Hi
I was wondering whether anyone on this forum had seen O'Sullivan as their cardiologist and if they could share their experience.
I've have been going for about 17 years. I've only saw Dr. O'Sullivan a couple of times last year since Dr. O'Grady retired.
You check in at the front desk of the small animal clinic, and then wait in the waiting room. Look for the Doberman in the mural to the right of the receptionist windows. It's very nice.
Dr. O'Sullivan's assistant, Heidi, will come get you. Your dog will be taken to a nearby scale and weighed, and then you'll both head off to the ultrasound room, probably (sometimes you go to a different room and have an ecg done there but usually you'll get them both in the same room).
Sometimes the dog gets the ecg done first, sometimes they get the ultrasound done first - depends on Lynne's availabilty and schedule with other patients. The ecg might be done with the dog on the table or it might be done with the dog lying on the floor. I prefer the table - my cranky knees don't deal well with getting on the floor. The dog needs to lie still for the ecg. You're right there, holding the dog.
There will be a little shaving done with electric clippers over the dog's heart on the left prior to the ultrasound. The ultrasound will be on the table. Again, you'll be right there watching everything, holding your dog and this is your opportunity to ask Lynne cardiac questions if you wish while she takes the measurements she needs. This will take 15ish minutes. The dog is hooked up to an ecg during the ultrasound. Again, you try to keep the dog still and calm during the whole process.
When they are done working from that side, they will shave a bit on the right hand side while the dog is still lying there, and then they will let the dog sit up and they will turn it around on the table to lie on the other side. Same thing while she takes measurements from the other side, taking 10-15 minutes.
Sometimes they have students there watching / learning, and that's interesting for the owner because we get to hear what they're being asked, how they answer, etc. By this time, I can answer some of the questions they get asked - lol. Sometimes students are coming and going from the room, using the computers, etc.
The end of the examination is the auscultation where Lynne will listen to the dog's heart with a stethoscope. They appreciate silence for that. Then she'll sit and type up a short report for you.
While we're there, we often get asked if we'd be willing to participate in other ongoing studies and they often ask if they can take a blood sample for whatever reason. This is obviously optional.
You pay Heidi at the end of the exam. And she'll likely walk you out so you don't get lost in the halls.
