FAQS & Policies

At Onalaska Animal Hospital, your pet’s medical records are protected as part of our commitment to client confidentiality and professional veterinary standards.

To comply with state regulations and ensure your privacy, we require a signed authorization from the pet owner before releasing any medical information. Verbal authorization is not sufficient.

You can request your pet’s records by:

• Completing our Medical Records Release Form, available on our website under For Pet Owners → Our Forms → Records Release.
• Calling our office to have the form emailed to you.

Please allow up to 72 business hours for processing. This ensures your pet’s records are transferred securely and accurately.

In the event of a medical emergency, we work directly with referral and emergency centers to expedite record transfers as needed for your pet’s immediate care.

A signed release form is still required, but we will assist in obtaining it quickly to avoid delays in treatment.

Why we require written consent

Veterinary medical records are considered confidential documents. While the physical record is the property of Onalaska Animal Hospital, the information within it belongs to you, the client.

Other clinics may contact us to request your pet’s records, but we cannot release any information without your written consent.

This policy exists to:

• Protect your privacy and your pet’s information.
• Prevent unauthorized access or sharing.
• Ensure all records are transferred safely, accurately, and only with your permission.
• Facilitate prompt communication with emergency or referral hospitals when your pet’s health requires immediate attention.

At Onalaska Animal Hospital, your pet’s safety is our top priority. Following American Heartworm Society (AHS) Guidelines, we require a negative heartworm test within the past 12 months before dispensing or prescribing up to one year’s worth of prevention.

‍Why annual testing is important

1. Safety first — Administering prevention to a heartworm-positive dog can cause serious, potentially life-threatening reactions. Annual testing verifies your pet’s heartworm status before prevention is given.
2. ‍Reliable prevention — Even with consistent prevention, unexpected factors — such as a missed or late dose, vomiting after dosing, or product failure — can leave your pet unprotected. Annual testing confirms your prevention program is working as intended.
3. ‍Early detection saves lives — Heartworm disease often develops without obvious symptoms. Early detection allows for timely treatment and helps prevent heart and lung damage.

Our prevention policy

• A negative heartworm test within the past 12 months is required to purchase or refill prevention.
• Testing typically begins around 7 months of age, usually at your puppy’s first annual visit.
• We recommend year-round prevention for all dogs, regardless of season.

For more information, visit the American Heartworm Society’s website (https://www.heartwormsociety.org/).