New Client-Castillo Animal Veterinary Agreement

Dr. Daniela Castillo is a California and Mexico licensed veterinarian practicing conventional medicine focused on shelter medicine and High-Volume High Quality Spay and Neuter surgeries and other soft tissue surgery. Dr Castillo is a former wildlife rehabilitator, environmentalist at heart and a passionate ethical vegan.

Dr. Castillo believes “Veganism” is a conscious and ethical decision a human makes after encountering new and updated information therefore, she does not recommend vegan diets imposed on cats and dogs at this time. She has personally donated money to an ongoing study on current vegan diets for dogs but until there are results or enough scientific information on currently available diets, she would not recommend them. In some cases, she will support vegan diets on dogs only with periodically laboratory testing but will not support vegan diets on cats.

Also, as the definition of veganism states, “as far as is possible and practicable” Dr. Castillo absolutely supports and uses life-saving vaccines, pharmaceuticals and other drugs that unfortunately have been tested on animals or have animal ingredients.

Dr. Castillo is trained in multiple species and is qualified to perform physical exams, several treatments and surgical procedures. She practices Conventional Medicine, as practiced in the United States, which is a system that uses pharmaceuticals and surgery as the primary modes of therapy.

Physical Exam*: Since your companion animal cannot express their symptoms verbally, a physical exam is essential to determine the issues and their extent. Also, in order to be able to prescribe/refill medications and make medical recommendations, a physical exam within 12 months is required for all veterinarians in the state of California. Likewise, for any change in medical status, or for the onset of a new health problem, an updated physical exam is required for Dr. Castillo to be able to make appropriate medical recommendations and prescriptions.

*In very few cases due to unexpected reactive, fearful or/aggressive behavior from your companion animal, Dr. Castillo would not be able to perform a hands-on exam. At that point she will give you a couple of options to proceed with exam, diagnostic test or treatment needed for your companion. You understand that you will still be responsible for the house call fee and exam fee even if you do not want to proceed with the available options. 

You may ask questions or raise concerns at any time during treatment and we will make reasonable efforts to give you all information possible in order to make informed decisions regarding the duration and appropriateness of continued care. Please be aware, you may stop treatment at any time.

Castillo Animal Veterinary Fees & Policies

Thank you for choosing Castillo Animal Veterinary care for your companion animal. Dr. Castillo’s intention is to share resources with you from evidence-based veterinary medicine, health, and wellness for your companion animals. We aim to inspire and uplift you in celebrating our connection with animals. We feel successful when you feel supported in your role as the primary caregiver for your companion animal. Our goal is to empower you to provide the greatest well-being for your companion animal.

We work with a different approach than what your companion animals may have previously experienced in veterinary clinics. We prioritize a sense of safety and ease for your animal companion in their home, a fear-free experience. By personally working with families, we are able to hold space to support you as well, in a special and personal way that is not possible in the clinical atmosphere.

We look forward to developing a professional yet very personal relationship with you and your furry family.

Below is a list of prices and services to allow you to plan for us to work together.

PRICING, PACKAGES, AND CONCIERGE OPTIONS:

TRAVEL FEE

1. *Travel fees account for time spent in traffic, searching for parking, gas expenses, and vehicle maintenance.

2. Locations within Dr. Castillo’s primary territory $125. The primary territory is any distance within 10 miles of Mission Hills, CA.

3. Travel fee for secondary locations (every extra 10 miles add $10)

INITIAL HOUSE CALL consultation: $125 + travel fee. We typically spend 30 minutes - 1 hour per companion animal.

Initial consult includes an exam, complete evaluation (Western Medicine evaluation, review of medical records, lab work, x-rays, and specialist reports), discussion of recommendations, treatment plan, answering questions, and three follow-up email/text consultations.

SUBSEQUENT HOUSE CALLS - $70 +/- travel fee

Rechecks, follow-ups, wellness exams, refill medications

Includes addressing 2-3 non-urgent medical problems within a 30-60-minute visit.

*We limit our services by what can be safely and adequately performed within a home-care setting.

ANY ADDITIONAL COMPANION ANIMALS that you would like Dr. Castillo to evaluate, examine, consult on, or treatment would be an additional $100 for 2nd companion animal, $90 for 3rd companion animal, $80 for 4th companion animal (typically adds ~ 20-30 minutes to the consult)

RESCUE/SHELTER HOURLY RATE $200/hr. + travel fee

This rate applies if more than 4 animals live in the same household/rescue/shelter.

