| Here's a description of the typical process encountered by pet
owners when they are referred to Hale Veterinary Clinic.
1.
Your vet calls Dr. Hale
Your veterinarian has detected an oral or dental concern with
your pet and feels a referral to a veterinary dental specialist is called for. Your
veterinarian will be calling Hale Veterinary Clinic shortly to explain the situation and introduce you
and your pet. Then Dr. Hale will be expecting a call from you.
2. Preliminary questions
When you call, Dr. Hale or one of the registered
veterinary technicians (RVTs) will answer as many of your questions as
possible, but in general terms. Until they have actually seen your pet they cannot make an
accurate diagnosis or make specific recommendations.
3. An appointment
After you have discussed your pet’s problem(s),
and if you are ready to proceed, you will arrange an appointment time
to bring your pet to the clinic in
Guelph. Dr. Hale's staff will schedule enough time to allow for evaluation and treatment of the problem
in one visit (some procedures, such as metal crowns, require two visits).
4. Day of appointment – no food
Your pet should have no food for 12 hours prior to the appointment but
can have water until you leave home. On your arrival, you will be asked to fill out a brief
information sheet and read Who Does
What. You can also hand over any documents sent with you by your veterinarian.
After Dr. Hale has reviewed this information, the oral examination and
client interview will begin.
5. Things
to bring
For your comfort, please bring some slippers or "indoor" shoes, as
you will be asked to leave outdoor footwear in the vestibule (for winter
appointments mostly). For your pet's
security, please bring a collar and leash for your dog or a pet carrier for
your cat. You might also want to bring along something to read if you choose
to remain at the clinic while your pet is in surgery. If you bring a lap-top
you will be welcome to use our wireless service to access the internet.
6. Oral examination
Dr. Hale will start with as thorough an oral examination as your pet
will allow (some pets have very sore mouths and are understandably reluctant to let a
stranger go poking around). With the information from the history and the initial
examination he will develop a tentative diagnosis, explain his findings and start
outlining the treatment options.
7. Treatment options
Dr. Hale will discuss his findings with you so that,
together, you can
determine the best treatment for your pet’s specific situation. He will write up a
treatment plan and estimate, then ask for your consent.
In most cases, he will then administer a pre-anesthetic sedative and ask you to return to
the reception lounge to sit with your pet while sedation takes effect and he and his
assistant get the equipment organized for surgery.
All owners are required to sign Dr. Hale's Estimate and Surgical Consent form. In some cases they may also be
required to sign a waiver.
8. Anesthesia
About fifteen minutes after the injection of
pre-med, your pet will be taken to the treatment room. An intravenous
catheter will be placed and your pet will be given some fluids and oxygen
prior to induction of general anesthesia. Once your pet is under anesthesia, Dr. Hale will do a more thorough oral
examination and intra-oral dental radiographs. He will then meet with you in
the examination room again to discuss the new findings and either
confirm or refine the treatment plan and estimate to obtain informed consent
to proceed.
9. Surgery
At this stage you will be given the option of staying
in reception, or leaving the hospital for a time. If you
leave, and do not have a cell phone with you, you will take the hospital's
cell phone along so that Dr. Hale can contact you if the need arises. You
will also be instructed on when you should return to the hospital.
10. Recovery
After surgery, one of the RVTs will stay with your
pet during recovery from anesthesia while Dr. Hale writes up the record, discharge statement
and invoice. If you are back in time, you may be encouraged to sit with and cuddle your
pet during recovery.
As you can see, patient comfort is a high
priority at Hale Veterinary Clinic. This is one of our patients during
recovery enjoying a relaxing time on the love-seat in the reception area
while awaiting his owner's return. Most animals recover on thick cushions on
the floor of the treatment room until they are ready to stand and walk.
11. Discharge
By the time Dr. Hale has done all his paperwork and gone over your
discharge instructions with you, your pet will likely be ready to go home. For dogs, that means they
are able to stand and walk out on their own. For cats, it means they are sitting up and
are bright and alert.
12. It’s your call
As you can see, Dr. Hale wants his clients to be quite
involved in the decision-making process. He may have preferences, but ultimately, it will
be your call.
13. Other options
The above description represents a typical visit, but Dr. Hale
can be flexible. He will do his best to tailor your visit to meet your needs and
expectations while tending to your pet’s needs. However, in all cases,
lines of communication must be kept open at all times so any surprises can
be discussed and the treatment plan adjusted as needed.
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