What do I need to take my dog to the vet hospital?

How to prepare your dog for a vet visit

Taking a dog to the hospital is a simple routine for used dog owners. However, for the first time, it’s so stressful for the dog and its parent(s). Prepare your dog and all the necessities before walking into the vet clinic to avoid wasting time and being embarrassed in front of other dog owners.

Most dog owners prefer home-call vet services to visiting the clinic. However, some procedures are too complex to be successfully handled outside the clinic setting. E.g., major surgeries. House-call vet services are less stressful for the dogs and their parents, but more expensive and tiring if follow-up treatment is needed.

This blog post provides vet tips on preparing your dog for vet visits and all the documents you need.

What you need to prepare or do when taking your dog to a veterinary hospital or clinic

Get the contact information of the vet clinic you plan to visit from the website, social media, search engine, or friend.

Contact the pet clinic and let them know when you are coming. If an appointment is required, schedule one.

Ask about the vet fees or estimated bills for the case you are presenting.
- First, know the consultation or check-up fee.
- The exact fees for treatment cannot be deduced via a call. It’s only possible after a check-up and drafting a treatment plan.
- Read about the cost of treating a dog in Uganda
- Some procedures, vaccinations, deworming, dental cleaning, etc., their exact fees can be deduced via a call.

4. Prepare and pack the following documents:

Vaccination card
Previous treatment reports
Any recent travel documents
Deworming card
Any chronic, documented health complication
X-ray and ultrasound results
Carry the drugs he or she is using.

5. Prepare enough history about the case or complication your dog has, e.g., when the disease started, any home treatment tried, and any other sign or abnormality noticed.

6. Always inquire with the vet clinic if any changes can be made in the dog’s daily routine (feeding time, amount of food given, routine medications). e.g., in surgical procedures, the dog is supposed to be held off food for some hours before surgery to avoid the risks of aspiration pneumonia.

7. Do not immediately transport your dog after feeding; give him or her a few hours to relax for the food to move to the lower segments of the intestines to avoid vomiting.

8. For excited dogs, keep them on a leash tied to car seats. The dog might jump on you when driving and cause accidents.

9. At the vet clinic, keep the dog on a leash. Vet hospitals get patients of different species, i.e., birds, reptiles, cats, etc. Dogs with curious behavior can rush to discover new species and cause scuffles or injuries at the clinic.

10. When outside the clinic premises, let the dog first explore the environment and mark its territory as much as he or she wants. This will make the dog more relaxed.

For aggressive dogs, always keep a comfortable muzzle on their mouths.

For any unclear prescription or scientific term used by the veterinarian, ask for a simple and detailed explanation.Your dog’s life is precious.