Appointments are seen Monday through Thursday only. Emergencies are seen as needed in conjunction with the Veterinary Emergency Clinic, Inc. (VEC). Please be aware that an immediate appointment may not be available due to high demand. VMS will attempt to accommodate all patients, but must prioritize those with more critical conditions.

Your initial appointment will require 60 minute to allow comprehensive review of your pet's clinical history, prior test results and x-rays, and physical examination, followed by discussion of your pet's condition, recommended diagnostics, treatment, and a written estimate. Delays can be minimized by having all records and results faxed to VMS in advance by your regular veterinarian, and by bringing all pertinent x-rays, medications, and prescription diets to your appointment. For your convenience, owner check-in, patient history, and owner information forms may be downloaded and filled out in advance.

We routinely request that no food be given to patients for 12 hours prior to their appointment. This allows diagnostic testing and procedures involving anesthesia or sedation that might otherwise have to be postponed. Diabetic patients are an exception, and should receive food and insulin as usual. Water should never be withheld from any VMS patient.

Due to the complexity of our cases, prompt communication and a cooperative relationship with referring veterinarians is crucial. The specialist, referring veterinarian, and owner must work as a team to provide the best care available. You and your veterinarian will be provided with detailed summary and discharge instructions when your pet leaves the hospital. In addition, test results will be faxed to your veterinarian as they become available. Whenever possible, patients are returned to their regular veterinarian for follow-up care. Veterinarians are welcome to consult VMS regarding follow-up care of discharged patients; however, concerns regarding prompt care and patient safety dictate that we can not provide treatment recommendations to owners whose pets are not directly under our supervision. If your veterinarian is not comfortable managing your pet’s follow-up care (e.g. immunosuppressive or chemotherapy), this should be performed through VMS.

Hospitalization
In most cases, hospitalization for the day is required to complete diagnostics, and admission overnight for 24-hour care is often necessary. If your pet must stay in the hospital, VMS will make every effort to keep your pet comfortable. We routinely use blankets, comforters, beds, and hiding places (for cats). Dogs are walked every 4 hours (if they are ambulatory), cats are provided a litter box, and all patients are given food and water if their condition allows. The hospital is staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week by VMS and VEC. Hospital visits and calls should be made between noon and 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise discussed with our staff. All communication must be done through VMS doctors and staff. Please do not contact VEC staff outside regular VMS business hours for information about your pet. Communication is greatly expedited when a specific owner is designated as a contact.

Fees
Fees are usual and customary charges for the specialized services offered. You will be provided with a written estimate prior to service. A deposit equal to 50% of the estimated charges is required prior to major procedures or hospitalization. The balance must be paid at the time your pet is discharged from the hospital. Payments may be made with cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Care Credit. Providing rapid access to high-quality care and advanced equipment can be expensive, and the final bill may be more (or less) than expected due to unanticipated findings. We strive to inform owners of changes, whether medical or financial, as they occur.