Drop-Offs, Surgeries & Worries

About two days beforehand, we’ll email you preparation details for the big day: what to do the night before, the timing of drop-off and pick-up, and what to expect during recovery at home.

We’ll also call the day before as a reminder, and to answer any last-minute questions. We want you to know what to expect on the day and afterwards.

If your pet is more anxious with us, or without you there, we can arrange special drop-off and pick-up times that minimize their time at the hospital. In some cases we can even do the surgical preparation with you present.

Because we know your pet and regularly evaluate their personality and behavior with us, we’ll recommend this for patients who need it. Feel free to ask if you have concerns.

Smell is a critically important sense for our pets, and something that smells familiar can be comforting and help reduce stress. Bring in their favorite small bed or blanket, or a shirt you’ve worn. They’ll appreciate it, and it will make a stressful day a little easier.

For some patients we can use a quick-acting anti-anxiety medication. It lowers their anxiety enough to bring them from panic to nervousness, and can be given safely with anesthesia.

We’d plan ahead with you on when to give the pill before you leave to come see us. Every little bit of help with anxiety improves your pet’s overall outcome, pain management and experience with the veterinarian.

We know you put on a brave face, and you trust us, but you still worry. When will the procedure start? How long will it take? When will I hear from the doctor?

We can send a few updates through the day, sometimes with a photo. You’ll still get a phone call from the doctor after the procedure with a complete update, a pick-up time range and instructions for recovery.

Don’t worry if you don’t remember every detail from the doctor’s call. You’ll go home with detailed written instructions that one of our crew goes over with you before you leave.

We’ll also call you the next day to check in and answer any remaining questions or concerns.