FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Dr. Keith is a specialist veterinarian, and our approach differs from conventional veterinary practices. We encourage you to acquaint yourself with our unique methods and recommendations for optimal care. Read the most common FAQs we receive from our clients.

WHAT IS CARE LIKE WITH DR. KEITH?

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What is the difference between care with Dr. Keith vs. a general veterinarian?

Dr. Weingardt has many years of experience working as an emergency and critical care veterinarian before studying holistic modalities. He has a strong knowledge base of conventional veterinary medicine which he combines with appropriate holistic modalities to help each individual achieve optimal health. Dr. Weingardt is skilled at looking at the big picture and finding what works best for each individual animal and their people. Although he will prescribe medications when necessary if he has seen the patient in person, he focuses on using nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture and homeopathy to encourage the patient’s innate healing ability.

How long are consultations and why does it matter?

Unlike the standard 10-15 minute appointments with conventional vets, Dr. Keith dedicates extended time to you and your pet. Before the scheduled appointment, Dr. Keith thoroughly reviews records and the detailed form you submit to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation, past interventions, and to formulate a plan.

Following the appointment, you will receive a written summary outlining the plan for the way forward.

The duration of consultations can vary based on your pet’s condition, the number of questions you have, or the complexity of the health situation.

For the patient’s very first telehealth and in-person appointments, they can last up to 55 minutes. For subsequent appointments, the duration can be between 30-40 minutes, depending on your needs.

Before any appointment, Dr. Keith reviews relevant records, information, or diagnostics since the prior appointment. After the appointment, you will receive a written summary of the plan for moving forward.

How is it decided what treatments my pet will receive?

Based on an evaluation of history and physical examination, Dr. Keith will suggest a course of treatment which may involve dietary therapy, supplements, acupuncture treatment or herbal/homeopathic prescription. Therapy is chosen based on the individual’s presenting issues, temperament (acceptance of treatment) and caregiver preferences in regard to cost and follow-up.

Can Dr. Weingardt prescribe pharmaceutical medication for my pet?

If Dr. Weingardt has seen your pet in person in the last year, he can legally prescribe pharmaceutical medications at his discretion through our on-line pharmacy. If your pet has been helped through Telehealth or he has not seen them in person in the last year, he cannot legally prescribe pharmaceutical medications.

What types of things can we not perform or treat?

If a patient requires diagnostics including bloodwork, radiographs, ultrasound or any other invasive procedure, we refer them back to their general veterinarian or help them find a veterinarian who will best suit their needs. In addition, if the patient requires any sedation, anesthesia or surgery we will refer them to their general veterinarian. It is not safe for Dr. Keith to restrain animals by himself or enlist the help of the owner as this may cause injuries both to the animal and people.

Why do I need to keep a relationship with a general veterinarian?

Although you may prefer to have Dr. Weingardt be your primary veterinarian, he is unable to fulfill this need.

Dr. Weingardt attempts to be available for his patients but there are times when scheduling will not allow for a timely appointment or the problem requires care that is beyond the scope of that provided by him. For this reason, we strongly recommend maintaining a relationship with a general veterinarian to help when needed. If you do not have a veterinarian to help in this regard, we can refer you to several great practices.

What are Dr. Keith's recommendations for check-ups for healthy pets?

In general, we recommend that a healthy pet undergo a check-up once a year. Once an animal reaches the age of 8-9 years or older, a check-up every 6 months is deemed appropriate. For pets with ongoing medical issues, we may recommend more frequent follow-ups, initially on a bi-weekly basis, and then transitioning to monthly or every 2 months. The frequency may progress to quarterly check-ups and eventually to every 6 months, contingent on the patient’s response to treatment.

Dr. Keith Weingardt checking a dog's heart rate with a stethoscope.

Dr. Keith Weingardt treating a dog with cold laser.

CONSULTATION TYPES & LOCATIONS

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Portland, Oregon - in person, by appointment only

The precise address will be provided to you immediately after booking the consultation. For your reference, the meeting location with Dr. Keith is in Southeast Portland, near 47th and Belmont.

Telehealth, USA Nationwide

Telehealth consultations are conducted through Zoom video and are available to pet parents nationwide in the USA.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth care by Dr. Keith offers you a convenient and accessible way to receive guidance right from the comfort of your own home. Through the use of Zoom video, Dr. Keith conducts virtual consultations, allowing you to discuss your concerns, share information about your pet’s health, and receive general advice. This easy approach is especially beneficial for those who may face geographical constraints or have pets with behavioral challenges. Telehealth appointments offer a valuable opportunity for you to connect with Dr. Keith and acquire essential knowledge to better address your pet’s health needs, all while eliminating the necessity for travel or in-person visits. It’s a flexible and effective way for you to prioritize your pet’s well-being with the convenience of technology, no matter where you live in the USA.

What's different about Telehealth consultations?

A telehealth appointment is not intended for diagnosing diseases or prescribing pharmaceutical medications.

