TECHNOLOGY FAQs

Q. You provide Hi-Tech pet care. What about your company is Hi-Tech? 

We maximize technology in numerous ways to drive accessible, convenient pet healthcare via our three convenient care options: Urgent Care Clinics, Wellness Clinics and Telemedicine.  

• URGENT CARE
  We have created multiple care avenues for your pet. Online scheduling, text and email to facilitate check in, payment and visit summaries. All of our clinics are linked utilizing a shared records system and video teleconferencing so our doctors and staff can practice connected, collaborative medicine. Many of our Urgent Care Doctors have extensive experience working in 24 - hour Emergency clinics. They are well prepared to get your pet feeling better as soon as possible .

• NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS
  Our neighborhood wellness clinics will center around technology, utilizing kiosks, text, and email to facilitate check-in, payment, and visit summaries to provide you with the most seamless experience possible.  We also provide onsite, advanced laboratory testing procedures to give you near immediate results.  

• TELEMEDICINE
  We’ve harnessed telemedicine technology - a convenient care option that human medicine has been utilizing for years - to address many of your pet’s healthcare concerns.  

Our hi-tech approach goes beyond the computer. In addition to fast, efficient service, BoosterPet elevates the role of the Licensed Veterinary Technician.  As key members of our medical team, our techs work at the top of their license to provide compassionate care, skilled treatments, and exceptional client education. We truly are Hi-Tech! 

Q. I don’t have access to technology. Can I still use your services? 

We can accommodate and alter our process to fit your needs.

For anyone without a working email address, cell phone number or the inability to operate a cell phone or computer, we can provide accommodations. Maximizing our use of technology saves on operational costs, and we love passing those savings on to you!

PAYMENT FAQS

Q. What forms of payment do you accept?  

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. We do not accept cash or checks.

Q. Do you offer a payment plan or any kind of financial aid?

BoosterPet does not offer any direct financial assistance, but one option may be Care Credit a third-party provider of loans designed with pet healthcare costs in mind. You can apply for a Care Credit plan on your computer, from your phone or when you get here. Click Here to apply. It takes less than 2 minutes and there is no hard credit check.

URGENT CARE FAQs

Q. What is Urgent Care? 

Just like for people, illness cannot be predicted. If your pet is sick, we are here to help.

Urgent Care medicine and surgery occupies a space between general wellness or preventive care (think vaccinations, routine checkups and scheduled surgery) and Emergency Medicine and Surgery (think - life threatening problems). Minor cuts, vomiting, allergic reactions and minor bleeding are a few examples. An Urgent Care clinic can provide immediate care for these problems, avoiding the long wait and high cost of Emergency Hospitals.

For more information about Urgent Care at BoosterPet and to see some examples of conditions we can help with, click here. 

TREATMENT FAQs

Q. My Pet is scheduled for an anesthetic procedure (minor surgery, dental, spay or neuter). What should I do in preparation of the procedure and when will I be able to pick them up?

The night before the procedure, you can give normal dinner at normal time. But in general, no food after 10pm-midnight that night. So make sure you pick up the food if they have free access (all those kittehs out there - and some doggoes). Water is okay to give throughout the night and in the morning of surgery.

If your pet normally needs medications after they eat at night or in the morning, especially if it is for anxiety related to the vet trip, you can give the medication with a tiny (teeny tiny) amount of food. The least amount necessary to get it down.

Pick up time varies, but most of the time between 4-6pm. We always call/text when their surgery is finished, and we will set up specific pick up time then.

Q. What if my pet is sick or I have concerns or questions? 

Depending on the nature of your concerns, here are ways you can access care for your pet.

1. Non-emergency - Take your pet to our neighborhood Wellness clinics. You can find our locations and hours of operations by clicking here. You can call to schedule or schedule online. We commonly treat minor illnesses and injuries including ear, eye, and skin infections, itchiness and allergies, gastrointestinal upset, cuts and scrapes, and parasite problems. We are happy to provide an initial exam and consultation and refer you to one of our Urgent Care locations if more complex care is required.  

2. Immediate Concern - You can click here for a quick tele-triage appointment. A licensed veterinarian can quickly help you assess your situation and provide guidance. Consultation fee starts at $32.

3. Urgent Care - Same day appointments are available for urgent care cases. You can call or schedule online. Think of Urgent Care cases like you would in a friend or child - cuts, vomiting, allergic reactions, not eating, etc… For hours and locations click here. For a list of what might be considered an Urgent Care case, click here.

4. Emergency - If you suspect your pet is having an emergency, please contact your nearest veterinary emergency center.

Q. Will I get to stay with my pet during their visit? 

We understand that a vet visit causes anxiety for many pets and owners. Many dogs go into protection mode when near their owners. For our safety and theirs, it often works best to create some distance between you and your pet for the 10 minutes or so they are in our care. We perform most exams and treatments in the exam room but for some things like nail trims, vaccinations or ear cleanings, it is best to have this done in the treatment area, where equipment and supplies are located.  Unfortunately, we are not able to allow owners to help restrain their pets.  