The timing starts after Dr. Castillo sets up her working area and ends when she finishes preparing the invoice after all the charges have been made. Please Note; that this rate only includes wellness exams for preventive medicine (for example vaccines, microchip implantation, heartworm testing, etc.)

Extra fees, as stated in Section 8 of this Agreement, shall be applied for the review of extensive medical records, lab work, x-rays, and specialist reports.

10% off any vaccines and medications.

FARM SANCTUARY ANIMAL HOURLY RATE $250/hr. + travel fee

This rate applies to farm animals only in sanctuaries or rescues.

The timing starts after Dr. Castillo sets up her working area and ends when she finishes preparing the invoice after all the charges have been made. Please Note; that this rate only includes wellness exams for preventive medicine (for example vaccines, microchip implantation, blood draws for sending to the lab, etc.)

Extra fees, as stated in Section 8 of this Agreement, shall be applied for the review of extensive medical records, lab work, x-rays, and specialist reports.

CONCIERGE SERVICE: 

A monthly automated fee is collected by the first of each month. Service includes:

Ongoing priority access to Dr. Castillo during working business hours in the form of email, text, and video chat rechecks. (Does not include after-hours or weekend access)

Telemedicine fees are waived Every time! You have continuous access to Dr. Castillo in the form of text, email, and 20-minute video chat rechecks.

10% off house calls

10% off lab work

Pricing is customized for each family/client/companion animal — an estimate can be provided upon request.

Please Note: this service does NOT extend to asking questions about companion animals of friends and family- the monthly fee covers ONLY your household— Dr. Castillo truly wishes she had unlimited resources but must make sure to save her energy, as well as her working hours, for her actual patients.

CONCIERGE *PLUS* service:

Concierge Plus members shall have access to Dr. Castillo any weekday and weekend.

Includes all of the above PLUS WEEKEND ACCESS via text, email, and telemedicine. You also get 14% off house calls and 15% off of recommended lab work.

The price of Concierge PLUS is customized for each family- an estimate can be provided upon request.

~80% of the time, Dr. Castillo can handle medical situations that come up and be available to a text message within 1-3 hours, though there will be times she may be out of phone service on the weekend or will still recommend a house call visit or even referral if the needs of your companion animal would be better served by a specialist or a brick-and-mortar hospital. Dr. Castillo plans to take two 2-week vacations per year (dates to be determined), where she will not be available by text, email, or in person. It is your responsibility to have backup care during these times, as always.

ADDITIONAL PRICING INFORMATION:

Current* pricing for additional services:

Subcutaneous fluid administration - $50-75

Medication injections (i.e.: nausea or long-lasting antibiotic injection, vitamin B)- $35 - 105

Fecal test/parasites- $75.07

Heartworm test- $58-122.76

Urinalysis- $75.27

Urine culture- $279.95

Blood work (Senior panel 2: Superchem, CBC, T4, UA, FT4ED) - $297.50 (includes lab fee, shipping/handling of lab samples, results interpretation, Dr.Castillo’s consultation with specialists if needed for interpretation, and follow-up communications with you about results),

cytology (including fine needle aspirate)- $195.72

nail trim- $35-55

vaccines- $25-45

Fluorescein stain eye- $25

Schirmer tear test- $25

*Please note that prices are subject to change at any time.

By initialing below, I acknowledge and understand the foregoing, and my questions have been answered regarding the content of this document.

 

Castillo Animal Veterinary Terms of Service

 

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

 

1. ***HOURS Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9 am-6 pm. ***

2. All clients must wear a face mask and keep a 6-foot distance when Dr. Castillo is working with you and your companion animal during house calls, whether working indoors or outdoors. If you refuse to wear a mask for our mutual safety, we reserve the right to terminate the visit and our professional rapport with you.

3. Dr. Castillo and Castillo Animal Veterinary do NOT handle emergencies at any time. It is mandatory that you also have a concurrent full-service clinic veterinarian in case of emergency.

4. If continuous e-mail/text, phone, and telemedicine questions are requested or are necessary between house call visits, Dr. Castillo is happy to accommodate your needs, however, there may be additional charges (see Dr. Castillo’s consultation rate below).

