What happens when your pet stays in the veterinary hospital?

by Rosie Theakston

There are many reasons why your pet might stay at the vets, and for owners the prospect of leaving them can be a worrying thought. Most people may have experienced their pet coming in for an outpatient procedure such as a neutering operation or dental procedure but what should you expect when they stay because they are poorly?

The most common reason that a pet needs to be admitted is dehydration, which can occur for example after vomiting or diarrhoea. Elderly cats with kidney disease are prone to dehydration particularly in hot weather like the recent summer we’ve experienced. Further tests are usually performed to identify a cause of their symptoms and rule out things of concern e.g. a blood test to check their organs such as liver and kidneys or an ultrasound to check for blockages.

Veterinary hospitals usually have separate ward for different species so upon admitting, they are taken to their ward e.g. cat ward where there is a dedicated nurse to care for them. At Acorn House, patients are kept on-site, but some smaller practices may ask you to transfer your pet for overnight care at a hospital facility. Kennels contain thick, soft bedding and blankets are added for extra comfort. Kennels vary in size for different patients to ensure there is plenty of room to move around to get comfy and have food and water bowls. As a Gold Standard Cat Friendly Clinic, Acorn House have additional measures to help cats feel comfortable, which includes a secluded area within their kennel to hide in. We often notice even the most confident of cats will prefer to snuggle down and hide when they are feeling poorly.

All hospitalised patients have specific nurse checks scheduled every 3-4 hours to administer medications, check their vital signs e.g. heart rate and temperature, and dogs are taken to the garden for toileting. Food is offered at these checks if appropriate, and the nurses spend lots of time with patients to encourage them and try different foods to tempt them. We try to offer owners the opportunity to visit their pets wherever possible if owners wish.

The vet looking after your pet will usually call twice daily with an update. When patients are ready to go home, they may need ongoing medication for a few days and a follow up appointment might be booked.