Back to the HVGRC Super Clinic page.
Is the clinic just for golden retrievers?
No! Well behaved dogs of all breeds and mixed breeds are welcome.
Are the doctors board certified?
Our eye and heart doctors are board-certified specialists. Dr Duffy is a general practitioner.
Does the clinic provide certifications?
Certification, as recognized by the AKC comes only from the appropriate organizations. These are CERF for eyes and OFA for hips, elbows, heart and thyroid. The clinic will provide exams by specialists in the field and the required forms. These can be sent to CERF or OFA with an additional fee. See the following for more information:
CERF http://www.vet.purdue.edu/~yshen/cerf.html or OFA http://www.offa.org/.
What does AKC require to accept the certification?
You must have your AKC registration number. In order for OFA and CERF information to appear on a dog's pedigree, AKC has required the dog to be permanently identified since 1996 and CERF since January 2001. All dogs that wish to obtain a CERF number must be permanently identified via tattoo, microchip or DNA profile number prior to testing and certification.
Does my dog need to be microchipped to be examined?
No. The AKC and CERF require "permanent identification" (tattoo or microchip) for certifications, but you do not need it for an informal health check.
What kind of microchip is available?
There is no one standard for microchips. Home Again is available at the clinic and is acceptable to the AKC and CERF.
Will my dog be anesthetized for the hip or elbow x-ray?
Your dog will be sedated using Xylazine. It takes about 20 minutes to take effect. Please arrive at least half an hour before your appointment if you are having x-rays. Most dogs will be groggy, but awake after the x-ray. For more information on Xylazine call your veterinarian.
I just discovered that I have a very important commitment in the afternoon. Why can't you re-schedule my dog(s) for first thing in the morning?
We do everything humanly possible to accommodate special scheduling needs in a manner that is fair to everyone. Appointments are generally made on a first-come, first-served basis. However, please understand that the scheduling process is extremely time-consuming and complex for a number of reasons, including the large number of people with multiple dogs, the need to coordinate different medical procedures, and the anesthesia prep time required for hip or elbow tests. And the schedule is usually almost totally full. Last-minute rescheduling is all but impossible.
When will I be notified of my appointment times?
Approximately ten days prior to the clinic, appointment information will be sent to those who have registered and paid. We will try to include the CERF and OFA forms for you to fill out to save you time at the clinic.
Why has the check I sent with my registration more than a month ago still not cleared?
Checks are cashed after the clinic in case of cancellation due to weather.
Back to the HVGRC Super Clinic page.
|
|