Q. Do you allow dogs or cats that are aggressive and resistant to handling? 

Every pet deserves great care, regardless of how they feel about us.

However, certain levels of aggression pose a threat to everyone’s safety, including that of your pet.  If you know your pet shows signs of aggression or resistance at the vet, please notify us at check-in. We are always happy to evaluate a patient to determine if we can provide proper treatment using safe restraint. If we determine that your pet will need sedation or anti-anxiety medications prior to treatment, we will provide you with a plan for your consideration, and treatment may need to resume at a later date. Unfortunately, we are not able to allow owners to restrain their pets.  

VACCINATION FAQs

Q. I just want vaccines, does my pet need an exam? 

 We’re required by law to examine your pet once yearly in order to vaccinate, diagnose, and treat them. Ideally, pets should be examined twice yearly and whenever they seem ill or experience changes to their health. At minimum, an exam includes a look in the mouth, eyes and ears; a listen to the heart and lungs, checking for lumps and bumps, evaluation of the skin and haircoat, body condition assessment (a measure of your pet’s weight), brief evaluation of mobility and joint function, and a look at the belly and genitals. Regular exams are key to detecting and preventing illness and injury. We will likely do an exam every time we see your pet unless they are resistant to handling. 

Q. Which vaccinations do you recommend for dogs? 

The cornerstone vaccines for puppies are the Distemper/Parvovirus four-way combination vaccine (given as a series during puppyhood and then every one to three years for adults) as well as Rabies (given first at 16 weeks of age and then every three years for adults). Other vaccines to consider include: 

• Bordetella, the vaccine that protects against kennel cough, for most dogs that leave the house, and is considered a core vaccine for any dog that visits the grooming salon, daycare, dog parks, or other social activities. Bordetella can be given as early as eight weeks and is generally good for one year.  

• The Leptospirosis vaccine, given in a two-part series, protects against a bacterial infection that can lead to kidney failure. Leptospirosis spreads in the urine of infected animals and therefore thrives in watery areas such as the Pacific Northwest. We recommend it for most dogs that leave the house and consider it a core vaccine for puppies that will hike, camp, and have exposure to bodies of water. Leptospirosis can be spread from animals to humans and may be especially important in households with immunocompromised owners.  

• Additional vaccines, such as Canine Influenza, Lyme, and Rattlesnake are location dependent and sometimes recommended for dogs that travel outside Western Washington.  

Q. Which vaccinations do you recommend for cats? 

Like puppies, the cornerstone vaccines for kittens include the Feline Distemper/Upper Respiratory three-way combination vaccine (given as a series during kittenhood and then every one to three years for adults) and the Rabies vaccine, given first at 16 weeks and every one to three years for adults.  

A third vaccine, Feline Leukemia, is often reserved for cats that go outside. However, we recommend this vaccine series for indoor kittens as well. The two-part series given during the kitten stage is intended to protect them if they were to ever escape later in life and encounter an infected cat.  

Q. Why does my pet receive repeated vaccinations throughout life? Is it possible to over-vaccinate my pet? 

Similar to human medicine, vaccine science is complex and ever-evolving. Puppies and kittens get maternal antibodies from their mothers, and the vaccinations that we administer for modern-day illnesses, such as parvovirus and kennel cough, compete against those maternal antibodies.  To maximize immunity against these prevalent diseases, certain vaccines are given repeatedly during this life-stage as the immune system matures. As adults, antibodies remain active in the body for a certain amount of time, and vaccination guidelines, as informed by research, indicated intervals at which most pets will need a repeat vaccination.  

Q. My puppy received vaccinations from the breeder. Do these count toward their vaccination series? 

It’s possible, though the age of your pet when they received that first vaccine and how the vaccine is stored and handled plays a role in its viability.  It may still be recommended to receive the full series from a veterinarian. 

MISCELLANEOUS FAQs

Q. Will BoosterPet replace my current vet? 

We would love to be a part of your pet’s healthcare team.

Because we are wellness-based, it is important to maintain a relationship with a full-service veterinarian in the area should your pet have a serious illness or injury that we cannot accommodate. We are a well-networked group of veterinary professionals that have experience owning and working in a variety of hospital settings. We love helping pet parents make connections within the veterinary community and know the importance of great documentation and communication between you and the professionals that care for your pet.  We like to think of ourselves as helping your vet when they get too busy. Our wellness clinics and Urgent Care locations provide great service but we also value the long term relationship you have with your regular vet, therefore, we are very open and share all records and communications with your trusted veterinary care provider.

Q. Does my pet have to be vaccinated for Rabies to be seen at BoosterPet?

State law requires all companion animals be vaccinated for rabies. If your pet is not vaccinated for rabies, we are very happy to provide this low cost and important service.