In order to earn your trust, we have an open policy regarding patient care.  Our purpose is to provide the very best care available for your pet, and we want our clients to know what we do and how we do it.  On this website, you will find written and pictorial descriptions of anesthetic procedures, as well the sequence of events that typically occur during surgical and dental procedures.   There are photos of every area of the hospital.  

We have a web page that discusses what you should be looking for when it comes to anesthetic and surgical safety.  Additionally, all clients are welcome to request a tour of the hospital and will be accommodated at any time.

We present here our standards concerning the care of your pets (our patients). For those of you who are looking for a veterinarian, feel free to use these standards as a comparison with other practices.  Despite what you may have previously thought, universal patient care  standards do not exist in veterinary medicine and not all veterinary practices are equal. 

Regarding pain:

Every patient experiencing pain receives  adequate medication to alleviate that pain.

Every patient undergoing a surgical procedure receives pain medications before anesthesia or surgery.   We strive to perform surgery in a manner than minimizes pain and recovery time.

Any surgery, including elective surgeries (spay and neuter) has the potential to be painful; we do not ignore pain just because a procedure is routine.

Pain is not a function of economics. We will not forego pain medications in order to make any surgery less expensive. We do use the most economical medications that will be adequate for a given situation.

Regarding anesthesia:

Only Licensed Veterinary Technicians or qualified, licensed Doctors of Veterinary Medicine give anesthetic drugs.

Every patient undergoing general anesthesia has an intravenous catheter in place and is on intravenous fluids (as you would if you were undergoing anesthesia).

Patients are always intubated for safety (to protect the airway) when they have a general anesthetic or heavy sedation (as you would if you were undergoing anesthesia).

Every animal under anesthesia  monitored by a trained staff member from the moment of induction until recovery.  Animals are not left unattended.  Studies have shown that the recovery period is actually the most likely time for an adverse event to occur.

Blood pressure, pulses, respiration, anesthetic levels, fluid delivery and other parameters (including end tidal C02) are continuously monitored and recorded.

Regarding surgery:

Only qualified, licensed Doctors of Veterinary Medicine perform surgery.

Surgical instruments are never "shared" between patients. A sterile, freshly opened set of surgical instruments is utilized for every patient.

Surgery takes place in a separate, enclosed operating room, away from general hospital traffic and airflow.

Surgeons wear new caps, masks, sterile gowns, and sterile gloves any time they perform sterile surgery.

Sterile individual packaged suture material are used for all internal sutures.

Regarding patient comfort:

Patients in the hospital have warm, comfortable accommodations.

Cats and dogs are housed in separate rooms whenever possible.

All steps are taken to relieve patient anxiety, including anti-anxiety medications and having patients cared for at home whenever possible and appropriate for their condition.