To diagnose and treat diseases, a legal veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is necessary, which involves an in-person examination of the patient within the last year. Establishing a VCPR solely through telehealth is not possible. However, if the patient has been previously examined in person within the last year and is being followed up via telehealth, Dr. Weingardt can legally provide medical advice and/or prescribe pharmaceutical medications based on his diagnosis.

Does Dr. Keith offer emergency consultations or services?

Due to the nature of this practice, Dr. Keith does not provide emergency services. Please contact your local emergency clinic or hospital for immediate care.

Does Dr. Keith offer "same-day" appointments?

Due to the nature of this practice, Dr. Keith does not provide same-day appointments. If you’ve previously booked an appointment on this website, log in to your Portal to schedule the earliest appointment possible. Otherwise, if you are new to this website, follow the easy registration process, which will guide you to select and book the earliest available appointment.

What about after hours/weekend appointments?

Due to the nature of this practice, Dr. Keith does not offer after-hours or weekend appointments. All available appointment options are displayed in the self-booking calendar when you either log in to your Portal or go through the easy self-registration process.

SCHEDULING CONSULTATIONS

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How quickly can I schedule a consultation?

The timeframe for scheduling may vary. It is not uncommon for Dr. Keith’s in-person appointments to be booked out a month or more in advance. However, there might be earlier availability for Telehealth appointments. Therefore, the sooner you complete the forms, the faster you’ll be able to have a consultation with Dr. Keith.

How do I schedule a Telehealth consultation?

If this is your first time booking an appointment on this website, follow the easy, self-guided process to schedule your appointment. If you’ve previously booked an appointment on this website, log in to your Portal.

How do I schedule an in-person consultation in Portland, OR?

How do I schedule a Dog River consultation?

If this is your first time booking an appointment on this website, follow the easy, self-guided process to schedule your appointment. For Dog River, you will need to provide unique referral information during the process. If you’ve previously booked an appointment on this website, log in to your Portal.

Dr. Keith Weingardt and a dog in the outdoors being affectionate to each other.

A picture of Dr. Keith's two adorable cats.

COST OF CARE

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Your pet's first time consultation

Your pet’s first, in-depth consultation with Dr. Keith takes up to 55 minutes – $310

Follow-up consultation for an existing issue

Your pet’s follow up consultation for a recent, existing issue takes up to 30 minutes – $165

Follow-up written mini consultation

To send a written, brief follow up question to Dr. Keith for a recent issue you’re in the middle of healing – $40

A new issue for a current patient

If your pet is already a patient and you’re seeking a consultation for a new issue, your consultation will take up to 40 minutes – $195

An annual wellness exam for a current patient

If your pet is already a patient and you’re seeking an annual wellness exam, your consultation will take up to 30 minutes – $165

Medications, supplements, herbs, and remedies

The cost of treatments vary based on your pet’s individual needs and require upfront payment.

How do I I book a consultation?

To begin the appointment process, simply navigate to the appointment section on our website. You’ll be guided through the necessary forms to fill out. Once completed, you’ll have the option to pre-pay and self-book your appointment hassle-free.

OTHER GENERAL FAQs

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How do I order refills?

Make sure you are logged into your portal first, then click on the “Order Refills” tile, where you will be guided through the entire process.

How do I navigate the portal?

How to Navigate the Portal for existing clients

Log In to Your Portal

Recommendation: For the best experience, we suggest using a computer. Cell phones often have issues due to varying operating systems, which can affect functionality.
Scheduling and Communications
Schedule an Appointment: Click the BOOK APPOINTMENT icon.
Email Consultation: Use the MINI WRITTEN CONSULTATION icon.
Non-Medical Questions or Updates: Click the SEND A MESSAGE icon.
Post-Appointment Questions:

If it’s been 30–60 days since your appointment and the question relates to issues discussed, use the Post Appointment link Dr. Keith sent after your visit.
If it’s been more than 60 days, schedule another appointment or use the MINI WRITTEN CONSULTATION.

Emails

We do not use standard email for client communication. Replies from us will look like emails but are part of our portal messaging system, which keeps everything organized.
Please only reply via the portal. Avoid sending emails to external addresses unless responding to a portal message.

Orders for Supplements, Homeopathics, and Herbs

Log into your portal and choose:

Order Refills or Shop Products.
Most supplements, herbs and homeopathic items are available through the Elemental Pet icon. For questions about this site, contact their support using the Contact Us tab on their website.

Some items are not available on Elemental Pet; specific icons are provided for ordering directly from those suppliers.

Pharmaceutical Orders and Refills

Log into your portal, select Order Refills or Shop Products, and then choose the Pharmaceuticals icon.
This redirects you to our third-party online pharmacy. Place your order, and Dr. Keith will approve the prescription request.
Important: Dr. Keith can only legally prescribe medications if you’ve had an in-person visit with him within the past year.
To streamline prescriptions, we use this pharmacy exclusively and cannot authorize prescriptions for other pharmacies as we do not have the staff to accommodate this very time-consuming process.

Dr. Keith Weingardt working on his laptop while petting a golden retriever dog.

Are you an existing client and you have an existing account on this website? If so, log-in to your Portal to access the client only resources.