608-834-8118    |    1512 N. Bristol St. Sun Prairie, WI 53590    |    Mon - Fri 8 AM - 6 PM

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Sun Prairie Pet Clinic will offer appointments in either curbside or face-to-face format

In July 2021 we will return to scheduling face-to-face appointments in addition to offering curbside as well.  We recognize that different families have varying levels of comfort in regard to returning to face-to-face appointments in an exam room setting.  Because of this, we now offer a choice of either curbside or face-to-face format for regularly scheduled appointments. 

To maintain our efforts at keeping COVID-19 exposure risk as low as possible, we will continue to restrict access to the building and will have doors locked through the day.  When you arrive to the Clinic for an appointment we request that you call from your parking spot to alert us that you have arrived.  Our staff will then direct you though the steps of your appointment, either by gathering information over the phone (in the case of a curbside visit) or by escorting you and your pet into the building (in the case of a face-to-face visit).  

For all clients that are entering the building for an appointment, we will continue to require that a mask is worn over the nose and mouth throughout the duration of your time in the Clinic.  Failure to wear a mask throughout you time in the Clinic will result in finishing your visit in a curbside format.  

If you have arranged to have prescription foods or medicines ready ahead of you visit, these will continue to be placed in the vestibule that is reserved for pickup.  For our clients that arrive to the Clinic to purchase prescription foods or medications without prior arrangements we ask that you please contact us when you arrive so we can assist you.

By |July 12th, 2021|Uncategorized|
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Sun Prairie Pet Clinic plan summary for phased return to face-to-face appointments

  • Client traffic will again be available on a limited basis beginning May 4, 2021.  Please call the Clinic at 608-834-8118 for availability.
  • Curbside appointments will be available throughout this process for clients that are not yet comfortable with coming into the building.
  • We ask that only one family member accompany the pets into the building unless prior arrangements are made to better maintain social distancing.
  • Clients will be required to wear well-fitting face masks that cover the nose and mouth at all times during the visit.
  • The waiting room will be closed; if there are tests or procedures that are needed for your pet during their visit, you will be asked to wait for these to be completed outside of the building.
  • We will continue to use contactless checkout; invoicing will be completed either in the exam room or by credit card over the phone.
By |April 22nd, 2021|News|
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Updated COVID-19 Containment Measures Implemented

UPDATED COVID-19 CONTAINMENT MEASURES AT

SUN PRAIRIE PET CLINIC

The Sun Prairie Pet Clinic will immediately institute the following changes to our operational plan in order to support the efforts that are directed at limiting the community spread of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 respiratory disease.

If you have a fever or are feeling ill, we ask you to remain at home.  If you have a fever or feel ill and your pet needs to be seen, please call our Clinic at 608-834-8118, so we can discuss options.

Beginning Wednesday, March 18:

  • The Clinic will be open our normal hours and staffed at our normal levels, though there will be no client traffic into the Clinic building.  
  • The Clinic will be open to care for both wellness visits and sick pets in the manner we typically do.
  • When you arrive at Sun Prairie Pet Clinic for an appointment: 
    • Please call 608-834-8118 to check in.
    • After checking in and verifying what you would like to have done for your pet on that visit, please bring your pet to the doors furthest towards Stonehaven Road. Open the door, place your pet inside (we ask that all cats be placed in a sturdy carrier and dogs’ leashes be removed) and close the door with your pet inside. Please remain with your pet until a staff member comes to retrieve them.
    • Our staff will call you with discharge instructions and for payment.
  • Our staff may be wearing a mask, gloves, or both; this is being done for your safety as well as the safety of our staff.
  • You have the option of leaving and returning later to pick up your pet or waiting for your pet outside the building.
  • After the exam is completed we will communicate the findings to you directly; this can be done over the phone, by text, or email.  
  • After care is completed we will accept payment with our usual methods (credit card, cash, or check).  Your receipt will be left in our vestibule or emailed to you based on your preference.  
  • If you are not comfortable having your pet treated without you in attendance, we ask that you to reschedule your pet’s appointment to a later date. 
  • Surgery patients will continue to be admitted between 7:30 AM and 8:15 AM.  Discharge times will continue to be determined through the day based on the order the surgeries are completed.
  • Clients that are picking up medications and prescription diets are encouraged to call ahead, so we know to expect you.  Medication or food will be placed in the appropriately labeled vestibule after payment has been taken over the phone.
By |March 18th, 2020|News|
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Coronavirus Containment Efforts at Sun Prairie Pet Clinic

Update On Sun Prairie Pet Clinic 

Protocol Changes with COVID-19 Outbreak

Containment Efforts

Monday, March 16th, 2020

There is a considerable amount of concern and anxiety surrounding the recently-identified, novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 respiratory disease that it causes in people.  Available information and communication surrounding COVID-19 is constantly evolving, leading to rapidly changing recommendations and procedures.

