You can download this appointment information & pre-planning webpage here:
THESKINVET APPOINTMENT INFORMATION AND PRE-PLANNING
Appointment times:
Please try to arrive in good time for your appointment to ensure that all your details have be registered at reception (when attending one of my peripatetic clinics). I have a limited number of long initial consultation slots so if you are unable to keep the appointment please inform me & the practice as soon as possible so I can re-schedule our meeting & book a replacement case.
Who should attend?:
It is most helpful if all the adult care givers attend, at least, the initial long consultation. There will be a full 90 minutes of detailed two-way discussion & clients are commonly astounded by the amount of information, options & instructions that need to be remembered. Information transfer & subsequent communication breakdown is inevitable if the attending adult is a relative, friend, pet sitter or employee of the actual client/pet parent.
Clinical notes:
Your referring veterinary surgeon will need to forward your personal contact details & your pet’s medical history in advance. You will need to agree to the transfer of this information as per the general data protection guidelines. Please bring in details of any other medications as well as online ‘test’ results plus evidence of all components of the current diet. It is often helpful to contact your pet’s breeder & litter chat groups to enquire if his/her close relatives have suffered from any skin or ear conditions.
Summary & Information Pack:
You will receive an Information Pack ( https://www.theskinvet.net/clients/advice-sheets/ ) plus a detailed Summary of the consultation so most clients will generally not need to take notes. Your Vet will be send a full Report too. The Owner Summary & Vet Report are comonly sent within 24 hours.
Food & water:
Please do not feed your pet any food whatsoever for at least twelve hours before the appointment. This is very important with urgent cases being seen at peripatetic clinics. Water intake should not be restricted.
Presentation:
Please do not wash your pet or apply any external (topical) medications for at least one week prior to the appointment. Dog owners please restrict exercise to lead walk on the day of the appointment & make sure that the coat and paws are thoroughly dry on arrival.
Terms of Business:
An estimate of the initial costs will have been provided after the clinical notes have been studied. This estimate can only be a guide as the final cost of each individual case is difficult to assess. Please note payment will always be required at the time of consultation via a credit card app. I will promptly forward an itemised receipt.
Insurance:
Please contact your insurance company before attending the first appointment, especially regarding policy exclusions and duration of cover after the initial claim (per condition, with or without time-limit, or truly lifelong). Any Direct Claim arrangements need to be made directly with a peripatetic clinic if attended – I cannot enter into discussions about their financial decisions. I try to process online Claims within a day or two of receipt.
Photographs: I routinely take photographs of skin cases to monitor appearance & progression – these will often be added to my reports. The (anonymised) images may also be used on my website, as well as in presentations, teaching, scientific journals, textbooks, advertising etc.