Dog Consultations
Consultations are an important part of supporting your dog’s health, comfort, and overall wellbeing. They provide an opportunity for your veterinary team to assess your dog, discuss any concerns, and develop an appropriate plan of care.
At Melbourne Dog Clinic, consultations are designed to be thorough while also prioritising your dog’s comfort. Every dog is different, and appointments are tailored to suit each dog’s health needs, temperament, and previous experiences.
If you’re unsure whether your dog needs to be seen, you may find our When Should I Take My Dog to the Vet? page helpful.
→When Should I Take My Dog to the Vet?
Dogs may be seen for a wide range of reasons, including:
• routine health checks and preventative care
• illness or injury
• changes in mobility or signs of pain
• behavioural or anxiety-related concerns
• life stage care, including puppy and senior support
If your dog is showing changes in movement, you can read more on our Why Is My Dog Limping? page.
Preventative care, including vaccinations, plays an important role in maintaining your dog’s health. You can learn more on our Dog Vaccinations page.
In addition to standard consultations, we offer a range of appointment types designed to support different needs. These include longer or more focused consultations, gentle introduction visits for puppies, and Fear Free Visits for dogs who may feel unsure in the clinic environment.
Taking the time to understand your dog as an individual helps us provide care that is both appropriate and supportive.
Understanding what happens during a consultation can help you feel more prepared for your dog’s visit.
What to Expect at a Consultation
A consultation is an opportunity for your veterinary team to assess your dog’s health, discuss any concerns, and develop an appropriate plan of care.
During a consultation, your veterinarian may:
• perform a physical examination
• discuss your dog’s medical history and any current concerns
• assess comfort, mobility, and behaviour
• recommend diagnostic tests if required
• provide guidance on treatment, management, or preventative care
Routine examinations can also help identify early signs of dental disease. You can read more on our Dog Dental Care page.
Consultations are tailored to each individual dog. Some visits may be straightforward, while others may require additional time to fully assess more complex concerns.
At Melbourne Dog Clinic, we aim to make consultations as calm and comfortable as possible. Allowing time for dogs to settle, using gentle handling, and adapting the approach to suit each dog helps create a more positive experience.
If your dog may feel unsure or anxious during visits, additional supports can be discussed to help them feel more comfortable.
Supporting your dog’s comfort during their visit is an important part of how we approach consultations.
Supporting Your Dog’s Comfort During Consultations
At Melbourne Dog Clinic, we follow Fear Free principles, focusing on reducing stress and helping dogs feel safe during their visit.
For many dogs, veterinary visits can feel unfamiliar. Taking the time to create a calm environment and using gentle, considerate handling can make a significant difference to how a dog experiences their consultation.
Our approach may include:
• allowing dogs time to settle into the consult room
• using treats and positive reinforcement
• adapting handling to suit the individual dog
• adjusting the pace of the consultation where needed
• recognising when a dog may need a break
Some dogs may feel completely comfortable during their visit, while others may benefit from additional support.
For some dogs, additional support prior to their appointment can help reduce stress and improve their overall experience. This may include the use of pre-visit calming support. You can learn more about this on our Pre-Visit Calming Support for Dogs page.
→Pre-Visit Calming Support for Dogs
If your dog feels unsure or anxious during visits, you can learn more on our Nervous or Anxious Dogs page.
Our goal is to create positive experiences wherever possible, helping dogs feel more relaxed during veterinary care over time.
Positive handling experiences during grooming can also support your dog’s comfort. Learn more on our Dog Grooming page.
We offer a range of consultation types designed to support different needs and experiences.
Types of Dog Consultations We Offer
We offer a range of consultation types to support different needs, from routine health checks to more specific or supportive visits. If you are unsure which appointment is most suitable, our team is always happy to guide you.
For dogs who may feel unsure or anxious, we may recommend a Fear Free Initial Consultation to help plan a more supportive approach.
Standard Consultation
Standard consultations are suitable for most general concerns, including routine health checks, illness, injury, and preventative care.
These appointments allow your veterinarian to assess your dog, discuss any concerns, and recommend appropriate treatment or next steps.
If your dog requires more advanced care, we are also able to offer on-site specialist surgery in collaboration with our inhouse surgeon, Dr Joycelyn Tran. You can learn more on our Specialist Surgery for Dogs page.
Is it Behaviour or Is it Pain?
Changes in behaviour can sometimes be linked to underlying discomfort or pain.
These consultations are designed to assess both behavioural changes and physical comfort, helping to identify whether pain, mobility issues, or other factors may be contributing.
These appointments allow additional time for a more thorough assessment and to develop an appropriate management plan.
You can learn more about how we assess these cases on our Pain vs Behaviour page.
You can learn more about mobility and joint care on our Arthritis in Dogs page.
Some dogs may benefit from additional support prior to their visit. You can learn more about this on our Pre-Visit Calming Support for Dogs page.
→Pre-Visit Calming Support for Dogs
For some dogs, this may include a more structured approach beginning with a Fear Free Initial Consultation.
When changes may be linked to ageing
In older dogs, changes in behaviour are often closely linked to underlying health changes, including pain, mobility issues, or cognitive decline.
What may initially seem like a behaviour concern can sometimes be part of the natural ageing process, or a sign that your dog is feeling uncomfortable.
A senior health assessment can help us look at the bigger picture, identifying any medical or age-related factors that may be contributing to these changes.