Our veterinary staff has an obligation to protect and promote public health, as well as the wellness of our canine and feline family members, and we do not take this lightly.   At this time, there is no information to indicate that our dogs and cats can contract the respiratory disease associated with the novel coronavirus.  We have decided to take measures to slow the transmission of this coronavirus through the people in our community.

The staff at the Sun Prairie Pet Clinic, Inc. has been monitoring all of the available information regarding COVID-19 in both people and our canine and feline family members.  Based on current information and recommendations, we will implement the following changes in our operations to keep us in alignment with recommendations from the CDC as well as the Wisconsin Department of Public Health and the Dane County Department of Public Health.

If You Have Tested Positive for COVID-19 or If You Have a Fever:

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 you should be following state-mandated self-quarantine procedures, and as such you should stay home.  Please do not visit our clinic if you have a fever, cough, or cold and flu-like symptoms.  This is appropriate to follow under typical situations and especially under the current fears of COVID-19.

If you are positive or are feeling ill and your pet needs to be seen, please call the us at 608-834-8118, and we can discuss options that are available to have your pet seen and treated.

New Procedures When You Come to Visit Sun Prairie Pet Clinic:

Based on current recommendations we will be working to increase social distancing and decrease foot traffic though the clinic:

  • We will be asking our patients to be accompanied by only one family member.  If you need assistance with your pet, or if you have multiple pets, please let us know and we can have staff members help with your visit.
  • When in the exam room we will be recommending that handling of your pet for his or her examination be performed by our staff.  This is being done to maintain the recommended distance between people as put forward by the CDC and Dane County Public Health.  The examination can be done in the exam room, though optimally this would be done out of the exam room in the treatment area.  It is important that you know that your pet will NOT be taken from the exam room for any reason without your permission.

If You Have an Appointment and Need to Reschedule:

Simply call the clinic, and we can find an alternate time and date for your visit.  There are no penalties for cancellations or rescheduled appointments.

If You Have Concerns About Public Spaces and You Need to Come with Your Pet to the Sun Prairie Pet Clinic:

Know that in addition to our already thorough cleaning procedures, we have initiated additional steps to increase the scope of our cleaning with the current coronavirus concerns.

We recognize that some individuals may not feel comfortable interacting with people in public at this time.  If this is the case, but you still need to have your pet seen at the clinic, we will have disposable masks and hand sanitizers available for your use upon request.

Additionally, we can bring your pet into the clinic for their visit from your vehicle if you prefer.  You have the flexibility to remain outside the clinic; our staff can communicate with you outside or by phone.

Finally, we have the capability of having your pet’s care performed without you present by having you drop off your pet with us and having you come back later in the day.

Local Awareness:

At this time there have been 5 confirmed cases of coronavirus in people in Dane County.  Several of these cases have been noted in the city of Sun Prairie.  This has led to high suspicion of additional cases that have yet to be discovered, in turn raising concern for widespread transmission of this disease.

While there is currently no information confirming significant numbers of cases, we realize that this is a real possibility after monitoring the progression of COVID-19 in other communities and countries.

Both the State of Wisconsin and the Public Health Department of Madison and Dane County have mandated isolation of all individuals that test positive for this novel coronavirus.  Additionally, individuals that are feeling ill or have a fever have been advised to not leave home.  Most recently, the Governor has ordered closing of all schools in Wisconsin beginning March 18 until April 6; the Sun Prairie School District extended that closure to include March 16 and 17 as well.  All of these measures have been instituted to attempt to slow the transmission of the coronavirus and cases of COVID-19.

By |March 16th, 2020|News|
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Welcome Dr. Stephanie Brye!

The Sun Prairie Pet Clinic is very glad to announce the addition of our third full time veterinarian, Dr. Stephanie Brye.  Dr. Brye has 15 years of experience in small animal medicine and surgery.  Her skilled and compassionate care are a tremendous addition to our practice.  She and her family live here in Sun Prairie, so you may see her while you are out and around town.  Say Hi and give her a warm welcome to the Sun Prairie Pet Clinic!

By |February 21st, 2019|News|
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Wow! SPPC named Best Veterinarian of Sun Prairie again!

The votes came in, and the Sun Prairie Pet Clinic was named Best of Sun Prairie again in 2018.  This makes the fifth time in 9 years – something we are very proud of.  Come in an let us show you what personalized care for your canine and feline family members looks like.

By |February 21st, 2019|News|
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Online Scheduling is here!

We have introduced online access to your pet’s information, as well as the ability to edit your contact information, schedule appointments, and request refills for chronic medications through our pet portal.  For convenience, there are several new icons on the website pages that allow you to access the pet portal directly.  Additional information is available at the Pet Portal / Online Scheduling page on our website, which is available here.

By |April 10th, 2017|Uncategorized|
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Tips for choosing your next dog

If you are planning to get a dog, there are a number of things you should consider to maximize the enjoyment of pet ownership.

Breed

One of the most important things to consider is what type of dog to get.  With the wide variety of breeds available, there is typically a breed that is well suited to your home; conversely, there are a number of breeds that may not suit your home and lifestyle well.

