What to Expect

We are excited to meet you!
APPOINTMENT

Thank you for choosing The Welcome Waggin’ for your veterinary needs!

We are excited to meet you and your two- and four-legged family members and are truly grateful you have chosen The Welcome Waggin’ as your pet’s health care provider. Because we are a strictly mobile service, our “appointments” are probably unlike any you’ve ever experienced! We take as much time as needed to get to know you and your pets and your approach to health care, as well as share with you our knowledge in a collaborative manner.

Each pet and family are unique, and we strive to treat them as such. Because we are on the road, you will be given an estimated arrival window that is typically an hour in length. Expect the actual appointment to take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes per pet. We want to get to know you and your family inside and out and appreciate flexibility in scheduling. Emergencies occasionally arise or we experience travel delays, and we will do our best to let you know if our arrival window changes. Likewise, we require 24 hours notice if you need to cancel your appointment and reserve the right to charge a travel fee of $65 if this policy is overlooked.

Before Your Appointment

To prepare for your upcoming appointment, please register as a new client through the New Pet Intake Form. Have any medical history available prior to the visit, or have your existing provider fax information to 630-445-5902. It is helpful to withhold food for 12 hours before the appointment so we can shower them with treats and in case we need a fasted blood sample. Dogs and cats should be tested annually for intestinal parasites, so please have a fresh fecal sample ready. Should your pet need testing of urine, you can have a first-morning sample “caught” and available in a small, refrigerated container; for cats, please pick up the litter box three hours before our visit so we can retrieve a sample. Please include any medications or supplements your pet takes, as well as any behavior concerns when sharing your pet’s medical background.

It is extremely important that your pet is available for his/her exam! The most social of animals have a way of “disappearing” just before their visit. Please have cats secured in a bathroom or other area where they are comfortable but cannot hide. Our examinations typically take place where you and your pet are most comfortable; usually, we are sitting on a carpeted floor down at your pet’s level and bring any supplies we need to complete medical evaluation.

If laboratory tests are run, you will receive an email or follow-up phone call with the results as soon as they are available. We are also able to share results with your existing veterinarian and believe in an open line of communication.

What to Expect Moving Forward

We are offering mobile ultrasound and echocardiography in conjunction with a team of imaging professionals. Appointments can be made for services to be performed the same week, with results in 12 to 24 hours. Your pet will need to be fasted for 12 to 24 hours prior to the visit, and in some cases, light sedation will need to be used. In the case of abdominal ultrasound, your pet’s abdomen will be clipped to facilitate the procedure.

In some circumstances, our doctors will refer you to a specialist who has advanced expertise in areas such as internal medicine or surgery. We have an extensive network of other pet care professionals and will always do our best to provide the exceptional compassion and service your family deserves.

We send occasional emails that offer coupons or specials and important information regarding locally significant pet health topics (think canine influenza outbreaks at a boarding facility, pet food recalls, news regarding the practice like holiday hours, featured pets, new services that are available, etc. It is the best way we have to reach a large group of pet-owning families! You will have the option to opt-out of these emails, but we hope you won’t!