Seniors Appointments
Senior appointments are tailored for older dogs and focus on monitoring health, comfort, and mobility as dogs age.
These consultations may include more detailed assessments and discussion of age-related changes to support your dog’s wellbeing.
You can learn more about caring for older dogs on our Seniors page.
Our team will guide you on whether a behaviour-focused consultation or a senior health check is the most appropriate next step for your dog.
Fear Free Initial Consultation
A Fear Free Initial Consultation is an owner-only appointment designed to help us understand your dog before they attend the clinic.
This consultation focuses on gathering your dog’s history, behaviour, and previous experiences, allowing us to identify their individual needs and plan how best to support them.
During this discussion, we will:
• review your dog’s medical and behavioural history
• identify any triggers, sensitivities, or challenges
• discuss your concerns and priorities
• outline a plan for future visits
By planning ahead, we can reduce stress and create a more supportive, tailored experience when your dog attends the clinic.
You can also learn more about supporting anxious dogs on our Nervous or Anxious Dogs page.
This appointment is usually the best first step for dogs who feel anxious or unsure, allowing us to plan the most appropriate support before they attend.
Fear Free Victory Visits
Fear Free Victory Visits are structured follow-up appointments designed to help your dog feel more comfortable and confident when attending the clinic.
These visits are typically recommended following a Fear Free Initial Consultation and are tailored to your dog’s individual needs. For some dogs, a structured and planned approach can make a meaningful difference to how they experience the clinic.
You can learn more about this approach on our Fear Free Visits for Dogs page.
Grooming Preparation Consultations
Some dogs benefit from a Fear Free consultation before grooming, particularly if they feel anxious, sensitive, or have had a difficult experience in the past.
These consultations allow us to assess your dog’s comfort with handling, identify any underlying pain or sensitivities, and create a personalised plan to support a more positive grooming experience.
This may include guidance on:
Gradual introduction to grooming (such as shorter or staged sessions)
Handling techniques to improve comfort
Timing and structure of grooming appointments
Supports such as pre-visit calming pharmaceuticals (PVPs), if appropriate
If your dog has found grooming stressful in the past, starting with a Fear Free consultation can help set them up for a better experience.
Specialist Consultations (Dr Tran)
We also offer access to specialist consultations with Dr Tran for more complex cases.
These appointments require coordination with our team and cannot be booked online. If you believe your dog may benefit from a specialist consultation, please contact us to discuss referral and appointment options.
Fear Free Happy Visits (Complimentary)
Happy visits are short, positive visits designed to help dogs feel comfortable in the clinic environment.
These visits may include:
• gentle introductions to the consult room
• stepping on the scales
• receiving treats and positive reinforcement
Happy Visits are particularly helpful for puppies and for dogs who may feel unsure during veterinary visits.
Puppy Meet and Greets (Complimentary)
Puppy meet and greet visits provide an opportunity for puppies to become familiar with the clinic environment in a calm and positive way.
These visits support early socialisation and help puppies develop confidence with handling and veterinary care.
You can explore more about early puppy care on our Getting a New Puppy page.
Choosing the right type of consultation helps ensure your dog receives care that is appropriate for their needs and comfort.
Preparing for your visit can help make your dog’s consultation as smooth and positive as possible.
Preparing for Your Dog’s Consultation
Preparing for your dog’s consultation can help make the visit calmer and more comfortable for both you and your dog.
A few simple steps can make a meaningful difference to how your dog experiences their appointment.
Before your visit, it may be helpful to:
• bring any relevant medical history or previous records
• note any recent changes in behaviour, appetite, or mobility
• take photos or videos of any concerns, such as limping or unusual behaviour
• bring a list of questions you would like to discuss
• avoid feeding a large meal immediately before the visit (small treats are helpful)
Bringing your dog’s favourite treats, toy, or a familiar blanket can also help them feel more relaxed in the clinic environment.
If your dog may feel unsure or anxious during visits, please let our team know in advance. We can discuss options to help support your dog’s comfort, including Fear Free approaches and pre-visit calming pharmaceuticals (PVPs).
You can find out more about PVPs on our Pre-Visit Calming Support for Dogs page.
→Pre-Visit Calming Support for Dogs
Arriving a few minutes early can give your dog time to settle before the consultation begins.
After your consultation, ongoing care and follow-up may be recommended depending on your dog’s needs.
After Your Dog’s Consultation
After your dog’s consultation, your veterinary team will discuss any findings and outline the next steps for your dog’s care.
This may include:
• treatment or medication recommendations
• further diagnostic testing if required
• ongoing monitoring of your dog’s condition
• follow-up or recheck appointments
• guidance on care at home
Some conditions may require a step-by-step approach, with adjustments made over time based on how your dog responds to treatment.
If your dog requires ongoing support, follow-up consultations may be recommended to monitor progress and ensure their care plan remains appropriate.
Our team is always available to answer questions after your visit. If you have any concerns or notice changes in your dog’s condition, we encourage you to contact us.
Supporting your dog’s health is an ongoing process, and we aim to work closely with you to provide care that is both effective and tailored to your dog’s individual needs.
If your dog requires more advanced care, we are also able to offer on-site specialist surgery in collaboration with our resident surgeon, Dr Joycelyn Tran. You can learn more on our Specialist Surgery for Dogs page.
If a procedure is recommended, you can also learn more about recovery on our page.
If you are unsure which consultation type is most suitable for your dog, our team is always happy to guide you.