Appointments

The appointment system is more time-saving for you, and enables us to give you and your pet our personal undivided attention during your visit. We will make every effort to be on time; however, emergencies may upset our schedule. Delays will be no longer than absolutely necessary. Should it become necessary for you to rearrange your appointment, please call us immediately. We will return the favor.

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Payment

Payment is due in full when services are rendered unless other arrangements have been made in advance with our business office. We accept cash, checks, VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and ATM cards. A deposit may be required when leaving an animal for extended treatment.

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Telephone Consultation

We are happy to answer your questions. Please be prepared to give the receptionist all pertinent information concerning your problem. If a consultation with the doctor is necessary, he will return your call as soon as possible. Also, check out our Ask-a-Vet feature on this website. For medical terminology and FAQs go to the AVMA library on line.

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Boarding

Indoor boarding facilities are available for our regular clients. Reservations are required and should be made well in advance. Immunizations must be current. The hospital is not responsible for any personal articles with left with your pet.

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Grooming

Professional service is available by appointment. Call us or email us for more information.

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Restraint

It is hospital policy that all animals must be restrained on a leash or in a suitable container while in the reception area. If you need a leash or a carrier, please contact our receptionist. During the examination, please allow the assistant to restrain your pet.

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Boarding and Hospital Admitting

For reasons of sanitation and orderliness, is requested that personal belongings such as leashes, toys, and blankets not be left with your pet at the hospital. Blankets and heating pads are provided by the hospital whenever needed. The entire hospital is climate-controlled the year around. A clean compartment of a size recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), or larger, is used to house your pet. For the protection of the other animals in the hospital as well as your own, we require that vaccinations be kept up to date.

All hospitalized or boarding pets that are found to have external (fleas, ticks, lice) or internal (worms) parasites will be treated at the owners expense.

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Visiting

You are invited to inspect our hospital facilities. We welcome visitors. However, while your pet is hospitalized, please do not ask to visit him. It might help your piece of mind, but it may not help his. Visiting your pet causes excessive barking and nervous excitement disturbing not only him, but the other patients in the hospital as will. Consideration of the welfare of our patients comes first. At the discretion of the doctor in charge, visits are occasionally warranted and solicited.

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Hospital Release

Hospitalized animals are released following a consultation with the veterinarian. This is for your protection, in order to receive proper instructions and any indicated medications. Please, do not give water or food to your pet for the first hour after arriving home. Most pets are extremely excited at seeing their owners and might overeat and over drink, which often brings about an upset stomach. Should this occur, please call us immediately so that the necessary steps may be taken to overcome this condition.

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Vaccination and Immunology

It is our policy to immunize all pets against the common infectious diseases where vaccines are available. Proper immunizations are always preferable to treating clinical disease. All pets admitted into the hospital must be current on immunizations and be free of parasites.

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Surgical and Dental Procedures

All elective surgery and dentals must be scheduled in advance. In most cases, your pet will be admitted the morning of the procedure and should be fasted for both food and water. Following the procedure, we will telephone you with a post-surgical report. A discharge appointment with the doctor can be scheduled at drop off.

At the office, listen carefully to all instructions given in regard to after-care and feeding and be certain everything is understood. The success of many cases depends greatly on proper after-care. Once your pet leaves the hospital we cannot be responsible for the quality of treatment and supervision he receives, this is your responsibility. Phone us if you have any suspicion that the case is not progressing as planned or when events occur that were not discussed by the doctor.

Special attention must be given to pets with splints, casts and bandages and it is your responsibility to see that they stay clean, dry and intact. Extra charges are made for re-casting, re-bandaging, anesthesia, treatment, etc., when the cause is beyond our control.

In most cases sutures are taken out in about ten days, at which time further instructions may be given. Be sure to notify the office if your pet chews, rubs, or scratches at sutures or bandages.

Be especially attentive to feeding instructions in the first few hours your pet is home, as over-feeding or over-watering at this time often causes vomiting and diarrhea.

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Medication

Always follow the directions carefully for administration of medications. Don't save unused portions for further use unless instructed to do so by the doctor. Keep all medications out of the reach of children. Many of the drugs used in veterinary medicine are very potent and perhaps even poisonous if administered to humans.

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