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VET ZENTRUM KÖLN

Veterinary Clinic for Small Animals

Owner: Dr. Mark Dickomeit Dipl. ECVS

Scheidtweilerstr. 19

50933 Cologne

The contractual terms of the General Terms and Conditions (GTC) apply

1. Billing

Billing is carried out according to the Fee Schedule for Veterinarians (Gebührenordnung für Tierärzte – GOT). According to GOT §2 Paragraph 1, the amount of individual fees is based on one to three times the base rate. The fee is to be determined within this framework at reasonable discretion. During emergency service, billing is carried out according to GOT §4 (two to four times the base rate plus an emergency service fee of €50 net). All performance parameters are marked with a GOT code on the invoice. Medications are charged in accordance with the German Ordinance on Pharmaceutical Prices (AMPreisV).

2. Cost Estimate (CE)

The indication of the likely expected costs is an estimate based on experience with expected costs in similar clinical cases. The final invoice may be above or below the original estimate depending on clinical circumstances. Whenever possible, we will attempt to inform you if an invoice will be significantly higher than estimated. In a clinical emergency, this may not always be immediately possible. Under these circumstances, the client is liable for the costs incurred. If your pet is an inpatient, please feel free to use the daily telephone calls to stay up to date on the costs incurred.

3. Payment Terms

Payment in full is expected for outpatient treatments. You can settle these in cash or with a debit card (EC-Karte). We do not accept credit card payments and do not offer installment plans. For the treatment of inpatients or patients requiring anesthesia, a deposit of half to the full amount of the cost estimate must be made. The remaining balance is due upon collection, in cash or by debit card.

4. Interim Payments

In some cases where fees are substantial and your pet is in the clinic for ongoing treatment, we reserve the right to request an interim payment of costs.

5. Termination of Contract

Clients have the right to remove their pet from our care at any time, unless this is deemed by the veterinarian to cause suffering. This must be acknowledged by signature.

6. Insurance

If you have insurance coverage for veterinary costs, please contact your insurance company and inform them that your pet is undergoing treatment. If you would like us to complete the insurance form so that you can make a claim, please bring it with you when you collect your pet. We cannot make direct insurance claims, but we strive to complete and submit insurance forms quickly.

7. Service Contract

A veterinary treatment contract is a service contract that does not recognize warranty rights. Except in the case of expert witness activities, the veterinarian does not owe a specific result (work), but rather their professional efforts. For this reason, the veterinary fee is not a contingency fee. It is due to the veterinarian for the service rendered, even if the hoped-for treatment success does not materialize.

8. Storage of Clinical Material

Should not all material from a sample collection be required for diagnosis, we reserve the right to preserve it for use in clinical studies. No costs will be incurred for this.

9. Documentation, Storage, and Ownership of Medical Data and Images

Patient records, recordings, or other images, including radiographic and similar documents, are our property and are kept in the interest of animal welfare and for our own protection. Upon request, we provide copies of relevant clinical records, including all clinical records for the animal originating from another practice. If costs are associated with the provision of such copies, such as for the copying of X-ray or CT data, a fee may be charged.

10. Emergency Measures

Telephone availability is not possible outside of consultation hours. In urgent emergencies, we ask you to appear in person.

11. Inpatient Care

Inpatients receive 24-hour care from a team of qualified veterinarians and veterinary specialists who monitor and respond to changes in patient status. Detailed information can be found in the information sheet “Information on the inpatient admission of your pet.”

12. Disclaimer of Liability

VET ZENTRUM KÖLN assumes no liability for personal items. Any claim for compensation for damage, soiling, or loss during the inpatient stay is excluded. The clinic is entitled to dispose of personal items.

13. Supply Period

Due to prescription regulations, a three-month limit has been established as an acceptable limit for our “supply period.” Beyond this, direct consultation or medication can only take place after a new clinical examination in our clinic.

14. Third-Party Services

If necessary for establishing a diagnosis, VET ZENTRUM KÖLN is authorized to commission third-party services (laboratory, pathologist, etc.) in the name and for the account of the client.

