What to Expect at an Appointment | El Dorado Animal Hospital

El Dorado Animal Hospital Fountain Hills AZ | Reception Area, Waiting Room

What to expect at your appointment

Coming to see us for the first time can be both exciting and overwhelming for you and your pet. It is our pleasure to help guide you through the process and ensure that you and us have everything in order before your pets’ first veterinary visit with us!

Now you have brought your new furry family member home, what’s next? It is important to bring your pet for veterinary care and have them get used to coming to see us. We live in a very pet friendly community with a high demand for veterinary care, so please give us a call once you know you are making a new addition to your family. We will work with you to get an appointment that is convenient to your schedule. This is an essential step to establishing a Veterinarian-Client-Patient relationship to help us better understand your pet’s needs as they continue to grow and age.

Have you just moved to the area or are considering switching vets but your pet is already receiving care elsewhere? Don’t worry, we help make that transition seamless! The same recommendation applies as if you have obtained a new pet; as soon as you know you want to establish with El Dorado Animal Hospital, please call us to make an establishment appointment and we’ll do all the rest. Please try not to wait until your pet is due for vaccinations or other wellcare, because early establishment makes it easier for you to obtain care in the unfortunate event your pet becomes sick.

We want your pet to consider going to the vet to be a fun social interaction, rather than a “clinical” place. We encourage you to ask our receptionists about bringing your dog in for a “Happy Visit” where they can spend some time looking around the hospital, getting to know the front office staff and maybe they will even get a treat, or two!

If your pet is of the feline variety, it doesn’t hurt to stop by and check out the lobby, and scout out a quiet waiting area for your first visit. We have a separate waiting room for cats that’s away from the busy front lobby. Allowing your kitty to acclimate with us before their appointment in a quiet space, helps the visit go smoothly.

You have scheduled your first appointment with us, what do you need to bring with you?

To save yourself time during your appointment, we recommend filling out our New Client Registration form directly through our website prior to your appointment. If you have any hard copies of previous medical records for your pet please bring them to the appointment and we will digitally put them in your pets file. It is very helpful to provide any previous medical history information to your receptionist when scheduling your pets’ first appointment. This gives the veterinarian time to prepare for your pet and gain knowledge of prior illness or health concerns.

In order to keep your pet calm, we strongly recommend that cats come in appropriate sized carriers and dogs are kept on leashes. If you need suggestions on how to help your cat get into a carrier click here for a video or here for an informational brochure.

Pharmacy for Quick and Easy Access to Your Cat, Dog, or other Pet's Medications

What to do before your visit

Before arriving at your appointment you could consider taking your dog for a walk or some light exercise to help them burn off any excess energy. After you arrive at our hospital and check in with a receptionist you will have a seat in the waiting area. Once it is your appointment time a technician will introduce themselves and escort you and your pet to an exam room. During this time the technician will ask you questions about your pet’s eating habits, bathroom routine, medications and anything else that may be of concern. At this point your pet will start to adjust to their new surroundings, but it is always helpful to speak to them in a calm voice to give them a sense of familiarity.

Once your veterinarian comes in they will perform a physical exam and they will take your pet’s pulse, respiratory rate and temperature. During the physical exam your veterinarian will check everything from nose to tail. Based on your pet’s physical examination and clinical signs the doctor may suggest doing further diagnostics, vaccinations or prescribing medications. During this exam you will have the opportunity to ask your veterinarian any questions about their exam findings.

At any point if you would like an estimate for recommended care we will happily provide you one. If you have financial considerations, please bring it to our attention and we’ll work on options to help fit the recommendations with your budget. Here are things to consider before your visit:

What symptoms have you noticed? How long?
When did you first notice symptoms? Have they gotten worse?
Does your pet have a history of skin problems? Any previous treatments?
Does your pet come into contact with other animals? Do they have skin problems?
Have you recently changed your dog’s diet?
How often do you bathe your dog? What shampoo do you use?
Are the symptoms seasonal or year-round?
Have you used any medications for the current condition? Have they helped?
What type of environment is your pet exposed to? Indoors/outdoors? Do they swim in a pool?