New Patients – Shelter Adoptions and New Puppies
At Animal Hospital Southwest, new patients as well as their pet parents, are always welcome. In order to give each patient the best in care, we prefer to work by appointment, but walkins are always accepted and emergencies are, of course, always a priority.
Because we believe strongly that adoptions from rescue organizations and shelters are a benefit to our community and to the local homeless animal population, we offer free wellness exams for puppies and kittens adopted from the Humane Society of North Texas and from Fort Worth Animal Care and Control and its affiliated programs. We will advise you of common things to watch for in newly adopted shelter pets, prescribe medication (if needed) for common ailments in recenty adopted pets, and discuss whatever concerns you may have.
For puppies and kitties adopted from a breeder or other private placement, we have puppy and kitten plans available that cover your first six months of wellness exams and puppy or kitten shots, microchipping, flea and heartworm preventative, and spay or neutering. We want to make sure you have everything you need to settle your new family member safely into their new home!
Your wellness exams will include a physical examination similar to the one you have every year at your own doctor’s office: we will carefully examine your pet externally, examining your pets skin and coat, their eyes, their joint function, their lung and heart function, palpation of the major abdominal organs and your pet’s affect and demeanor. Do not be afraid to ask us anything, we want you and your pet to share many years of happy memories together. Do you have questions about potty training, obedience training, dietary needs or breed dispositions? We can answer those questions for you. We even have genetic tests available which can identify many items of interest in your pet’s genetic heritage, like parent breeds of a mixed breed puppy!
New Patients – An Existing Member of Your Family
If you are a new client to our hospital with an existing pet, we want you to know that we care about your pet just like you do. We will request and transfer your pet’s medical records so that we know all of your pet’s treatment needs, and will explain your treatment plan options in a way that you can understand. At Animal Hospital Southwest, we believe that while we may be the navigators on the road to your pet’s healthcare needs, you are the pilot. We want you involved in the decisionmaking process regarding your pet’s needs. We believe in a collaborative treatment model, and consult with boarded specialists in veterinary medicine as well as animal behavioral specialists and dietary specialists so that we can keep your pet in tip-top shape.
After each exam, and after each boarding visit, your pet will receive a “report card.” The doctor will provide information regarding every aspect of your pet’s health, from physical to behavioral and cognitive. We will note on your pet’s report card when he or she needs dental work done, or when your pet is beginning to get overweight, or any number of other issues that may become chronic issues as your pet ages. We can work together, our clients and the doctors as a team, to address these issues and help ensure that your pet will have many more happy and healthy years ahead of them.
