FAQs: Your Appointment

What do I need to do before my appointment at DWR?

Please ensure that your vet has sent us a letter outlining your pet's illness together with any X-rays or other results prior to your consultation.
Often your pet may need to stay with us for the day, or longer, so that investigations and treatment can be carried out. If you have a morning appointment, these tests will usually begin on the day of admission and so please withhold food from the previous midnight; water should NOT be withheld.

Once you have let the receptionist know that you have arrived please complete a registration form so that our receptionists can ensure the accuracy of our records.
If your pet is receiving any medications, or is on a prescription diet, please mention this at the time of the consultation, and if possible, please bring several days' supply with you.

If your pet is staying with us please do not leave any collars, leads etc.
Animals hospitalised at DWR will have plenty of soft bedding and stimulation. Please do not bring any bedding as this requires additional laundry and constantly tallying patient's bedding to individual animals which detracts from time spent on patient care. If you wish to leave a toy please limit this to a single item and make sure that it is clearly marked with your pet's name. These are left at your own risk

If your pet is staying with us for more than 24 hours we will try to contact you twice daily to update you with their condition and progress. There will be a team of nursing, intern and Specialist staff looking after your pet; do not be concerned if it is a different member of this team that updates you from the person you initially met as there will be more than one person involved in looking after them.
We do not have a set visiting hour. When animals are likely to be hospitalised for only a brief period of time for investigations or where they are recovering from surgery, visitations may interfere with a calm and quiet recovery process or interfere with the timing of investigations. For animals that are likely to be hospitalised for more than a few days we welcome requests to visit but this must be by prior arrangement with the clinical staff as at times when many patients are requiring treatment, or when critically ill animals are receiving emergency care, visiting may not be possible.

We will usually discuss all our findings, any recommended treatment and provide an interim report when you collect your pet. Please understand that sometimes this may not be possible if your consultant is dealing with an urgent case.
A written report will be normally sent to your vet within 7 days but please note this may be longer where further laboratory tests are necessary.