For Clients

Travelling from out of town

Let us know if you are travelling to see us. We have partnerships with certain hotels in the area and can reach out to them on your behalf for reduced rates on a pet-friendly room. Please be aware that this is subject to hotel availability/approval and it needs to be initiated by the CARE Centre. Our Client Care Specialists will ask you for some basic information to get this organized.

Please see below if you wish to contact the hotel directly for more information:

Sandman Hotel and Suites Calgary South

Address: 8001 11 St SE, Calgary, AB T2H 0B8

Phone: (403) 252-7263

Holiday Inn and Suites

Address: 8360 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2J 7E1

Phone: (403) 475-8561

Prescription Pet Food

While we do not offer over the counter purchases, you can order your companion’s prescribed pet food through our online partner at:

Mollies.ca

You will be asked to set up an account and you must have an established relationship with our medical team who has prescribed the food as they will approve it on your behalf. Once ordered and approved, the food will be delivered directly to your home!

For any questions, support or returns, please contact Mollies directly through their contact page.

Visiting Your Pet

We appreciate how important it is for you to visit your pet. Visits can benefit both you and your pet, although they can be stressful under some conditions. Here are a few tips on maximizing your time during visits.

• Phone before you come so we can try to arrange your visit around your pets medical treatments.
• We discourage extra long visits as the patient needs rest and to continue monitoring and treatment by the hospital staff.
• It is best not to visit while your pet is sedated or recovering from anesthesia as this can cause your pet to become agitated.
• Visitation in the main treatment area is limited to 15 minutes at a time.
• The privacy of all our patients is very important to us. We ask that when you are visiting, please limit your questions and visit to your own pet.
  
  

Please note that any blankets or toys that are left with your pet may not be returned. Please leave at your own risk. We have an ample supply of bedding and love to keep your pet comfortable during their stay with us.

What to Expect

Consultation

We ask that you arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment to allow time to complete a medical history questionnaire on your pet. We should already have any documentation from your regular veterinarian before your arrival; however, you may be transporting some of the information with you – please check if you are to bring x-rays and inform the receptionist if you will be doing so. We also ask that you have an available list of the medication(s) and food your pet is currently receiving. You and your pet will meet with one of our Veterinarians who will take a thorough history of your pet’s condition and they will examine your pet. If needed, a diagnostic plan will be outlined to further specify what is the best course of action for your pet.

Diagnostics

It may be possible that further testing may be needed to arrive at a specific diagnosis of your pet’s condition. This may include x-rays, blood work and urinalysis, joint fluid analysis, biopsy, CT (computerized tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and arthroscopy. We will also consult with our medical colleagues should the need arise to get a complete picture of your pet’s health and suitability for procedures or surgery if needed. Pre-operative blood-work is necessary to assess the function of your pet’s internal organs to enable us to perform safe anesthesia.

Once a diagnosis is made you and the veterinarian will make a treatment plan for that is best for you and your pet. We understand this is a lot of information to digest so please do not be afraid to ask for clarification of anything you do not understand. If your pet requires hospitalization, you will have an opportunity to discuss the aftercare in more detail when your pet is discharged from the hospital. All go home instructions are printed out and given to you at discharge along with any medications that your pet may require.

Admitting Your Pet

Your pet should have no food for 12 hours prior to admission for anesthesia and surgery. Water can be given to your pet until admission. At admission, an animal health technologist will take down details of the best place to reach you during and after surgery, details of medication and when last given. Most ongoing medications can be given the day of surgery unless they are to be given with food or were recommended not to be given by your Veterinarian. If you have any doubts, please talk to our staff.

Some pets may be required to stay with us for a number of days. Throughout their time here, your beloved family member will receive round the clock care from our team of veterinarians, technicians and assistants. While we appreciate that you may wish to leave special personal items with your pet, we discourage this for hygienic and contamination reasons. Any items that are left may not be returned. Please leave at your own risk. We have an ample supply of bedding and love to keep your pet comfortable. If a special diet is required for your pet, please bring their food with you and ensure it is labeled appropriately.