How to Help your Vet During Curbside Appointments

 Photo by Ian Battaglia on Unsplash

The transition to curbside appointments has been a challenge for many veterinary clinics. Not all have switched to curbside but most have adopted some changes to reduce infection risk for staff and clients. This may mean only one owner is allowed to come to appointments or that the exam and treatments are done out of the exam room.

This is creating challenges for both owners and clients. Here are some things which may help make the process smoother.

1. Make a List

If there are any questions or concerns you have, go ahead and write them down. This way you don’t have to try to remember everything in the moment. Writing down your concerns will also reduce the risk of miscommunication. Sometimes getting a medical history is like playing a game of telephone.

I have found the list to be helpful for my examination as I can take extra time to focus on the clients concerns.

The list will also help you remember if you need any medications refilled while your are there. Or if you would like any additional services like a nail trim or anal gland expression. I have found that if I am running behind with a previous appointment my technicians can go ahead and finish the nail trim which shortens the amount of time you have to wait.

2. Take a Video

If your pet is limping, coughing or having any weird behaviors a video can be very helpful. This recommendation applies to non-curbside appointments as well.

The stress and adrenaline the pets feels when they get in to the vet clinic can often result in the symptoms disappearing. If you can take a video to send prior to the appointment it can be extremely helpful.

A mild limp can make it hard to figure out which leg is injured, especially if they walk normally in the clinic. Also the way they are limping can be helpful. If a dog is very resistant to place the foot down this might mean an injury to the paw pad or toes. Or we may be able to decipher which joint they are stiff in by the way they are moving the leg.

A video of coughing can also be helpful because an upper respiratory infection like kennel cough sounds different from a deep chest cough due to pneumonia or heart disease.

3. Mark the Masses

I personally have found examining new “lumps” to be very difficult with curbside. Some of these animals have multiple old masses that have already been examined but the client has noticed a new one. It can be hard to figure out which mass on the chest I am to examine without very specific location instructions. And “chest” can also mean anywhere around the ribs or sternum.

One of my clients clipped the hair away over top of the area she was concerned about which was very helpful. If you decide to do this I recommend using hair clippers and not scissors as those have a higher risk of cutting the skin.

Another option is to use a non-toxic marker. One of my clients made a circle around the mass she wanted examined which ensured I knew exactly where to look.

Another great option is to use children’s nail polish to make a mark on top of the mass. These nail polishes are non-toxic and tested safe for children who chew on their nails. They also wash away pretty easily.

4. Make Sure to Answer your Phone

I’ve noticed that many times when clients don’t answer their cell phones it’s because they are already on a call with someone else. I know it’s boring to wait in the parking lot, but unless it’s a drop off exam we will be trying to get back in touch with you as soon as possible. So if you are receiving an incoming call from your vet clinic please don’t send us to voicemail.

At my clinic the veterinarians are primarily using the phone to go over exam findings versus coming out to the car. In addition to trying to stay safe and social distance, I have found it more difficult to hear clients, and for them to hear me, if we are talking through a window on a busy road.

With summer heat waves and thunderstorms it is also safer for veterinary staff and owners to have these conversations over the phone and not in the parking lot.

5. Try to Remain Patient

These are unprecedented times. Veterinary clinics across the country have been extraordinarily busy. I know personally we have been working non-stop with fully booked schedules, multiple emergencies and numerous drop off add ons since March.

Curbside is unfortunately a less efficient method of work which also adds to wait times. And the phone lines are getting tied up as this is the only method of communication.

So remember we are working as hard as we can. We are trying to triage those patients who are most ill and you may have to wait longer than usual to get an appointment to be seen.

I think everyone is getting more frustrated as this virus continues to spread and wreak havoc on our lives. But please don’t take out your frustration on the employees of your veterinary clinic. We are doing our best while also dealing with our own struggles at home.

I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. Check out some of my posts on summer and vacation safety tips for your pet so hopefully you can avoid a trip to your vet this summer! If you have been to your vet recently how was the experience? Are they curbside or is it business as usual where you live?