***Ongoing telemedicine communication services are meant to be mutually beneficial for both parties; Dr Castillo can provide you with the excellent compassionate ongoing support you and your companion animals need, while also being compensated for the extra time spent helping you with your companion animal’s care.

5. All texts, emails, and calls will be handled during working hours Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday 9 am- 4 pm (unless you are in the Concierge PLUS program).

6. All emails must be sent to castilloanimalvc@gmail.com. Text communications must be sent to (213)-732-2683. Castillo Animal Veterinary does not accept communications to Dr. Castillo’s personal email, texts or calls to her personal phone number, voice messages or phone calls to any phone number other than the one provided above, or messages sent through social media for communication about medical questions, companion animal’s concerns, or scheduling appointments.

7. Phone calls and video chat are not included in any free follow-up communication unless you are in the concierge program. Due to the nature of our service, we do not use the phone generally to communicate with clients in between appointments. Dr. Castillo is doing surgery, with patients or on the road during business hours. We do not talk on the phone while driving or while with other patients, and therefore we do not take or make any telephone calls unless they are booked as a “telemedicine consultation” using the online scheduler. All telephone calls must be scheduled as an appointment, and be specifically planned for. 

8. Electronic/Telephone/telemedicine consultation/ texted or emailed Q&A by Dr. Castillo is billed at a minimum rate of $70 per 30 minutes (and then in 10 minutes increments at the same rate). Telemedicine consultations may include but are not limited to veterinary professional services such as answering questions via text, email, video chat, or telephone call, researching answers to questions asked, review of medical records, providing second opinions, and consulting with specialists on behalf of your companion animal if needed. This service is offered for the follow-up of existing conditions and is for your convenience. It is not a substitute for a physical exam and veterinary visit. Dr. Castillo is required by law to have done an in-person examination of your companion animal within the past 12 months, and recheck for any new condition that arises, to be able to make a diagnosis or prescribe medication for your companion animal.

9. Cash, check, credit card, and Zelle are acceptable forms of payment. Payment is expected on the day of service or beforehand. Payment is non-refundable after services have been performed. A payment that is more than 1 week late will incur late fees unless unusual circumstances exist that have previously been discussed with Dr. Castillo.

10. Pre-paid packages, concierge service, and our work with you or your companion animal can be terminated by Dr. Castillo or Castillo Animal Veterinary at any time for any reason, including disrespectful communication, harassment, threats, cyberbullying towards any doctor or staff member of Castillo Animal Veterinary, unreasonable or excessive demands, pushing the boundaries of our policies, or if it is simply not a good match. If termination of a package or concierge service is necessary, there will be a pro-rated return of payment for any unfulfilled treatment or telemedicine sessions. We aim to maintain full transparency of our business structure and pricing. Our work together is meant to be nurturing and rejuvenating for everyone involved, therefore disrespectful or exploitative behavior will not be tolerated by Castillo Animal Veterinary under any circumstances.

11. We reserve the right to terminate our professional rapport with you and your companion animal if you disregard medical recommendations in a way that we feel endangers an animal or leads to unnecessary suffering.

12. Castillo Animal Veterinary works with an online pharmacy (https://castilloanimalveganvet.myvetstoreonline.pharmacy/shop) through which you can order prescription food and medication in liquid, treat, pill, or topical form that are conveniently delivered to your home. All medications, and/or medical equipment are non-refundable. As a matter of policy, we do NOT work with pharmacies such as Chewy or 1-800-Pet-Meds regarding filling prescription medications or accepting calls, emails, or faxes from these companies.

13. Refill requests for medications must be made at least one week in advance (to allow for shipping and preparation time). E-mail is our preferred way to request medication refills. Thank you for planning in advance so that routine refill requests do not become urgent matters for our team to handle. If refill requests within 48 hours are required, unless there has been an emergency or a recent change in your companion animal's medical condition, there will be a $20 processing fee for our team to rush your last-minute request.

14. In order to be able to prescribe/refill medications and make medical recommendations, a physical exam of the patient within 12 months is required for all veterinarians in the state of California. Likewise, for any change in medical status, or for the onset of a new health problem, an updated physical exam is required in order to make recommendations or prescribe medication.

By initialing below, I acknowledge and understand the foregoing, and my questions have been answered regarding the content of this document.