Remember all of the family members that will be living with this dog.  Additionally, keep in mind the other people that will interact with your dog and how you want that interaction to develop.  If there is a large number of young children that will be around your dog, finding a breed that is calm and not easily agitated will be a good choice.  The size of the dog also very important and must be considered.  If your dog will be kept at family member’s homes while you vacation, be certain that they are able to take care of the dog you get, otherwise the dog will need to travel with you or will need to be kenneled at a commercial kenneling facility.

Age

Considering the age of a dog is another important factor to consider as well.  Acquiring a puppy allows to you have a lot of control over the training from the beginning.  Training a puppy from a young age can be challenging, though, and requires a significant time investment.  Getting an adult dog allows you to skip house training and basic training (like sit, come, and stay), though if that training was not completed already you may need to do this anyway.

Gender

While many people have a preference regarding getting a male or a female dog, there typically is no significant difference between the two as long as there is proper training and temperament for your home.

Taking the time to consider these factors is very important to maximize the enjoyment you get from your newest family member.

By |March 27th, 2017|Uncategorized|
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Pet Health Insurance – cover your assets!

When discussing health insurance for my client’s dogs and cats, I typically have two questions for them:

  1. Do you have health insurance for your pet?
  2. Why not?

Both questions are usually valid because current estimates are that less than 5% of all dogs and cats in the United States have health insurance.

Pet health insurance is a growing industry.  20 years ago there were only a small number of companies that offered pet health insurance, and this led to incomplete coverage and premiums that did not add up financially for many families.  Currently there are now over 10 reputable companies offering health insurance for pets, and the number of pets insured has risen significantly.  This increase has led to refining of the industry, increased competition, better coverage, and lower premiums.

This does not mean that getting insurance for your pet health is a simple decision.  Pet insurance is structured more like car insurance, where you can pick the level of coverage and a deductible (up front out-pf-pocket) costs you want, and the monthly premium is then figured out from that.

There are policies that cover almost all of your pet’s care, including emergency care, routine care, surgeries, and medications.  These policies are quite simple, but can be costly.  Adding up a year’s of premiums can result in a substantially higher amount then you would pay for out of pocket routine care.  Many of our clients benefit from a policy that covers for significant accidents and illnesses, but leaves the routine care for you to pay for.  While this leads to no savings on routine care, it can be a lifesaver in the case of an accident or illness.

Take for example a simple athletic injury, the torn anterior cruciate ligament in the hind leg (or torn ACL).  This is the most frequently diagnosed orthopedic injury in the dog based on statistics, with millions of dogs affected each year.  A high quality ACL repair can cost from $2500 – $3000 out of pocket; with insurance, a family can see 70 – 80% of that covered.  To have a $3000 surgery turn into less than $1000 is significant; while hundreds of dollars is not small, it is a lot better then thousands.

I strongly recommend that pet owners gather as much information on pet health insurance as possible and research the market for coverage and cost that is appropriate for them.  Pet health insurance has dramatically enhanced the care that many pet owners can deliver to their pets, and even saved many lives because of it.

By |October 17th, 2016|News|
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Canine Flu reported in Dane County again

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture released information in early December indicating that there have been new cases of the canine influenza virus identified in Dane county in the recent weeks.  Based on what we know about this disease from the outbreak in Chicago during the spring, we are concerned about the threat posed to our canine family members in our area.

It is important to note that while there are new cases reported in Dane county, there has been no indication that the number of cases is growing.  This is significant because the Canine Influenza virus is highly transmissible; a lack of additional new cases appears to show that monitoring and quarantine efforts have been successful in holding back the spread to far.  Because this disease is spread by contact with other dogs, we expect that the number of cases will rise as we get to warmer weather and there are more group outdoor activities for our dogs to participate in.

The new cases reported this month are caused by the H3N2 strain of the Canine Influenza virus, which is different from the H3N8 strain that is more routinely seen in North America.  This is the same strain that caused the outbreak in the Chicago area.  This strain can cause dogs to be more ill than the more common one, with patients typically feeling poorly for 14 days, sometimes even 21 or more.  Clinical signs typically include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge (runny nose), lethargic behavior, and decreased appetite.

During the outbreak in Chicago there was no vaccine available for the new strain.  Since that time, there is a vaccine that has been developed and licensed.  The new vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in clinical testing.  Currently, the Sun Prairie Pet Clinic considers both the H3N8 and H3N2 Canine Influenza vaccines important for dogs that frequent dog parks, attend day care or group training classes, or are involved in activities that could bring them in proximity to a large number of other dogs (competitions, shows, etc.).  A good ‘rule of thumb’ is that if you feel that your dog benefits from a Bordetella (“Kennel Cough”) vaccine, then you should consider having your dog vaccinated for H3N8 and H3N2 Influenza.

If you have any questions regarding the Canine Influenza virus, or if you feel that your dog is showing clinical signs of canine influenza, please call the Sun Prairie Pet Clinic at 608-834-8118.

By |December 28th, 2015|Uncategorized|
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