15. Confidentiality

The relationship between the veterinarian and the client is based on trust. Under normal circumstances, we will not disclose any information about clients or their animals to third parties that was provided by clients or revealed through clinical examination or necropsy. Permission to transmit confidential information may be express or implied. Express permission can be given either orally or in writing. Permission may be implied, for example, when utilizing a pet insurance policy, where the insurance company is entitled to receive all information relevant to the claim and to seek clarification if necessary. The duty of confidentiality does not exist should the protection of a higher-ranking legal interest be required.

16. Complaints

We strive to provide the highest standards of patient care and customer service at all times. If you are dissatisfied with the service of VET ZENTRUM KÖLN, please inform the responsible veterinarian about your case so that your concerns can be resolved as quickly as possible. If serious concerns persist, please contact the clinic management. Your letter of complaint will be taken seriously and the matter investigated. We will then contact you. Furthermore, we refer to the arbitration board of the North Rhine Veterinary Chamber (Tierärztekammer Nordrhein) should there be a further need for clarification.

17. Place of Jurisdiction
Cologne is agreed upon as the place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from the contractual relationship.

Note: These GTC can be read online at any time and are available for download. Scan the QR code below or visit our website at:

www.vetzentrum-koeln.de/downloads

Medical procedures are never completely free of risks!

We are informing you here about potential risks and possible complications during anesthesia (or regional anesthesia). These occur rarely but are possible, even despite the greatest care. In exceptional cases, complications can be life-threatening or lead to permanent damage.

1. General Risks

General risks include allergic reactions and hypersensitivity to medications or disinfectants. Possible reactions range from temporary mild discomfort (e.g., itching or skin rash) to respiratory and circulatory problems, and in very rare cases, life-threatening allergic shock with cardiovascular, respiratory, and organ failure, which requires intensive care treatment and where permanent damage or death may occur.

Side effects and interactions of medications

Bruising or abnormal sensations (e.g., tingling, numbness) at the injection site or in the vicinity of injection needles and catheters. In rare cases, this may injure A blood vessel is injured. This can lead to bleeding that may require further treatment or blood vessel. necessary can then lead to bleeding that requires further treatment or surgery. Infections in the area of the injection site and inflammation of veins can usually be treated well with medication. Very rarely, these germs enter the bloodstream and cause blood poisoning or inflammation of organs (e.g., endocardium).

Injuries to claws
Sometimes injuries to claws occur during the recovery phase or during the inpatient stay. These will be treated by a veterinarian if necessary.

Skin, soft tissue, and nerve damage

As a result of injections, injection abscesses, tissue death, nerve and vein irritation, bruising, and inflammation may occur. Very rarely, despite correct positioning during surgery, nerves are damaged by pressure or stretching. However, these possible damages usually resolve on their own after some time or are well treatable. In some cases, however, long-lasting or, very rarely, permanent damage (e.g., pain, abnormal sensations, numbness, blindness, and paralysis of limbs) may occur.

Thrombosis

Very rarely, blood clots form which can be carried through the bloodstream and block a vessel (e.g., pulmonary embolism). This can result in organ damage and further permanent damage (e.g., stroke with paralysis) up to and including death.

2. Special risks and side effects of anesthesia

Aspiration

Entry of stomach contents into the lungs with possible consequences such as pneumonia, lung abscess, permanent lung damage, or acute lung failure. This danger exists primarily if the rules of conduct before anesthesia were not followed.

Nausea, vomiting

These side effects can occur due to the administration of anesthetics and painkillers. Difficulty swallowing or coughing: Due to the insertion of the breathing tube, or through irritation or injuries to the throat, jaw, larynx, trachea, or vocal cords, abnormal sensations, shortness of breath, and hoarseness may occur, which usually do not require treatment. In rare cases, stomach contents may flow back into the esophagus, which can lead to irritation or even inflammation there. Extremely rarely, these can lead to scarring with narrowing of the esophagus.

Damage to teeth

In the context of securing the airway, damage up to and including tooth loss may occur. Tooth damage or loss can also occur during the recovery phase if the patient is excessively active.

Respiratory disorders and spasms of the laryngeal or

bronchial muscles

If your pet has healthy lungs, respiratory disorders are rare. Nevertheless, a spasm of the bronchi or the glottis can occur when inserting or removing the breathing tube. After procedures in the head and neck area, respiratory disorders due to bleeding or swelling are possible. These critical situations require additional medication and measures. The risk of respiratory disorders is highly increased in short-nosed (brachycephalic) dog breeds.

