Should your pet require a referral to a Specialist, you will need to discuss this with your local Vet first, who will contact Kentdale on your behalf. Following this a member of our Client Care Team will contact you to arrange an appointment directly.
If your pet needs to be seen urgently, your local Vet will need to telephone Kentdale to arrange the referral. Following this a member of our Client Care Team will contact you to arrange an appointment directly.
What to Bring:
Your local Vet will be asked to provide Kentdale with a letter of referral containing details of your pet’s relevant history and a summary of the condition. You may be asked to bring this with you, along with any x-rays, scans or other information supplied by your Vet.
It is a good idea to make some notes about your pet’s history, e.g. dates of events, symptoms or signs that you have noticed, and any queries or concerns you have to help when discussing your pet’s condition during the consultation. You should bring any relevant insurance documentation, including a blank claims form. You will also need to bring a means of payment with you.
Your Appointment
It is important that pets are brought to Kentdale by their owner to ensure that detailed questions about the pet’s history can be answered, along with responsibility for decision making and financial considerations.
Should your pet be admitted on the day, we will ask for signed consent for any procedures which have been decided upon. It is very important that you have a full understanding of your pet’s condition and the implications of any proposed investigations and treatment. If you have any doubts at any stage, please do not hesitate to ask for clarification.
Please arrive 10-15mins before your appointment to allow your pet to register and for any paperwork to be completed. If appropriate, please remember your cat or dog will need to fast before the appointment. If your pet is taking prescribed medication, follow the medication plan as advised unless otherwise stated.
What to Expect
During your appointment, the Vet will take a detailed history of your pet’s medical background as well as the current problem. A thorough clinical examination will then be performed, and any findings and provisional diagnoses will be discussed in detail with you. Your pet may then go home after the consultation with suggested management or treatment. However, further tests or procedures, e.g. blood tests, imaging (X-rays or scans) and/or surgery,may be required.
Whilst we will make every effort to perform investigations and diagnostic imaging on the same day as the consultation, it is likely that any necessary surgery will be performed at another date. As such, it may be that initial work will be done on the day of your appointment and that your pet may be hospitalised for further diagnostic and possible surgical procedures to be carried out over the next few days, depending upon circumstances. It is also possible that your pet may need to go home after the consultation (possibly on treatment) and return for diagnostic or surgical procedures at a later date.
If you cannot keep your appointment or are held up in traffic, please let the practice know as soon as possible.
