Small Animal Hospital
Veterinary Services The Small Animal Hospital at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center offers medical and surgical care for dogs, cats and exotic pets. The hospital has sophisticated diagnostic imaging capabilities, modern surgical suites, an intensive care unit and a spectrum of cutting edge technologies, all of which are important in the diagnosis and treatment of difficult and complex diseases in your pet. All of our clinicians are recognized specialists and the well being of your pet is their top priority.
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Due to construction, clients will enter Small Animal Hospital via a temporary entrance:
What to Expect
After checking in with our receptionist you will be seated in the waiting room and a veterinary student will greet you and your pet and escort you to an examination room to record the medical history and perform an initial examination. Time spent with the student will be followed by an additional consultation with one of our clinicians. All observations and impressions will be discussed with you, including the estimate of charges for diagnostic tests and treatment(s).
The Medical Team
A dedicated team of people will be working with you and your pet during your visit to our hospital. The team consists of board-certified specialists; residents and interns (graduate veterinarians undergoing additional training in a specialty area; veterinary students (working under the direct supervision of our faculty); veterinary nurses who perform tests and help with treatments; and animal care technicians, caring for and feeding our patients.
Clinic Visit
Because of the educational aspect of our hospital and the complexity of the many problems seen here, we emphasize thoroughness in evaluating each animal presented to us. Physical examinations, client interviews and the performance of various tests generally take a little longer than a normal office visit. During this time we will try to identify your pet's problem and discuss the diagnostic and treatment options with you.
Hospitalization
After our examination one of our recommendations may be hospitalization, either for additional diagnostic tests or specific treatment. We have 24-hour staffing to provide optimum medical care and if your pet is critically ill, it will be admitted to our intensive care unit. During the time that your pet is with us, you will be provided with at least a daily progress report. You will also be notified immediately if the condition of your pet changes significantly. For this reason, it is important that we obtain your home, mobile and work phone number(s).
Visiting
Some owners wish to visit their animals while they are hospitalized. These visits are sometimes helpful but need to be coordinated with the attending clinician and are limited to specific times.
Intensive Care
Our intensive care staff provides the highest quality of critical care medicine for our seriously ill patients. Our staff is highly skilled and their efforts are continuously backed up by our clinicians.