How long is the rental for?
We send you a complete holter package for ten days (including shipping time back and forth), excellent instructions, photos, and the materials to submit to Alba for a complete report. The rental period starts on the day it is shipped out and ends on the day it is received back to us. Late returns incur a daily late fee. No exceptions. We usually have sick dogs waiting for your rental to come back.
What kind of electrodes come with the system?
We provide special electrodes which are high-end and don't come loose even with an active dog. They come with the Hook Up Kit, and we offer extras in case you accidentally destroy one during the hook-up.
How many hook-up kits will I need to order?
Order as many Hook Up Kits as needed along with the Rental. You can holter as many dogs as desired during the rental period.
Do I have to shave my dog?
There is some debate about the value of shaving dogs before attaching electrodes. Some breeders choose not to shave and believe that they receive excellent results. In over four decades of running holters with board certified cardiologists, we have never seen a hookup by a cardiologist done without shaving. Shaving reduces the possibility of artifacts, which must be ruled out by technicians who review the data. Our instructions recommend shaving to give you the best possible results.
Are there any other preparations I need to make to get ready for the holter to start?
Your dog should be bathed and shaved prior to the holter arriving so that you can start as soon as it arrives.
Can I hook my dog up by myself if I've never done it before?
The hookup is not difficult. However, for a novice, it is best to have a helper. One can read the instructions and hold the wires while the other does the placement of electrodes, tape and vest. It helps to have treats or do this on a grooming table so that the dog stays still. The DR200 does not have an on/off button, so it turns on when the battery is inserted. It's best to insert the battery once the electrodes are attached, but before the vest is secured, just to be certain that you have a good read going on the screen. So it's nice to have 2 people for this process.
It will probably take about 20 minutes from start to finish if the dog is already bathed and shaved prior to starting. Tucking the wires into the pocket and securing everything with the exterior belt is the final step.
How is the report generated?
Once the dog wears the holter for 24 hours, the data is stored on the SD Card. You will upload the data to Alba to interpret and produce a report for you and your veterinarian. Alba's charge is separate from the rental of equipment. Their charge has been around $40 for digital interpretation and report generation from Alba. Contact Alba to verify current charge.
Do I receive extra electrodes or SD cards in case there is a need for them?
We always send an extra SD card and extra electrodes. Just send them back when you return the system. Opened electrode packages need not be returned as they cannot be used.
RENTAL CONTRACT REQUIRED
What if I send in an order and forget to send the Rental Agreement?
Orders submitted without the required fully executed contract and deposit within 24 hours will be cancelled. A handling fee of 15% will be charged on cancelled orders and withheld from the refund. We usually have people waiting for the equipment; many with sick dogs. We cannot chase people down for the contract. Contact us through the store for the rental contract or print using the link on the tab above. A refundable deposit must be paid prior to shipment as a security deposit. Once the system is returned and evaluated, the deposit (less any late fees, credit card fees charged by payment gateway to our account, or fees for damage or replacement) is refunded digitally. See below to pay deposit.
How does shipping and insurance work?
SHIPPING: We use USPS for shipping, not FedEx or UPS. PLEASE CHOOSE THE FREE SHIPPING CHARGE, AS THE SHIPPING IS ADDED AT CHECKOUT. THIS RENTAL DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE SHIPPING, SO YOU WILL SEE A SHIPPING CHARGE INCLUDING INSURANCE WHEN YOU CHECK OUT. DO NOT ADD INSURANCE, AS THE INSURANCE IS INCLUDED. STANDARD POST DOES NOT HAVE TRACKING AND MAY TAKE OVER A WEEK TO GET TO YOU, so do not choose anything except Priority Mail. If the store does not calculate enough shipping to cover Priority with full insurance, you will be asked to pay the difference before shipment, or it will be withheld from the deposit when it is returned. Priority Mail with insurance charge is typically around $45 in a Medium Flat Rate Box. You are required to ship back using appropriate shipping with tracking and full replacement insurance as well. It must arrive back here by the end of your rental period to avoid daily late fees. Make your choice of shippers based on that rule. You must send the tracking number to us when it is generated by the shipper. Send contract and tracking number to [email protected]
Why do I have to pay everything in advance, including a $500 deposit?
We have unfortunately had too many renters who returned damaged or missing equipment and charged back the replacements of those items with their credit card companies. We just don't have the time to deal with these anymore. We want to continue offering our high end equipment, and this is the only way we can be assured that we are covered when equipment is returned late, damaged, or missing. The rental fee, shipping, insurance and hookup kits can be paid for using your credit card. The deposit must be paid by zelle to [email protected]. The recipient may state "Above the Line Wellness". That is us.
DEPOSIT - When and how is it returned?
Your deposit is $500, and must be paid via zelle. It is refunded via zelle once system is returned and evaluated for damage. The deposit must be paid by zelle to [email protected]. The recipient may state "Above the Line Wellness". That is us.
Please allow at least a week for refund of deposit monies due, as an inspection must be done and accounting put together for you. Accounting can take up to a week.
RENTAL AGREEMENT - How to get it to us:
We do not use DocuSign for the rental contract, so do recommend that you send it to us using secured email or call us to verbally enter your credit card number into the contract for you. If you have an account with DocuSign and want to send it that way, we will be happy to honor that and sign it inside DocuSign.
Download the rental contract using the tab on this page RENTAL AGREEMENT. Fill it out and return to us at [email protected]. We recommend that you send the RENTAL AGREEMENT without the credit card on it; then call with your credit card information to put on the contract so that it is not sent over unsecure email to us. Deposit is refundable as long as there is no damage, no missing equipment, and equipment is returned clean and free of fur.
WAIT LIST MESSAGE:
If store states PUT ME ON WAITING LIST, put yourself on the wait list and we will notify you when it is available.
What if I want to get an OFA Advanced Cardiac Certificate?
The report you receive from Alba Medical qualifies for the OFA. It is the same report that board certified cardiologists get. OFA requires that the Holter and Echo are run within 90 days of one another to qualify for the Advanced Cardiac Certificate clearance for breeding. What we do in our breeding program is run our Holters first, then we take the reports to the cardiologist who does the echos. He then does our Advanced Cardiac Certificates. Alba does have a cardiologist who can do an over read for a fee, but if you don't see substantial numbers of PVC's, runs, doubles, triples, that's usually not a justifiable expense. Your echo cardiologist is usually happy to interpret it and fill out the paperwork for OFA. Just arrange that with the cardiologist. They are all aware of our needs as breeders with OFA.
What will this cost me once it is "said and done"?
The typical end cost with shipping, insurance, supplies, report, and return insured shipping is usually around $250 at this time. And you will own the report, which is a huge advantage in my eyes. It's not sitting in your dog’s files where you can't see what's on it. You can take it wherever you want to discuss with any other breeder or medical professional. You can even post it on your website if you care to show your dog's results for breeding clearance.
