Pet Owner Resources

What to Expect:

Surgical procedures can be difficult for any pet owner when you do not know what to anticipate. We strive to ensure that each client understands what to expect before, during, and after the appointment.

Initial Client Paperwork

Communication

Our specialists are dedicated to providing honest, open communication to both you and your family veterinarian. We ask that you be as detailed as possible when explaining your needs and concerns relative to your pet’s health. Although we can never say with certainty what the future holds for our patients, we will give you our honest prediction regarding initial surgical success and long-term prognosis. While your pet is in our care, your own veterinarian will remain the primary-care doctor. Consequently, as necessary, we will communicate with your veterinarian by phone, letter, fax, and/or email detailing your visit and our recommendations for your pet’s follow-up care.

Preparation for Your Pet’s Appointment

Initial Client Paperwork

Please fill out the initial client paperwork PRIOR to your arrival.  If you are not able to fill out the paperwork before your visit, we ask that you arrive 15 minutes before your first appointment so that you have time to complete the necessary paperwork.

Medical History

Please contact your family veterinarian and ask them to send all pertinent medical records to us at [email protected]. To prevent delays, we recommend obtaining a copy for yourself that you could provide if needed.

Fasting

In general, you should withhold food for 12 hours prior to your pet’s appointment. This will allow for any needed diagnostic testing, such as X-rays, to be performed under sedation, or it will allow us to perform surgery on the same day if elected. Please confirm with your primary care veterinarian that it is safe for your pet to go without food. You should always keep water available for your pet.

 
 

Anxious or Aggressive Pets

Some pets may be nervous, fearful, and/or protective of you in a medical setting. This is understandable. If you anticipate your pet may exhibit any aggression toward other pets or people or experience significant anxiety, please consult with your veterinarian regarding any prescription anti-anxiety or sedative medications that they may prescribe for the morning of the appointment at Scissortail Veterinary Specialists. This will allow us to ensure that your pet’s visit is as safe and stress-free as possible.

Medications

Please bring in all of your pet’s current medications. A complete list will help us avoid potentially adverse drug interactions and dispensing medications you may already have.

Pet Safety

Please keep your pet on a leash or in a carrier while at our office. Doing so will help keep your pet, other patients and clients, and our staff safe.

Personal Items

We do not recommend leaving personal items with your pet. If you find this absolutely necessary, we will try to keep track of all items while your pet is here in order to return them to you. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the return of personal items.

Length of Appointment

Most patients require 45 minutes for an initial evaluation/consultation. We recommend allowing an hour of total time for the visit. We appreciate your patience and understanding when emergencies create extended wait times.

Payment Options

We require prepayment of the estimated charges, and the balance is due upon discharge. We have options for you to pay via MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and CareCredit. Our staff will be glad to assist with payment questions either before or at the time of the consultation.

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Post-operative Care

Discharge

We will set up a discharge time when we call to discuss your pet’s surgery post-operatively. At the discharge appointment, you will meet with a technician to review the written discharge instructions for your pet’s post-operative care and discuss any questions you may have. Although, in most cases, the surgeon will not meet with you at the time of discharge, please feel free to call and speak with them if you have a question or concern about your pet.