Hospital Policies
Appointments
To allow ample time for all patients and scheduled surgical procedures, we operate primarily by appointment. Emergency cases shall always receive top priority, which is why occasional appointment delay is inevitable. Please realize that we make a sincere attempt to see each client on time.
For your convenience, drop-off appointments are available. A drop-off means you could bring your pet at the time that works best for you and leave him/her with us for a couple of hours. Usually we will ask you to drop off' sometime in the morning so our doctors can examine the patient in between appointments or at the time purposely reserved for admitted patients. Once the doctor is done, he/she will give you a call to go over the diagnosis and to give you discharge instructions.
Even though we make every effort to make our patients feel comfortable during visits, they may be a little uneasy about new people, new surroundings and other pets. For the safety of all animals this is one of the reasons we ask you to restrain your pet.
We recommend that animals be placed on a leash or in pet carriers before entering the waiting room.
Cost Estimates
Before we do anything for your pet, we will provide you an estimate based on our past experience what it will cost for your pet's care.
For a more accurate cost estimate, our computer system can generate estimates and calculate the charges for diagnostics.
However, please understand that these are only estimates - not firm price quotes. Why not? Sometimes it is difficult or impossible to predict how an animal will respond to treatment or what complications or additional unforeseen problems may be revealed by starting treatment.
If something unexpected arises while your pet is hospitalized, we will do our best to contact you as soon as possible, with an updated prognosis and cost estimate.
Deposits
If your pet is admitted due to an accident, illness or injury, or an immediate surgical procedure, we may ask for a deposit. This is usually 50% of estimate costs, and is due at the time of admission. the balance will need to paid upon discharge from care.
All unpaid balances are subject to a monthly billing and financing fee based on a percentage of the unpaid balance.
Remember, we welcome the opportunity to discuss and clarify any financial concerns that you may and help in anyway we can, but we need to leave the figuring of financing to you - the pet owner.
Payments
We do ask for payment in full at the time of treatment. This helps us all in two ways: First, prompt payment helps us keep our fees as low as possible. Second, prompt payments allow us to go ahead and look after the health care of all our patients when they need it, rather than having to pause and deal with some prior late payment or unpaid balance.
An itemized receipt will be issued detailing all services. Payment options available include cash, debit (Interac), major credit cards and pet health insurance.
We also offer a payment plan called the MEDICARD Payment Plan that can be used for preventive health care, annual check ups and certain surgeries.
For your convenience, we accept American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Debit, cash and bank certified checks.
Prescription Drugs Policy by Phone
Many of the medications that we use to treat your pet are prescription drugs. This means that they can only be dispensed on the orders of a licensed veterinarian. Refills of a prescription must be pre-approved by a veterinarian.
In order to reduce waiting times for prescription pick up, we strongly recommend that you call 24 hours before coming down to pick up any medication.
This way it will be ready for you when you come in. Our staff is unable to dispense medication if not pre-approved by the veterinarian.
Due to new regulations regarding dispensing and renewing prescribed medications, your pet must be seen annually by a veterinarian at our clinic in order to keep the records current before a prescription can be renewed or dispensed by us.