Before the evaluation
Before a rehabilitation evaluation, Animal Therapy Center requests relevant medical records from the pet's primary veterinarian or other members of the veterinary care team.
These records provide important background information and help the rehabilitation veterinarian understand the patient's medical history before the appointment.
Owners may also be asked to complete required intake or consent information before the evaluation.
What happens when you arrive?
At check-in, the ATC team may obtain an updated weight and other basic information needed for the patient's record.
The rehabilitation evaluation is an opportunity to look at the patient as an individual rather than beginning with a predetermined treatment or piece of equipment.
What does the veterinarian evaluate?
The rehabilitation veterinarian may review several areas depending on the patient and the reason for the visit.
These can include:
- Medical and surgical history
- Current mobility and movement
- Physical function
- Comfort and activity level
- Changes noticed by the owner
- The owner's goals for the patient
- Information provided by the referring or primary veterinarian
The exact evaluation varies because rehabilitation needs are different from patient to patient.
Is an evaluation the same as a treatment session?
No. The purpose of the evaluation is to first understand the patient and determine an appropriate rehabilitation approach.
Specific services or modalities are not automatically appropriate for every animal simply because they are available.
The rehabilitation veterinarian uses the evaluation and available medical information to determine appropriate next steps.
What happens after the evaluation?
After the evaluation, the ATC team will discuss the recommended next steps with the owner.
Depending on the individual patient, those next steps may include rehabilitation visits, specific services, follow-up with another member of the veterinary care team, or another appropriate plan.
If additional ATC visits are recommended, the team can help schedule the next appointment before the owner leaves.
What should owners bring?
Owners should be prepared to discuss changes they have noticed at home, the patient's current activity, and their goals or concerns.
If there have been important medical changes since records were provided to ATC, owners should let the team know.
The more complete the picture, the better the rehabilitation team can understand the patient's current situation.
