Focus
Hill Creek Veterinary Hospital’s primary focus is dog and cat medicine. If you have pocket pets, birds, reptiles, or large animals please let us know and we will be happy to schedule you with a particular doctor in our practice or refer you to an area practice that specializes in treatment of these species.
New Patients
We love to see new faces and meet new patients! If you are bringing a kitten or puppy for the first time we will go over the initial vaccination series with you when you come in. Please bring any paperwork that you received when you obtained your pet (from the shelter or breeder or rescue organization) as this will help us to set up the record properly and to make appropriate recommendations while you are there. If you are transferring from another veterinary office please let us know if you would like us to call to get records from the previous veterinarian. The more things we take care ahead of time, the longer we can spend with you and your dog or cat.
Scheduling an Appointment
Please call ahead for an appointment. Our outpatient appointments are generally scheduled for 20-30 minutes each.
Drop-off appointments and Housecalls
We also offer drop-off appointments. Drop-off time for appointments and surgeries is 7:30-8:15 Mon-Fri. Please expect a short interview with a technician if you are dropping off your pet. For your convenience and to reduce stress on your pets our doctors do offer housecalls for an additional fee. If possible please schedule these appointments at least 24 hours in advance.
Running Late?
If you are running more than 10 minutes late for an appointment please call to let us know. We try to be flexible with seeing missed/late appointments but there are times when rescheduling may be a better option.
Scheduling delays
Occasionally we have unanticipated emergencies arrive during the day. We will do our best to keep your appointment on schedule and inform you if it is likely to be delayed significantly. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Typical Visit Experience
During the normal course of an outpatient visit a member of our technical staff will visit with you and your pet to obtain a history. She will then escort the patient to the treatment area to be weighed, have vital signs taken, take any samples that are needed, and perform procedures such as nail trims or anal gland expression. Your pet will then be returned to you and the veterinarian will come in to do an exam and discuss a diagnostic and treatment plan. We try to anticipate anxiety-producing situations and customize each patient’s experience for their comfort and to minimize their stress. Sometimes we find that a different routine works better for a particular patient, so we may revise the sequence slightly. If you have any concerns regarding your pet’s temperament or previous experiences at the vet and would like us to do things differently, please let us know.
Companions
You are welcome to bring children and animal “companions” to your pet’s appointment. We do request that they are supervised for their safety and for the safety of the patients and other clients in the hospital. We limit the number of patients seen from the same household during one outpatient visit to 3 or less to avoid confusion and to ensure that each animal gets our full attention.
Retail Items
We have a small retail area with a few items such as milk replacer for kittens and puppies, dental care products, collars and leashes, treats, flea products etc. We also carry a selection of Purina Veterinary Diets and Royal Canin Veterinary Diets. Our online retail store carries most things that we might recommend and they are shipped directly to your home. We are also more than happy to special order any product that you may need so that you can pick it up at the hospital.
Prescriptions
For prescription products we require that your pet have had at least a full exam within the last year in order to receive medications such as heartworm preventative. State law requires that in order for a veterinarian to dispense or prescribe medication, that they must have a valid doctor-patient-client relationship and first hand knowledge of the health of the patient. Yearly exams are usually sufficient to satisfy this requirement.
Your feedback!
Please tell us how we are doing. After your visit to Hill Creek you will receive an email asking you to fill out a survey and leave comments. We like to hear from you! Please let us know what we are doing right and what you would like to see done differently. We always have an open ear for suggestions.
We hope to see you soon!