PLEASE NOTE: ROAD CONSTRUCTION

STARTING MONDAY NIGHT – MAY 5th (Weather Permitting). Expect delays due to construction on the Elliott/15 th Avenue W corridor and plan for an increase in your commute time to appointments with Elliott Bay Animal Hospital.
 
For more information, please visit www.seattle.gov/transportation/denny_15th_pave.htm

Read more about preparing for scheduled appointments.

We recommend physical exams once yearly for pets up to 8 years of age, then twice yearly for pets over the age of 8.

Please have your cat in a carrier and your dog on a leash prior to coming in for your pet's appointment.

During the exam, your pet's heart, lungs, eyes, ears, nose, throat, skin, hair, coat, as well as the musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, urogenital systems will be evaluated. The veterinarian may also address your concerns about nutrition, behavior or other pet health care issues. It is a good idea to write down questions you might have for the doctor prior to the exam.

You may be instructed to fast your pet for 12 hours in the event bloodwork is recommended.

Early recognition of potential health problems can go a long ways towards improving and extending the quality of life your pet will enjoy.

Read an article - Why does my pet need an annual physical exam?

Please bring in a small (approximately 1 tablespoon) stool sample, that is less than 24 hours old, to check for internal parasites. Please refrigerate the sample in a tightly sealed container if it is greater than 8 hours old.

Your pet will need to have had a physical exam performed from our hospital within one year so we are able to send home medications if indicated.

If you have multiple indoor cats, one sample should be sufficient.

If you see worms in the stool, attempt to bring the worm with the stool sample.

Tapeworms are usually not detectable when doing a microscopic examination. In other words, you may receive a negative result even though you may have seen tapeworm segments.

If you use clumping litter, please be sure that you have obtained a stool sample rather than a clump of urine.

Hint: If your animal is having abnormal (blood, mucous, diarrhea) bowel movements, do not pick up the sample with a paper towel. You can turn a plastic bag inside-out, place over your hand, scoop up the sample and pull the bag over itself, then seal the bag closed.

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Your pet should NOT have food after 10 p.m. the night before surgery/anesthesia. This includes treats, table scraps, etc…

Restrict your pets access to water the morning of the surgery/anesthesia. Your pet should always have water available during the night, but no water in the morning.

If your pet is on any morning medication, including pre-dental antibiotics, give the medication as usual (except insulin.) If you are unable to give the medication without food, you can bring the medication to the hospital and we will administer it at no additional charge.

For insulin dependent patients, do not feed and decrease insulin by half the normal amount usually given each morning.

Admit appointments are scheduled between 7:30-8:30 am with the doctor.

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Attempt to bring your pet to the hospital early in the morning before he has the chance to urinate. We open at 7:00 am and encourage you to bring your pet in between 7:00-8:00 am.

If your pet urinates before he gets here, you should plan on admitting your pet in our hospital until we are able to get a sterile sample. It may take as long as 6-8 hours for some pets to have enough urine to test.

Bring your pet inside promptly on arrival. Do not allow him to relieve himself outside. Water should be available at all times to your pet.

Please be patient - all tests will be run as soon as samples are available.

Hint: If you have a cat, you may be able to put him in a carrier first thing in the morning and this may prevent him from urinating before he gets here. If possible, you can carry your dog inside and hand him to a hospital assistant to prevent him from urinating outside.

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If you have a dog and he is already on thyroid medication, the blood test needs to be scheduled in the morning around the same time the pill is normally given. DO NOT GIVE THE PILL until after the blood draw.

Your pet should be fasted for 12 hours prior to the blood test. Your pet should be allowed access to water throughout the night.

This blood work must be done annually once your pet's maintenance dose has been determined. If your pet has been recently diagnosed, bloodwork will need to be done more frequently.

If you have a cat, you may schedule your appointment at any time of day.
If cat pet is on Tapazole, do NOT skip any doses.
Your cat should be fasted for 12 hours prior to the blood test.
Your cat should be allowed access to water throughout the night.

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Your pet will need to be admitted between 7:00-9:00 a.m.

We will call you once your pet is ready to be picked-up. In the event you do not hear from us, you may pick your pet up between 4:00-6:00 p.m. unless otherwise instructed.

Please understand that we are NOT a grooming facility and we offer general and medicated bathing services only.

If we find any matted fur, please indicate if you like us to shave out the mat.

Do you have any medical concerns that we should be aware of? If the answer to this question is yes, please schedule an appointment for an exam with a doctor prior to dropping your pet off for a bath.

If your pet needs to be shaved, please ask for an estimate.

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If your pet is having a healthy pet exam, sick animals and emergencies will be given priority. Please call before coming to pick up your pet if we haven't called you with an arranged time.

We ask you have filled out our pet health questionnaire. There are many questions the doctor needs to have answered since you will not be present for the exam. This form can be downloaded off of our website (click here for form).

Our doctors will examine your pet as soon as possible. Please be patient as we want to devote our full attention to each and every animal.

Please leave a phone number where you can be reached during the day so the doctor can reach you if they need to.

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If sedation or anesthesia is NOT recommended, you will need to admit your pet between 7:00-8:00 a.m.

Has the doctor discussed the need for sedation/anesthesia with you? If you are unsure, please ask a staff member to get that information for you.

If your pet does need sedation/anesthesia, your pet should NOT have food after 10 p.m. the night before x-rays /anesthesia. This includes treats, table scraps, etc.

Restrict your pets access to water the morning of the x-rays / anesthesia. Your pet should always have water available during the night, but no water in the morning.

Admit appointments are scheduled between 7:30 - 8:30 am with the doctor.

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Your pet should NOT have food after 10 p.m. the night before dental /anesthesia. This includes treats, table scraps, etc…

Restrict your pets access to water the morning of the dental /anesthesia. Your pet should always have water available during the night, but no water in the morning.

If your pet is on any morning medication, including pre-dental antibiotics, give the medication as usual (except insulin.) If you are unable to give the medication without food, you can bring the medication to the hospital and we will administer it at no additional charge.

For insulin dependent patients, do not feed and decrease insulin by half the normal amount usually given each morning.

Admit appointments are scheduled between 7:30-8:30 am with the doctor.

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Medicate as directed up to the day of the recheck exam. DO NOT medicate the ear(s) on the day of the recheck exam.

Your pet should be fasted for 12 hours prior to the test.
Your pet should always have water available during the night.

Do not bathe your pet the night before the examination.