Protocols and Guidelines

Starkville Veterinary Hospital’s Protocols and Surgical Guidelines for Clients

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Appointments:

New Client Fee- This is a mandatory $30 reservation fee for all new clients. This ensures that the clinic is fairly compensated for failure of the new client to honor their appointment. Payment will be received either in person or over the phone at the time the appointment is made. This fee will be returned in the form of a deduction from the total cost of their new visit.

Failed Appointments-No-show appointment is a term that applies to any appointment that was made where the client did not cancel 24 hours in advance. After two (2) failed appointments the next scheduled appointment will be subject to a mandatory scheduling fee of $50. This fee is non-refundable and will be paid over the phone prior to the scheduling of the next appointment.

★ Surgery Reservation Fee- A $100 surgery reservation fee will be required for all scheduled surgeries. Payment will be received either in person or over the phone at the time the appointment is made. The $100 fee is nonrefundable if the client fails to notify staff 24 hours in advance of the cancellation or is a no-show. This fee will be returned in the form of a deduction from the total cost of your surgery bill.

★ Approved Methods of Communication for Appointments- For all your booking, rescheduling, and cancellation needs, we can be reached at the following:

Phone: (662) 323-7078

Email: svh1400@gmail.com

App: Scan the code to download our app!

Boarding:

Temperament Testing- Every dog without a prior boarding history at SVH–or that has not been temperament tested by the SVH staff–that is scheduled to board at the clinic for any length of time is required to complete a temperament test before they are boarded. This test includes walking the dog past other boarding dogs, observing their behavior towards the staff, and observing their behavior towards other clients in the clinic (if applicable). If the dog shows any aggression towards other dogs or people—including but not limited to growling, barking excessively, lunging, and snarling—then this would be considered a failed temperament test. If any dog fails the temperament test they will be disqualified from boarding at the clinic and you will be informed in person on the day of said testing.

Health Checkup- A veterinarian must give a physical examination to any animal that is new to the clinic prior to boarding. This is a comprehensive exam to ensure that the animal is in good health and to establish rapport with new clients. Every animal—whether new to the clinic or established--must also have a bordetella vaccine within six (6) months and an up to date rabies vaccine before the boarding appointment. A physical examination (PE) is also required every 30 days for boarding pets to ensure that the pet is in good health and to establish a body condition, dental grade, and general health record for their stay.

Safety and Security- Any animal that is boarding must be amenable to handling by the staff at SVH. If the patient is prone to excessive jumping that causes bodily harm, excessively putting their mouth on staff, excitable nature that makes them unable to be handled, behavior that indicates they are likely to show aggression, or any behavior deemed by the office staff, technicians, and veterinarians to be unacceptable for boarding, they are subject to disqualification from boarding at SVH.

Surgeries:

Pre-Anesthetic Blood Work- To establish an efficient process for surgeries at the clinic, staff will ensure that the patient’s blood is drawn and run within a reasonable time frame prior to the surgery date. The time frame is as follows: Any animal that is six (6) years of age or younger with no pre-existing health concerns will require the blood work to be run within 30 days of the surgery appointment. Any animal that is seven (7) years of age or older and/or has a pre-existing health condition will require blood work to be run within seven (7) days of their surgery appointment.

Sedation/Anesthesia Consent- Written consent is needed from the client before any animal is allowed to be anesthetized. This is done by having you sign a written document that states you understand the given risks of sedation. In the case of written consent being needed after you have left, we will call and confirm the consent over the phone.

Fluid Therapy- Surgeries require anesthesia and fluid therapy is essential to anesthesia. Fluids are calculated based on the animal’s age, weight, and health conditions to ensure each animal receives the proper amount for surgery. Fluid therapy allows for the veterinarians and technicians to account for fluid loss, support the cardiovascular function, and account for any pre-existing deficits. Fluids are also continued in our post-operative care to ensure a quick recovery from anesthesia.

Catheters- Catheter use in surgery allows for easy and precise access to the patient’s vein before and during surgery. Having a catheter allows for direct access to the patient in cases where immediate action and/or emergent care is needed.

Communication Via the App- Following any procedure that requires sedation, it is important to follow up with the veterinarian to ascertain the animal’s condition and recovery. Our app is the most convenient way to communicate directly with our veterinarians, even outside of the normal clinic hours. This direct line of messaging assures that any post-sedation concerns can be addressed by our veterinarians. Any client seeking to have their animal put under sedation for x-rays, surgery, or any other necessary procedure will need to download our app to establish open communication with our veterinarians.