Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions that we are often asked. If you have additional questions that are not covered here, please feel free to give us a call at 250 537 5334.
1. What are the hospital hours?
Our hospital is open from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Thursday. We are closed for lunches between 1 and 2 PM and on Tuesdays from 2 PM to 3 PM for a staff meeting.
2. Do I need to have an appointment?
Yes, patients are seen by appointment. However – if we have no openings and your pet needs to be seen urgently, we offer drop-off appointments so that the doctor can assess your pet in between appointments, as there is time.
3. What forms of payment do you accept?
Cash, Debit, Mastercard, and Visa
4. Can I make payments?
Payment is required at the time of service. We do offer third party financing. You can also make payments to get your account in credit before procedures.
5. At what age can I have my pet spayed or neutered?
Spaying or neutering can be done at approximately 6 months of age. Your pet is given an exam prior to surgery to help determine whether he or she is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery. Also, a pre-anesthetic blood screen is recommended prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery.
6. What is a pre-anesthetic blood screening?
This is a blood test that is run here in the clinic prior to surgery. It tests the organ functions, blood counts, and clotting function of your pet. The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to assure the safety and the ability to heal following surgery.
7. How long do sutures have to stay in after my pet’s surgery?
Procedures involving sutures require them to be removed in 14 days following the surgery. Many times we are able to use absorbable sutures that are dissolving and do not need to be removed.
8. Is it a good idea to let my pet have at least one litter?
No, there is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However there are plenty of advantages to having your pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumours later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighbourhood, decreasing the incidence of prostate cancer later in life, helping prevent spraying and marking, and also decreases the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.
9. Do you board pets?
We only offer day hospitalization for patients that are needing veterinary procedures. We do not board pets.
10. Why can’t you dispense dewormer over the counter?
Most effective dewormers are prescription drugs so this requires that the pet is examined by the veterinarian before the prescription is made. This is a legal requirement of all prescription drugs.
11. What animals do you treat?
We will help any animals that need treatment. Examples of animals that we have treated: lizards, tortoises, fish, chinchillas, rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, goats, horses, ducks, chicken, parrots, hamsters, and some wildlife for the Wildlife center including seals, beavers, raccoons, deer, owls, ravens and eagles.