APPOINTMENTS: Doctors' hours are by appointment. If you are new to our clinic, please try to arrive about 15 minutes before your appointment to fill out our "New Client Form" which asks general information about you and your pet. This will allow us to get a head start and leave plenty of time for the doctor to examine and treat your pet.
SURGERY: Surgeries are scheduled by appointment. Patients should be held off food after 12:00pm the previous day, and water should be taken up before bedtime unless otherwise instructed by the doctor. Dogs must be current on vaccinations for Rabies, DHLPP, and Bordatella. Cats must be current on vaccinations for Distemper/Rhinotracheitis. These vaccinations must have been given by a licensed veterinarian. All pets that have been vaccinated at other clinics must have written proof of all required vaccinations at the time of drop off or they will be vaccinated at the time of surgery (we do this to protect your pet and other patients under our care).
For patients 7 years old and younger, a presurgical "mini" blood screen is strongly recommended to check for underlying problems not detected on a routine examination. For patients older than 7 years, a presurgical complete chemistry and complete blood count (CBC) is strongly recommended.
At Sauk Valley Animal Hospital, patients should arrive between 7:30am and 8:00 am, or may also be dropped off the night before at no extra charge. Please allow yourself extra time at drop off for the doctor or technician to go over the surgery procedure and consent forms.
Most routine surgeries may go home after 2:00pm the following day, unless special arrangements have been made with the doctor. Dental patients may go home after 3:00pm the same day as the procedure. If your pet indicates he or she is ready to go home earlier (barking, rattling a tin can across the bars, playing the harmonica, etc.) we may contact you to send them home earlier, so please be sure to leave a contact number with us. With our modern anesthetics and monitoring equipment, many of our patients are fully awake just a few hours after surgery.
