What to Expect When Your Pet Is Hospitalized

What to Expect When Your Pet Is Hospitalized

We know leaving your pet in the hospital can feel overwhelming—especially during an emergency. Your pet is family, and trusting someone else with their care is not easy. Our team is committed to treating your pet with compassion, attentiveness, and respect while providing the best possible care, and keeping you informed every step of the way.

Daily Medical Care & Updates

24/7 Monitoring
PASE is staffed by veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and animal care staff at all times, day and night. Your pet will be closely monitored by our experienced veterinary team.They will receive medications and have their vital signs assessed regularly, and may be hooked up to intravenous fluids. We balance this with providing quiet time for your pet to sleep, which is an important part of healing.

Morning Rounds and Evaluations (7:00 AM – 10:00 AM)
The transition of care from the overnight staff to the daytime staff, including the primary doctor that is caring for your pet, is a vital part of your pet’s care. After morning rounds and case handover, the primary doctor for your pet will do their exam and review any diagnostics and records from the previous night. The technician assigned to your pet will also be using this time to get to know them and perform any morning treatments.

Morning Updates (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
After the morning evaluations, you will receive a call with an update on your pet. This may come from either your pet’s primary doctor or a member of their team. If the doctor does not call with this first update, don’t worry! They will be in touch later that day to go over the plan and see if you have any questions.

Visitation

• Visitation is absolutely allowed while your pet is hospitalized!

• Visiting hours are 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM. Exceptions can be made if needed.

• Please call ahead so we can coordinate a time that works safely within hospital workflow and your pet’s medical needs.

• Visitation may be limited depending on your pet’s condition.

Financial Information

• You will receive financial updates that include your pet’s current invoice total and what has already been paid at least once daily. Patient care is often dynamic and the care plan for patients can change. We will keep you up to speed and explain any changes in costs.

• If ongoing care requires an increase in the estimate, we will send you a new estimate and consent form. You may be asked to leave an additional deposit to continue treatment.

• Any remaining balance will be due at the end of hospitalization.

• If you have financial questions at any time during your pet’s hospitalization, then do not hesitate to reach out to our team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I speak with the doctor first thing in the morning?

It is important that the daytime staff have a chance to fully evaluate all of their patients and have time to review any changes or new information from overnight. You will hear from your pet’s doctor once they have been able to ensure all of their patients are getting the best possible treatment.

Can I speak to the doctor directly any time I call?

In order to ensure the doctors are able to provide focused care to all of our patients, our nursing team may help with communications and updates. You will get the chance to speak directly with our pet’s doctor at least once daily.

My pet seems quieter when I visit or after discharge, is that normal?

Illness, medications, and the hospital environment can affect behavior. Even though we do what we can to maximize your pet’s ability to rest, the hospital can sometimes be a stressful environment for some animals. We also may utilize anti-anxiety medications to improve your pet’s comfort level, which can have some mild sedating effects. For all of these reasons, it is not uncommon for pets to be extra sleepy and quiet when they get home. Their appetite and bowel habits may also be different for a short period of time.

Can I call to get more frequent updates?

Yes, you can call for updates, but we do ask that you be mindful that the team may be caring for multiple patients, and sometimes may not be able to update you right away. While we put a great deal of importance on communicating with our patient’s families, our first priority is to ensure that all of our patients are getting the best possible care. Rest assured, we will always call if there are any significant changes to your pet’s status.