10 Things to Bring to Your Veterinary Appointment

Going to see the vet? Be prepared to get the most out of your visit.

Going to the veterinarian for a yearly wellness exam (or more often for older pets) is the best way to keep your pet healthy through early detection of disease, vaccination, and preventive medication. We have compiled a list of the ten most common things you should bring to your visit.

Getting everyone in the car and to the vet office is a task in itself. A little preparation will go a long way in getting the most out of your time with your veterinarian.

10 Things to Bring to Your Veterinary Visit

  1. Bring all veterinary medical records. Even if you have don’t have detailed copies, we can call your previous veterinarian(s) to request your pet’s complete record.  This gives us the best biography of your pet’s health.

     

  2. Bring your current identification, such as a driver’s license. Current identification is needed for a variety of reasons.

     

  3. Bring any medications you are giving to your pet. These include flea medication, vitamins, and supplements. Our staff can evaluate the medications, check dosing and expiration dates, and refill anything you need while you are here.

     

     

  4. Please bring a stool sample to your appointment. Stool samples are needed for annual or biannual parasite testing. Stool samples that are collected within 24 hours are acceptable. For multi-cat households, a sampling from the litter boxes is acceptable.

     

  5. If your pet has an appointment for a urinary issue, then it is essential for us to have a urine sample to test. We offer free urine collection kits- just stop in to get one! Otherwise, a clean plastic container with a tight-fitting lid is perfect. Simply slide the container into your dog’s urine stream and keep in fridge until your appointment. However, keep in mind after four hours urine can become contaminated. Therefore, a urine sample should be collected just before your appointment or brought right in after collection for testing. We also have urine collection kits for cats. Cats typically won’t urinate in a tray, so our feline kits have a non-absorbent litter. Simply clean out your litter box,  replace your clay litter with ours, and collect in the morning.

     

  6. Write down or take pictures of the food and treats you are feeding. Nutrition and pet weight is just one of many areas we will offer guidance.

     

  7. If your pet is having a medical issue that is difficult to explain then try capturing it on video! Many symptoms, such as limping, can be difficult to observe while in the veterinary office.

     

  8. Bring your pet’s favorite food and/or treats to your veterinary appointment. Coming to vet can be stressful, even for outgoing dogs. We even recommending withholding food for dogs or cats before appointments so that we can feed and help them relax. However, pets with medical issues like diabetes or geriatric pets should not so that we can feed and help them relax. However, pets with medical issues like diabetes or geriatric pets should not be fasted!

     

  9. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early. We will review any changes to your contact information. Also, please be aware that our section of 44th street is quite busy after 4 PM.

     

  10. Lastly, bring a list of questions to ask your veterinarian. It’s easy to forget all the things you wanted to discuss when you’re here in the exam room.