What to Expect at a Veterinary Appointment
Knowing what to expect at your first appointment will help make the process more pleasant for both you and your pet.
Get Settled
Please arrive approximately 10 minutes early to fill out our New Patient Form. To save a bit of time, you can complete the New Patient Form online in advance.
Meet Your Veterinarian
A member of our team will review your pet's history and discuss their issues. You can ask any questions you want, and we'll dedicate time to answering them.
Examination, Diagnosis & Treatment
Once your pet has been assessed, we will provide you with a diagnosis and options for treatment. Your veterinarian will work with you to determine a treatment plan for your pet.
After your visit, we will create a detailed report of our diagnosis, the discussion we had with you, and your pet's treatment plan. We will keep this information on hand for whenever you need it.
FAQs
Learn more about our office policies, payment options, and appointment booking by reading through our hospital FAQs.
- What types of payment options are available?
Payment in full is expected at the time services are provided or upon discharge of your pet. We accept payment by cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and CareCredit.
- Are there payment plans available for my pet’s care?
We are proud to offer CareCredit as a financing option. They offer an easy application process that will give you results in minutes.
- Will I be provided with an estimate of costs?
We will provide a good-faith estimate of the cost of our services prior to treating your pet. However, unforeseen circumstances may arise that impact your final bill.
We will always discuss our written estimate with all clients before they leave our facility, and require a deposit based on our estimate prior to any further treatment.
- Should I call ahead to book an appointment?
Yes, please call ahead to book an appointment to ensure we have room in our schedule to see your pet.
You can also contact us by text or email, or request an appointment on our website or new mobile app!
In the event that your pet needs urgent or emergency care, please contact us right away.
- What is your appointment cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer the space in our schedule to other clients.
We require 48 hours advance notice to cancel an anesthetic procedure or abdominal ultrasound. A $250 deposit will be processed when scheduling any such procedure. This deposit will be applied toward your invoice upon check-out and is non-refundable if we do not receive notice of cancellation at least 48 hours in advance.
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer the space in our schedule to other clients. If you have never visited us before, a $79 deposit will be required to schedule an exam with a doctor. This deposit will be applied toward your pet’s exam fee. However, if you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, we ask that you do so at least 1 day in advance in order to receive a full refund of your deposit. Failure to adhere to our cancellation policy will result in a $79 cancellation fee and your deposit will be forfeited.
A $250 deposit is required to schedule any anesthetic procedure or abdominal ultrasound. This deposit will be applied toward the total cost of your pet’s treatment. However, if you need to reschedule or cancel the procedure, we ask that you do so at least 2 days in advance in order to receive a full refund of your
deposit. Failure to adhere to our cancellation policy will result in a $250 cancellation fee and your deposit will be forfeited. - What types of animals do you treat?
We take care of cats and dogs in Marina del Rey and beyond.
- Where can I purchase my pet's prescription and food?
You can purchase all the medications and specialty food your pet needs either via our online store or our in-house pharmacy.
- What are the fees associated with an emergency visit?
A deposit payment is required for all emergency examinations. Once the staff and doctors have examined your pet, an estimate for treatment will be given to you to determine a treatment plan.
If further hospitalization, diagnostics, or surgery are required, a deposit is required upfront, with payment in full due when your pet is discharged.
- Can you help with my pet insurance?
Unfortunately, we cannot fill out or submit any insurance forms or claims on your behalf. These must be submitted by the pet owner. Once your insurance company receives your claim form, they will usually request medical records from us directly, which we will be happy to provide along with any additional information they might need.
Pet Owner Resources
Here are some helpful links for your pet's health.