Scheduling
a visit Except for emergencies, pets are
seen by appointment. We have four veterinarians on staff;
all of our doctors work together with our patients.
Emergencies
If your pet is having an emergency, please call our
office. See the
Emergencies page for
further information.
Directions
For
directions to our hospital, please click here
Your first
visit Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to
your appointment time to
register your pet(s). Registration and history forms may be
printed from the
forms page and filled out in advance.
Whenever
possible, the primary caretaker for the pet should be
present during the visit. The person who spends the most
time with the animal is in the best position to answer
questions about the pet's symptoms and past medical history.
In addition, it is most helpful for the primary caretaker to
be present in order to learn how to give medications and to
monitor the recovery of the pet.
All dogs must be on a leash; all cats, birds, reptiles, and
small mammals must be in a carrier. This is for the safety
of your pet - he or she will be sharing the reception area
with other pets. For birds, small mammals and exotic pets:
if you use a carrier where the pet is visible, a cover is
recommended - this will make your pet feel safer.
Please
allow enough time for your visit. We do our best to stay
on schedule, but emergencies and critical cases can put us
behind. We pride ourselves on obtaining a thorough history
and physical examination on each patient. If your pet needs
blood tests or radiographs, an additional 30 minutes or
longer may be needed to complete these tests. We make every
effort to let you know when your pet will be ready to go
home. Please be aware that if your pet is afraid and needs
extra time to calm down or if an emergency arises, tests and
procedures can take longer than expected. Please let us know
if you are under any time constraint.
Records If your pet
has been to another veterinary hospital, please bring or fax a copy
of his/her medical record, including copies of blood
tests and prior vaccinations. Records may be faxed to our
office at (925)685-7152. If radiographs (X-rays) were taken
within the past 2 months, please bring those as well. They
will be returned to the hospital where they were created
after we have viewed them.
Blood tests
If your pet is coming in for a blood test, make sure you
ask us whether or not your pet needs to be fasted prior to the
test. If your pet is taking medication for a thyroid,
seizure, or heart problem, make sure you schedule the blood
test for the correct time after the pill was given; your
veterinarian will tell you how many hours after the pill is
the best time for testing. If your pet is diabetic, your
veterinarian will give you specific instructions on insulin
dosing and feeding.
Surgery, Dentistry
& Other Procedures with Anesthesia
All Species: If your pet is on medication,
the medication should be given according to schedule, unless
your veterinarian has advised differently. If your pet is
diabetic, please ask your veterinarian for feeding and
insulin dosing instructions.
Dogs & Cats: Please make sure your pet has no
food after 8 pm the night before, water may be given.
Rabbits, Guinea pigs, Chinchillas: fasting is not
needed, feed and provide water as normal
Birds, reptiles, ferrets, and other species: Please
ask your veterinarian for feeding instructions; water should
not be removed.
Prescriptions If your pet
requires a prescription refill, please call our office. Please allow 24 hours for medications to be refilled.
Cancellation
If you must cancel a scheduled appointment, please provide
at least 24 hours notice.
Payment
is required at the time services are rendered. We accept
personal checks, debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, American
Express, Discover, and cash. Financing is available through
Care Credit, for more information see
www.CareCredit.com
Wildlife If
you have found a wild animal in need of care, please see the
Emergencies
page.
