Appointment Types

Two types of vet visits

In an effort to alleviate confusion and frustration when scheduling appointments or when additional appointments are required to address concerns or problems despite presenting for a wellness visit, we would like you to understand the distinction between the two types of visits.

Routine Annual or Biannual Wellness Visits: 

This is a visit for routine wellness and preventive care of a dog or cat who appears healthy, or who has stable problems that are currently under regular management. The focus of this appointment is the maintenance of optimal health. The following will be performed:

• We will ask you questions about your pet's diet, exercise, thirst, breathing, behavior, habits, elimination patterns (i.e., bowel movements and urination), lifestyle, and general health.

• We will perform a thorough physical examination of your pet. 

• Based on your pet's history and physical examination, we will then make recommendations for specific preventive medicine treatments such as vaccination, parasite control (including preventive treatments for fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, and heartworm), nutrition, skin and coat care, joint health, weight management, or dental care, depending on your pet’s needs. 

• The appropriate vaccinations will be administered, and blood may be drawn (patient permitting) for heartworm and infectious disease screening, as well as potentially medication monitoring or wellness screening.

• In addition, we will discuss as needed your dog's individual circumstances and decide whether any other life-stage or lifestyle recommendations would be appropriate.

Non-routine Visits:

This is a visit to discuss illness, injuries, or behavioral concerns in depth. The focus of this type of visit is to get more information, or history, of the presenting problem and to develop a diagnostic and treatment plan. The following may be performed:

• We will ask questions related to the specific problem or behaviors.

• We will perform a thorough physical examination of your pet, paying special attention to areas of concern.

• Based on your pet's history and physical examination, we will then make recommendations for specific diagnostic tests that can help us in diagnosing the problem at hand. 

• Medications may be prescribed and/or recommendations made to aid in addressing the concerns.

• Blood, urine, skin testing, or other samples may be submitted to the laboratory.

• Follow-up recommendations will be made based on the exam and lab findings.

While your pet’s veterinary care team may be able to initially address some concerns in the course of a wellness visit, typically these require additional time in order to fully address the problem at hand. As such, we may recommend a follow-up visit for concerns presented at wellness visits.

New Client? Read our new client information page and call us to book your first appointment.