Cardiovascular disorders

Medications used in anesthesia have effects on the cardiovascular system. Drops in blood pressure, slowing of the heartbeat, or rhythm disturbances may occur. Pre-existing conditions of the cardiovascular system increase the risk of severe outcomes, including death.

Malignant hyperthermia

Extremely rarely, the body temperature rises extremely as a result of a massive life-threatening metabolic disorder. This can lead to permanent damage to important organs (e.g., brain, kidney) and necessitates immediate medicinal and intensive care treatment.

MDR1 Defect

This is an extremely rare congenital disorder in which drug intolerance occurs. In unknown cases, this necessitates immediate treatment and can lead to death. Dogs of the Collie breeds are affected, but also Shepherd dogs (white) and other breeds.

Your pet has been admitted to our clinic as an inpatient due to a serious illness or surgery and is receiving the necessary medical care here. We would like to provide you with information about the procedure and the care of our patients. At the same time, we ask for your understanding that optimal care can only be guaranteed if our veterinarians and veterinary specialists can go about their work undisturbed.

Your pet in good hands

Accommodation

Your pet has been accommodated in its own spacious kennel, tailored to its size and individual needs. Depending on your pet’s requirements, it may need a heat or oxygen box, which we have available for such cases.

Exercise and toileting

Dogs are taken for walks several times a day so they can do their business. If your dog has problems walking, it will be supported or carried accordingly. Cat litter boxes are provided in the cat kennels and are cleaned regularly.

Food
Feeding is carried out according to the individual needs of your pet. Various foods such as dry food, wet food, and special diets are available. If your pet requires a special food for medical reasons, we ask you to bring this for the duration of the inpatient stay. If your pet does not show independent food intake, it will be carefully assisted with feeding by trained staff.

Own blankets/pillows/beds

We place great importance on your pet feeling as comfortable as possible with us. You are therefore very welcome to bring an item with a familiar scent from home, such as a small blanket, a T-shirt, or a stuffed animal. For hygienic reasons, pillows or baskets cannot be accepted. We recommend only handing over items whose loss would not be a problem for you. If soiled, the item brought will be washed, and subsequent identification may no longer be possible.

Anxious animals

It is very important for your pet and for us to maintain a handling approach that is as fear-free as possible. Therefore, we take a lot of time for each individual animal on the ward, working with many cuddles and preferring treats over restraint measures – where possible. Very anxious animals are discussed with our behavioral medicine specialists and can thus be partially supported with medication. Should your pet be very anxious and the necessary examinations involve enormous stress, examinations can also be carried out under sedation after prior consultation with you.

Telephone calls

We will inform you once a day by telephone about the current condition of your pet. The call time for this is normally between 1 PM and 4 PM. We understand that you are very worried about your pet. However, please also understand that incoming calls from you will not be forwarded directly to the treating veterinarians, as this delays the urgently needed medical care of the inpatients. Should your pet be in a critical condition, we will of course contact you more frequently. Please note: The veterinarians communicate with one person per animal. For time reasons, it is unfortunately not possible to speak with multiple people.

Visits

As a rule, visits are not advisable, as most animals experience significant stress after a visit and subsequent stay in the clinic. In exceptional cases, such as with life-threateningly ill animals, visits may however be recommended. In such cases, the veterinarians will explicitly ask you to visit. Please note that visits without prior arrangement are not possible for organizational reasons.

Success – Your pet can go home

Collection

During the daily telephone call, you will also discuss the collection of your pet with the treating veterinarians and arrange a corresponding appointment when the time comes. For organizational reasons, collections usually take place in the late afternoon or evening.

Pressure bandage

During the inpatient stay, your pet will be administered infusions or intravenous medications. For this purpose, a so-called indwelling venous catheter is placed, which is only removed shortly before discharge. Subsequently, a pressure bandage is applied to prevent bleeding at the injection site. Please remove the pressure bandage after 15-20 minutes.

Cost estimate

The costs discussed by the admitting veterinarians at the time of patient admission are merely an estimate. Depending on the severity of the illness, the scope of medical effort, the type and scope of the examinations carried out, and the duration of the inpatient stay, an adjustment of the cost estimate may be necessary. The individual and final discussion will take place with one of the ward veterinarians.