.  We have a small consultation room where results are often discussed with the owner.