FAQs

General:

Are you accepting new clients?

Yes! We are accepting new clients and their furry friends! Drop us a request form or give us a call and we can get you set up!

What services do you offer?

We offer many different services, including; examinations, X-rays, dental surgery and cleanings, a wide range of surgical procedures, laboratory diagnostics and more. If you are looking to book an appointment, please phone us!

Can I have my pet's medical records transferred from my old veterinary hospital to Saanichton Village Vet Hospital?

Yes you can! Your pet's medical records contain vital information that our veterinarians use to make the best health decisions for your pet's specific needs. If you are looking to transfer over to us, please either phone your previous veterinarian's offices and request that they send over your pet's medical records to us, or ask our veterinary receptionists for help. We want to make the transfer as easy on you as possible.

I want my pet's medication refilled, how long do I have to wait?

We ask for 24 hours notice to get your pet's medications refilled. You can either fill out the prescription refill form on our website, or phone the hospital to request a refill. Please note that certain medications can not be refilled without an examination prior to and or having seen them recently. If you are unsure if your pet's medication can be refilled, please phone us to ask!

My pet is on a special diet, do you carry their food?

While we carry a wide range of veterinary diets for cats and dogs, if we do not currently carry your pet's food, we would be more than happy to have it ordered for you! Special orders typically take 2-7 days to arrive.

How much is my pet's visit going to cost?

For all surgical and dental procedures, an estimate will be given to you at your pet's scheduled drop off time, and someone will go over it with you. If you would like an estimate created in advance, or for any other procedures (examinations, diagnostics, etc) please phone the hospital to request an emailed estimate.

I bring my dogs to your hospital and I just adopted a new cat. Can I get flea control for all my pets, even if you have not seen my new cat?

Unfortunately we can not ethically or legally dispense medications without having seen the patient for an examination. We do offer some over-the-counter flea control options, or we would be more than happy to see your new pet for an examination.

Should I get my pet microchipped?

Microchipping is a fast, simple way to make sure that if your cat or dog ever gets lost, they can be quickly reunited with you through a quick scan of their microchip number (most veterinary hospitals and rescue centers have a microchip scanner). The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and gets implanted under your pet's skin via a needle. Microchips can be given either during an appointment, or when your pet comes in for a surgical procedure. Unlike identification tattoos, they do not leave a mark on your pet's body, and therefore will not fade overtime. The microchipping companies also have easy to navigate websites that allow you to change the information the microchip is associated to, say if you were to change phone numbers or your address.

Are my unspayed/unneutered pets at risk of unplanned pregnancies if they are siblings or family members?

Yes! In cats especially, unplanned pregnancies can and do occur even if they are closely related. That is why it is important to keep intact animals of breeding age separate from each other until they can be spayed/neutered. Baby animals are adorable, but they are a lot of work and extra money to be investing in unplanned, especially alongside the countless animals looking for homes.

Surgical:

Do I need to keep the buster collar (plastic cone) on my pet after surgery? How long do they have to keep it on for?

It depends on your pet! We highly recommend they wear the cone for the full 14 days of healing post-surgery, as having your pet lick their incision is one of the quickest ways for an infection to start. Some pets will not lick when under supervision, but we recommend leaving the cone on at nighttime or when you aren't in the same room to watch them. Other options other than a cone include surgical onesies, old shirts/ loose shorts, socks, etc. If you plan to use a cloth version (onesie, etc), we recommend they be washed every day to day-and-a-half to prevent an incision discharge from remaining on the clothing for too long.

My pet is acting strange post surgery, is this normal?

After a surgical procedure, your pet has had sedation and anesthetic drugs that their body is trying to process. Just like people after getting their wisdom teeth out, they may seem a bit "loopy" and tired for 24-48 hours post surgery. They may not have their usual appetite either during this period. Any signs of concern to watch out for would be vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, pale gums or difficulty breathing. If you believe your pet is experiencing any concerning signs, please phone us or one of the emergency hospitals listed below.
WAVES- (778)-432-4322
Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital (CVVH) - (250)-475-2495

My pet pulled their sutures out, what do I do?

If your pet has pulled their sutures out, they need to be brought in to have the incision evaluated. In some cases, no action is required (if the suture removal date was approaching, or the incision is healing well) and in other cases they may have to have another suture or surgical staple added. The best way to evaluate what is in the best interest of the pet and their healing is to bring them in for a veterinarian to see.

I'm concerned about a lump on my pet, can I have it sent off to a pathologist?

Yes! We offer send-off diagnostics through IDEXX Veterinary Laboratories and Histovet Surgical Pathology for blood tests, blood smears, mass identification and more. If you have any questions regarding having a send-off diagnostic done for your pet, please phone the hospital to discuss our options, or talk to the veterinarian during your pet's appointment.

Does my pet need to be fasted before sedation or a surgery?

We require your pet to come fasted prior to their sedation or surgery day to ensure every aspect of your pet's procedure is as safe as possible. For sedation/surgical appointments, your pets fasting instructions will be given to you in a confirmation phone call prior to.

Is pre-anesthetic bloodwork necessary?

For pets aged 7 years and younger, bloodwork is an optional, yet recommended part of their pre-procedural examination. It allows the veterinarian to get an understanding of where your pet is at health wise and in some cases can be the deciding factor if it is safe to proceed with surgery or not. Having bloodwork done in younger pets also gives us a baseline of what your pets "normal" is to compare to, if we ever had to do bloodwork in the future. In animals 8 years and older it is strongly advised to have pre-anesthetic bloodwork completed before their surgery, as just with people, health can decline with age and we want your pet's health to be the priority at all times. Estimates with price ranges can be printed off or emailed at request!

My pet gets very upset about having their nails trimmed/anal glands expressed. Can those be done at the same time as my pet's surgical procedure?

Yes! We understand that some pets can be sensitive to these things, so we offer complimentary nail trims and anal gland expressions with your pet's surgical procedure. We do them when your pet is under anesthetic, so they won't even know that they are getting done! Win win!

My pet will be due for vaccination boosters around the same time they are scheduled for a surgical procedure. Can they get their vaccines at the time of their procedure?

Yes they can! If your pet is close to needing their vaccinations around the time they will be in for surgery, we can do the vaccines on the same day.

My pet seems painful post surgery, can I give them an extra dose of the NSAIDs they were prescribed?

It is strongly discouraged to give an extra dose of pain control until their next scheduled dose, as just with people, excessive intake can potentially cause damage to the kidneys/liver. If your pet is waiting for their next pain control dose, that means they still have the drug in their system, which will be giving them some relief. You can also try encouraging them to stay quiet and rest.