FAQs

I just made an appointment for my pet. Is there anything I should bring with me to my first visit?
We strive to make your experiences at our animal hospital as comprehensive and efficient as possible. If you are bringing your pet in for the first time, please bring any pertinent previous medical information (vaccine history, medical records from previous veterinarians) so that we can determine what services, if any, are due. For routine wellness exams, please bring in a fecal specimen (obtained the day of the exam) and for dogs over six years old, it may be helpful to collect a first morning urine sample the morning of the exam (hold shallow pan under dog and then pour into clean container).

For illness visits, please bring anything that may pertain to your pet’s particular problem. For instance, if your pet is experiencing a urinary issue (straining to urinate, blood in the urine, frequent urination), bring a urine specimen. Similarly, if your pet has diarrhea, bring in a stool sample. If your pet accidentally ingested something, please bring packaging, if available.

What can I expect at my visit?
Our receptionists will greet you and alert the staff that you have arrived for your appointment. One of our skilled and knowledgeable veterinary technicians will bring you and your pet into an exam room and take a brief history regarding the reason for your visit. After the technician consults with the doctor seeing you, the doctor will review the history and ask any additional questions they feel necessary.

A full and thorough physical exam is performed on every animal, whether he/she is being seen for a wellness exam or a medical problem. This includes prior to all routine vaccinations—there is no such thing as “he just needs a shot.” A physical exam allows the doctor to ensure that your pet has no issues that may preclude vaccination. It may also identify problems you were unaware of, preventing unnecessary repeat visits.

What does it mean to be “AAHA-Accredited?” Why does it matter?
West Caldwell Animal Hospital is one of 3200 animal hospitals throughout the US and Canada that is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). We have maintained continuous accreditation since 1964. Accreditation is an entirely voluntary evaluation process whereby our medical standards and practices are scrutinized by representatives of AAHA to ensure we are providing a consistent and high quality of care for our patients. The accreditation inspection occurs every 3 years and evaluates 900 standards in the areas of medical care (anesthesia, contagious diseases, dentistry, pain management, patient care, surgery and emergency care), diagnostics and pharmacy, management, medical records and facility. It is not required for any veterinary practice to be accredited – West Caldwell Animal Hospital submits itself for this rigorous process to make sure we are keeping up to date with the latest current standards of medical practice and providing the very best for our patients and clients.

My pet needs to be spayed/neutered. What does that involve?
The decision to spay/neuter your pet is a wise one as it can prevent certain medical issues from developing as your pet ages and as well as some undesirable sex-related behaviors. Food should be withheld from your pet after 10pm the night before his/her surgery – water is ok up until the time of drop-off.

Drop-off is between 8:00-8:20 a.m. the day of the procedure. A veterinary technician will review the estimate for surgery as well as any recommended procedures that are appropriate at this time (such as microchipping, preoperative blood or cardiac screening, screening for hip dysplasia in large breed dogs, removal of retained baby teeth, removal of unwanted dewclaws, etc.). They will also go over any questions or concerns you may have. You will receive a phone call following your pet’s surgery alerting you of his/her condition.

Pets that are spayed or neutered stay overnight at our facility. This is primarily to make sure these cases are properly rested post-operatively. Post-surgical cases are generally discharged the following day. Your pet may or may not be discharged with pain medication (depending on the surgery and client preference) and/or an Elizabethan (“lampshade”) collar if there is concern the patient will disturb their surgical incision.

Is your hospital open 24 hours? Is someone always there if my pet stays overnight?
Our office is only staffed during regular operating hours so there is no 24 hour care. If overnight monitoring is warranted or desired by the client, transfer to our local emergency clinic (Animal Emergency and Referral Associates) is generally handled by the client transferring their pet to and from the AERA.

If I have an emergency with my pet when the office is closed, what do I do? We refer all of our after-hours emergencies to the Animal Emergency & Referral Associates located at 1237 Bloomfield Avenue in Fairfield, NJ 07004. Their phone number is 973-226-3282. They are located 1.1 miles west of our office on the westbound side of Bloomfield Avenue. Emergencies are seen there all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and after 5 pm on weekdays.

My pet has been referred to a specialist. What do I need to do?
If you are being referred to a veterinary specialist, you will need to contact the specialist’s office to schedule an appointment. Once your appointment is made, their office should contact our office so we can fax pertinent medical records for their review. It is always best to let us know after you have made your appointment with them so that we can ensure that records are sent in a timely fashion. Xrays or ultrasound reports can be provided as well, if needed.

Can I make my appointments online?
Appointments can only be made via phone at 973-226-3727.

Do you offer boarding? What if my pet has special needs? (Diabetic, on medication, etc.)
We are pleased to offer boarding to client pets only. Reservations can be made via the reception desk. Boarding animals must be current patients (have been seen within the past year) and up-to-date on all core vaccinations (for dogs-Rabies, Distemper and Bordetella; for cats-Rabies and Distemper).

Boarding animals will be “checked in” by one of our veterinary technicians upon admission – if any medical issues are identified, a staff veterinarian will be alerted and you will be contacted regarding your pet’s medical issue and any recommended treatment.

Do you offer grooming?
We do not offer grooming services at this facility. However, any dog that is boarded for more than 2 nights is given a complimentary bath. Sometimes if a pet’s personality and personal grooming habits warrants, we can offer a clipdown and bath under sedation. For animals that are particularly difficult at the groomer, this can be a less stressful alternative. Because it does involve sedation, normal pre-anesthetic recommendations apply which may include pre-procedure bloodwork for older or at-risk pets.