Hospital Policies
Our Policies at Vogel Veterinary Hospital
The following policies outline important information regarding prescriptions, appointments, payments, and surgical procedures. These guidelines help us maintain a safe, organized environment focused on delivering compassionate, reliable veterinary care for every pet and family we serve.
Prescriptions
By Missouri law, all pets must receive an exam by one of our licensed veterinarians within the last 12 months in order for medications to be prescribed. Medications cannot be prescribed to pets who do not have a valid veterinary client-patient relationship with one of Vogel Veterinary Hospital‘s veterinarians.
A canine patient must have a current negative heartworm test on file in order to dispense heartworm preventative. Some preventatives may require additional heartworm testing to be covered by manufacturer’s guarantee.
Surgical Appointments
A non-refundable payment is required for all surgical procedures at the time of scheduling in order to reserve the appointment. This deposit is applied to the total cost of the procedure.
Surgery must be postponed or cancelled at least 3 working days prior to the procedure to avoid forfeiting the deposit.
No-Show Surgeries
We understand that unexpected situations can arise; however, missed surgeries take away valuable time that could be used to care for patients in need.
To reschedule, a $100 deposit is required to secure your spot. This deposit will be applied toward your next surgery and helps ensure we can provide the best scheduling and care for all our patients.
Payment Options
Vogel Veterinary Hospital strives to provide high-quality care at fair prices and will provide a detailed estimate prior to treatments for your pet. We accept cash, checks (with photo ID), Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover cards. Payment is required in full at the time of service.
A deposit will be required if a pet needs hospitalization, and the remaining balance must be paid in full at the time of discharge. While we do not offer in-house payment plans, we do accept CareCredit and Scratchpay, which allow convenient monthly payment options.
Appointment Deposits
We require a deposit for all new client appointments. This deposit will be applied toward the cost of the visit. If the appointment is cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours’ notice, the deposit is forfeited.
Deposits are also required for clients scheduling multiple pets at the same appointment time. These deposits will go toward the appointment cost but will be forfeited if cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours’ notice.
Additionally, deposits will be required for all appointments if there are more than two cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice or two no-show appointments. These deposits are forfeited if the appointment is cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours’ notice.
No-Show Appointments
We understand that unexpected things can occur, but missed appointments take away valuable time that could be used to care for sick patients.
To reschedule a no-show appointment, a $50 deposit is required to secure your spot. This deposit will be applied toward your next visit and helps ensure we can provide the best scheduling and care for all our patients.
Third-Party Prescriptions
As of June 1st, 2024, changes have been made to how prescriptions from outside pharmacies are handled. Faxed or emailed prescriptions will not be returned to outside sources. Clients must call the office to request prescription products.
If approved by a veterinarian, prescriptions will be prepared within 48 hours and must be picked up at the front desk during normal business hours. If you are coming in for your annual wellness visit, please notify us in advance so we can prepare written prescriptions for flea, tick, or heartworm preventatives if appropriate.
We can also provide access to our online pharmacy, which is directly linked to our practice and ensures accurate prescribing. This option often includes discounts and convenient home delivery, along with auto-shipping to help prevent missed doses.
These changes allow our team to focus more on providing exceptional care rather than managing time-intensive prescription corrections from outside pharmacies. The only exceptions to this policy include medications, preventatives, and prescription diets purchased in-house, compounded medications, or products ordered through our online pharmacy.
Written prescriptions must be picked up in person and submitted by the client to their chosen pharmacy. We cannot fax or email prescriptions to outside pharmacies.
We appreciate your understanding, as these policies help us ensure your pet receives the highest quality care possible. Please contact our team if you have any questions.