Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Do I need a referral to see Dr. Boyd?

While we appreciate the collaborative relationship we have with primary care veterinarians, a referral is not required to schedule an appointment with us. We welcome all pets in need of specialized eye care.

What kind of animals do you treat?

We primarily focus on providing expert eye care for dogs and cats. However, we also welcome most small animals that can comfortably fit through our doors! This includes pocket pets and exotics. If you have a unique pet who needs eye care, please give us a call! We'd love to discuss scheduling an appointment and see how we can best assist you. Please note that we are currently unable to treat large animals.

What are Fear Free Protocols?

We believe in creating a stress-free environment for your pet. That's why we employ Fear Free practices, using gentle, science-based strategies to minimize fear, anxiety, and stress. We're patient, gentle, and observant, ensuring both you and your pet feel at ease during every visit and procedure. Learn more about the Fear Free approach.

Preparing for your appointment:

To ensure we provide the best possible care for your pet, we kindly ask that you bring a few things to their initial consultation. Don’t forget a leash or carrier for your pet!

• Veterinary Records: We will retrieve these for you! When scheduling your appointment, please let our team know about all veterinarians and specialists your pet has seen. This allows us to gather and review their medical records before their visit, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their health.
• Medications: Please bring all medications currently prescribed for your pet's eye condition, as well as any other medications they are taking to their appointment. This helps us understand their complete medical picture.
• Special Treats: We love to reward our furry patients with tasty treats! While we have a selection of delicious treats on hand, if your pet has any allergies or is on a restricted diet, please bring their favorite treats from home. This will allow us to positively reinforce their good behavior during the examination.

Important Note: For the safety of all our patients and staff, please refrain from bringing any raw foods or peanut-related food products.

Hospital Policies

Cancelation Policy:

We understand that unexpected circumstances arise that may affect your ability to keep your appointment. We're committed to working with you and doing our best to accommodate any scheduling challenges. To help us ensure we can provide timely care for all our patients, we kindly ask for your cooperation with our appointment policies.

• As a courtesy we offer your preference of a text, email or phone call reminder prior to your scheduled appointment.
• If you need to cancel your appointment, we kindly request that you notify us at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. This allows us time to offer the appointment time to another pet in need.

If you cancel or miss (no show) your scheduled appointment without 24 hours' notice:

• We will not charge you for your first missed appointment. However, to reschedule, we may require a deposit.
  • If your pet is scheduled for a new appointment, this deposit will be applied directly toward the cost of that visit.
  • Please note that you will be charged the deposit fee if the rescheduled appointment is canceled again without 24 hours' notice.
• We recognize that unforeseen situations may arise, making it impossible to cancel within 24 hours. We assure you that these circumstances will be handled with compassion and considered on an individual basis.

If you find yourself running late for your appointment:

• Please let us know as soon as possible by calling our office. We will make every effort to accommodate your pet and fit them into our schedule.
• Depending on the length of the delay and our daily schedule, we may need to reschedule your appointment to ensure we can provide the thorough and attentive care to your pet, as well as our other valued patients. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience.

Cost & Payment Policies:

• An initial consultation includes an initial examination and consult with Dr. Boyd, who performs three diagnostics to assess your pet's ocular health. This is followed by a diagnosis and treatment plan, which may include additional procedures, diagnostics, or medication. Please ask one of our team members for the cost of this initial examination when scheduling your appointment.
• We believe in open communication, and we'll always provide you with a detailed written overview of your pet's treatment plan costs and a clear description of the services to be performed.
• Payment is due at the time of service.
• We accept cash and all major credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express). Unfortunately, we do NOT accept personal checks.
• We also accept CareCredit health and wellness credit cards, which offer interest-delayed payment options. You can learn more about CareCredit's offerings on their website website.
• To make your experience easier, we accept Trupanion direct pay for all eligible claims, so you can focus on your pet's care.

Expectations for Pets

We know that many of our furry friends are social butterflies. However, we also understand that some animals prefer a quieter, more private experience. To ensure the comfort and safety of all our patients and visitors, we've established a few simple guidelines:

• Dogs must always be on a leash or in a carrier whenever you're outside the examination room.
• If your dog tends to be reactive towards other dogs or people, please let our team know when you schedule your appointment. We'll be happy to make special arrangements for your arrival.
• Cats must be safely inside their carrier whenever you're outside the examination room. This helps create a calm environment and ensures everyone's safety.

Expectations for People

To ensure a smooth and pleasant visit for all our clients, pets, and team members, we've put together a few guidelines for people accompanying pets:

• Accompaniment: To maintain a calm and focused environment, we kindly ask that no more than two people/family members accompany each pet during their examination or procedure.
• Children's Safety: To ensure the safety of everyone, children must be attended to at all times while in our waiting area and examination rooms.
• Peanut-Free Zone: For the safety of our team members who have a severe peanut allergy, Vision is a peanut-free facility. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
• Communication: We love hearing from you! Let's keep our conversations positive and respectful, whether we're chatting in person, on the phone, or online. We ask that everyone treats our team and fellow pet parents with kindness.
• A Zero-Tolerance Approach to Negativity: We're committed to a positive environment, so we don't tolerate any form of abuse, harassment, or discrimination. If anyone acts in a way that makes our clinic unsafe or uncomfortable, we may need to ask them to leave and not return.

Our Commitment to You: We're dedicated to making your visit a great one! We'll always treat you and your pet with compassion, respect, and understanding. We're always looking for ways to improve, so please feel free to talk with Dr. Boyd about any feedback you have.

Thank you for helping us create a happy and healthy environment for everyone!