 

What to Expect

Castillo Animal Veterinary is not a full-service veterinary clinic, so we recommend keeping a relationship with a veterinarian in a clinic or hospital setting for your companion animal’s primary care. Dr. Castillo can recommend respected veterinarians if you need them.

Castillo Animal Veterinary DOES provide a very special and personal service for you and your companion, which is meant to be complementary to the services offered by a full-service veterinary clinic. Dr. Castillo feels empathetic about every species of animal and takes extra care to treat each companion animal as though they were her own. She sees you and your family as individuals with very personal needs and styles of decision-making. When she treats an animal, she does not see just their disease- she sees the whole animal, their personality, as well as the needs of their family, and that is what she addresses as a veterinarian.

Castillo Animal Veterinary does not provide emergency or after-hours service. Our hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday 9 am-6 pm and are subject to change. We will make every effort to provide support and answer questions during business hours at times outside of our house call sessions when available. It is important to understand that it is your responsibility to have a backup emergency service if we are with another patient or not available by phone, text, or e-mail.

Dr. Castillo is grateful for the privilege of being able to alleviate and prevent suffering in animals every day. In order to maintain the sustainability of her practice as a professional caregiver, she knows that she needs to be nourished and cared for herself. In order to continue to provide high quality compassionate care every day for her patients and their caregivers, for the benefit of everyone involved, the concept of healthy boundaries is honored in Dr. Castillo’s practice.

Dr. Castillo knows very personally how difficult it is to care for a sick animal or to lose a beloved companion. It is common for caregivers to become upset with themselves, or even with their veterinarian around the illness or loss of a companion animal. Please know that Dr. Castillo will always do everything in her power to provide the best support for you and your companion animal. Yet, she is only human, and as such, she cannot ultimately reverse biology or death or know when exactly that moment will be.

If euthanasia, end-of-life consultations, surgery, dental work, x-rays, or ultrasound, are needed, Dr. Castillo will direct you to her trusted veterinarian colleagues who provide these services.

By initialing below, I understand and consent to the contents of this document.

 

CONSENT TO TREATMENT and ASSUMPTION of LIABILITY

By signing this consent form, I do hereby voluntarily give permission and consent for my companion animal(s) to be treated by Dr. Daniela Castillo, Castillo Animal Veterinary, and any of its associate veterinarians, assistants, technicians, or agents.

I acknowledge that I have been informed of the risks of treatment and have had the opportunities to ask questions pertaining to my companion animal. I understand that results are not guaranteed. I do not expect Dr. Castillo to anticipate and explain every possible risk and its complications. I hereby waive, release, waive, discharge, covenant not to sue, indemnify and hold harmless Castillo Animal Veterinary, Dr. Daniela Castillo, and any of its agents from any and all claims, demands, damages, costs, attorney fees, and liabilities relating to or arising directly or indirectly from services provided by Dr. Daniela Castillo and Castillo Animal Veterinary as well as any injuries or death suffered before, during or after care or consultation with Dr. Daniela Castillo and Castillo Animal Veterinary.

I further expressly agree that the foregoing release is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of California.

I acknowledge that I am aware that I may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those which I know or believe to exist with respect to the subject matter of this Consent to Treatment and Assumption of Liability, but that it is my intention to hereby fully, finally and forever release all of the claims, disputes and differences known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which now exist or may exist.

If any provision of this Release is found to be unenforceable or invalid, the remaining provisions shall be unaffected, binding and enforceable. If any action is brought to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees, costs, and disbursements, in addition to any other relief that may be granted.

My signature below, verifies that I am the legal guardian of the above-named animal and I consent to treatment. I acknowledge that I have been advised and my questions have been answered regarding the content of this document. I understand the potential risks incidental to the services provided and I fully assume all such risks. I intend this consent form to cover the entire course of treatment for my companion animal’s present condition as well as any future conditions for which I seek treatment from Dr. Daniela Castillo and Castillo Animal Veterinary.

 

 

Consent to Use of Media

I authorize Castillo Animal Veterinary and Dr. Daniela Castillo and her employees, staff, and assistants to take photographs, motion pictures, video, or other audio/visual media of my companion animal which may be used for: patient medical records, educational purposes, Facebook, Instagram, website, newsletters, promotional material. I also understand that there is no royalty, fee, or other compensation for such use. I agree to make no claim to them now or in the future, and release Castillo Animal Veterinary and its employees and consultants from any liability in connection with the approved use of these materials.

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