Welcome to Guide Dogs for the Blind | Guide Dogs for the Blind
Dear Veterinarians,Thank you for providing such outstanding care for our clients and their guide dogs. This letter helps explain how we provide support to our clients to ensure finances are not a barrier to quality veterinary care for their guide dogs. We established the Veterinary Financial Assistance (VFA) program to assist our graduates with veterinary costs when needed. We feel strongly that all guide dogs should receive necessary care regardless of our graduates’ ability to pay. Details about the VFA program and a summary of medical care provided to all guide dogs before leaving our campuses is included in this document.Our own veterinarians play an important role in the care of active guide dogs to help ensure that our teams have long, successful partnerships. We frequently become involved in more complicated cases to help manage care and costs. We serve as a liaison between local veterinarians and our graduates, helping them better understand the details of their dogs’ illnesses, recommended treatments and how it relates to their dog’s working life. Before our vets call you to discuss a case, we typically request medical records for our vets to review to become more familiar with the case. As a non-profit fully funded by private donations, we are very conscious of how we spend our donor dollars and take an active role in the dogs’ care. We greatly appreciate any donation or discount you are able to provide for your services.Thank you for your understanding, partnership and support in caring for these life-changing dogs. If you have any further questions about this letter or the VFA program, please feel free to call 800-295-4050, then press option 2, then option 2 again to speak with a VFA coordinator. Our normal business hours are 8am to 5pm Pacific time, Monday through Friday, except major holidays. Thank you for your very important role in helping us deliver our life-changing mission.Warm regards,Erin Carey – DVM Veterinary Financial Assistance Program VeterinarianVFA Program Summary for VeterinariansGuide Dogs for the Blind ‘s VFA program helps defray the cost of veterinary care for guide dogs when our clients need financial assistance. Funds are available for both Wellness care and for Illness/Emergencies as described below.Wellness Care: VFA will reimburse up to $250 per fiscal year (July 1-June 30) for Wellness and Preventive Care which includes some or all of the following:Routine annual physical examsAny medical concerns found during a wellness exam that leads to additional diagnostics, treatments or medications requires separate authorization. Please call for authorization during appointment if during normal business hours, or next business day for weekend or evening appointments.VaccinationsCore vaccines--GDB advises our clients to obtain core vaccines DA2PP and Rabies every 3 years (unless required more frequently per state law)Non-core vaccines--GDB advises lifestyle risk assessment to determine the need for the following: Leptospirosis, Lyme, Influenza and Bordetella. Leptospirosis, Influenza and Bordetella are required for guide dogs traveling to a GDB campus.Heartworm testFecal flotation exams (If indicated)For dogs 8 years of age and up, routine laboratory screening including bloodwork and urinalysis is recommended annually. An additional $250 per year for this labwork is allowed without pre-authorization. Please call for pre-authorization for additional or specialized labwork.Heartworm and Flea Prevention (U.S.):Heartworm preventation medication will be reimbursed for up to an additional $150 per year. No pre-authorization is needed.Frontline Gold will be provided to clients directly by GDB. Flea/tick prevention purchased elsewhere will NOT be reimbursed, unless medically necessary and pre-authorized by GDB.Heartworm and Flea Prevention (Canada):GDB will reimburse up to $250 annually toward the combined cost of Flea/Tick and Heartworm preventation products. No pre-authorization is needed.Illness/Injuries:Pre-authorization is required for VFA assistance. If requested by our clients, the VFA program will assist with the cost for medical treatment for their guide dog. Prior to providing care, please verify that pre-approval has been obtained by the client by requesting the authorization number. If not, a VFA coordinator should be contacted to assist with the pre-authorization process. Emergencies:In the event of a life threatening emergency, please perform emergency treatment and stabilizing care. Once stabilized, our client should contact GDB for authorization for continued care. Staff and veterinarians are available 24 hours a day to authorize care for major medical issues, emergency surgery or overnight hospitalization when needed.After-hours care:Our VFA coordinators are available during normal business hours from 8am to 5pm Pacific time, Monday through Friday, except major holidays. If a guide dog presents for minor medical care during non-business hours, please provide necessary care. We are happy to provide authorization for services rendered if contacted the following business day. If major care is needed, including hospitalization, emergency surgery, or extensive diagnostics please call 800-295-4050 and follow the prompts to speak with our staff about pre-authorization.Non-reimbursible items:GDB will not reimburse for acupuncture, holistic medicine, chiropractic therapy, vitamins, supplements, routine boarding, non-medical bathing or grooming, health certificates, city/town licensing, vaccine titers or non-prescription dog food. We will cover 50% of the cost of prescription dog food when medically necessary and pre-approved by GDB veterinarian. Reimbursement: To receive reimbursement, the guide dog user or veterinarian must mail an itemized invoice along with a reimbursement form. The reimbursement form has been included in this packet and can be copied for additional invoices. Reimbursement requests are processed within 30 days of the date received by GDB. Please contact our VFA coordinators if you have any questions about a specific reimbursement request. We are unable to accept faxed reimbursement requests unless submitted from outside the USA.VFA Program Coordinators can reached at 800-295-4050, option 2, option 2 to make pre-authorizations on behalf of our clients and answer questions about the VFA program. Medical records can be emailed to vetsupport@ (preferred) or faxed to 877-556-8401.Previous Veterinary Care Provided by GDBWe encourage all of our graduates to select a veterinarian and provide copies of the guide dog’s detailed medical history to the veterinarian within 30 days of returning home after graduation. Along with the detailed medical history, we provide a 1-page report listing the dates for routine tests and vaccines the dog has already received. We hope this 1-page report makes it easier for you to generate reminders for the dog’s routine wellness care. We also encourage our graduates to weigh their dogs when they stop in for this meet-and-greet. All guide dogs receive a thorough exam before leaving campus, so a physical exam should not be needed at the meet-and-greet. All guide dogs leave our campuses having received the following: Multiple full physical exams, including an exam the week before they depart Radiographic screening for hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasiaOphthalmologist examVaccination boosters including DA2PP (3 year), Rabies (3 year), Bordetella (1 year), Leptospirosis (1 year), and Influenza (1 year)Heartworm testHeartgard Plus has been given monthly since 8 weeks of age. A 12-month supply of Heartgard Plus was dispensed prior to graduation.Flea and Tick preventatives have been used regularly (usually Frontline Gold, but occasionally Nexgard or other). A 12-month supply of Flea/Tick preventative was dispensed prior to graduation.Since the dogs have received extensive veterinary evaluation prior to graduation, we advise our clients to anticipate their first wellness exam and visit at your clinic in approximately 9 months (to coordinate with updating vaccines).Please let us know if you have any questions about this guide dog and thank you again for helping keep him or her healthy and at an ideal weight. ................
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