Admissions
Our doors open for business at 7am, Monday through Saturday. If you are in need of special food or refills of prescriptions, please call ahead by several hours so you don't have to wait for your file to be updated, prescription to be filled, and food located. The doctor must approve ALL prescription drugs dispensed. If you are not a client, your veterinarian must call ahead to OK the prescription for us to refill. For our clients, we also offer home delivery of some prescription, non-prescription, and diets through our Online Store, please click on the Shop Online link to access our store, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please note that it may take 2-3 business days for you to receive your medications and diets through our Online Store.
Please try to arrive on time for your scheduled appointment or call to let us know if you are running late. If you are more than 15 minutes late the Dr. may already be seeing the next appointment and you would have to wait be "squeezed in". If it will be your first time in, arriving 15 minutes early will make for more time for the boring paperwork! We charge $25 for missed appointments if we have not been given 24 hours notice, barring emergencies of course. 
Bring along any medical or shot records or prescription medication to help bring us up to speed, if it is your first time in.
Please have your pet securely restrained. For dogs this means properly fitted collar and leash. If your pet is aggressive or hard to control, feel free to come in first to see if the coast is clear or ask for assistance.
Cats should have a halter and leash, carriers, pillowcases or catbags. Every year 1 or 2 frightened cats escape from their owners arms/towels outside between the car and door--don't let it be your heartache! Birds should be in boxes, carriers, or their cage--not your shoulder. There could be a large dog inside the door, or a ceiling fan on...
Patients coming in for surgery should be dropped off between 7 and 8:30. For safety, dogs, cats, ferrets, and minipigs should be fasted before surgery, and have their food and water removed from the bed the previous night. Rabbits, birds, and small exotics need not be fasted.
Please allow time for their paperwork, presurgical physicals, preoperative bloodwork and EKGs. You will be asked to sign a release form, and check off various options for your pet. We now use the laser for all surgeries, to decrease post-op pain, bleeding, inflammation and risk of infection, and to make the procedure safer. All surgeries more than 5 minutes long are performed with an IV line in place, to prevent low blood pressure and to increase safety. Make sure we have the correct numbers to reach you during the day for follow-up communication, or questions that arise before surgery.
Most surgeries are completed between 8:30 and 10:00, barring emergencies. Some surgeries may be performed over the lunch break. Please call back in the afternoon for a progress check, and to arrange for a go-home time. If everyone just arrives to pick up their pet 5 minutes before closing, it will be a long line indeed, and you may not get the 1 on 1 attention you deserve.
Pets that need to be seen on an emergency basis should of course be dropped off as early as possible that day, to allow time for treatment and diagnosis, and to lessen the chance that their treatment will run into after hours emergency fees. Pets that are being dropped off for routine treatment are not charged a boarding fee, as a courtesy to our clients, but ill animals will of course be treated first.
Pets being dropped off for boarding need to arrive at least 1 hour before closing to allow time for the paperwork, their physical, and preparing their hotel room! Boarding discharges need to happen at least 1/2 an hour before closing, unless their stay has been prepaid. There are no discharges after closing, or on Sundays or major holidays, for security reasons and in fairness to the staff.