When You Visit

• While no appointment is necessary to bring your pet to the Emergency Animal Hospital of Ellicott City, we always recommend calling ahead to discuss your pet’s condition with a member of our team. We see emergency patients on a triage basis, meaning that pets will be treated in order of the severity of their condition.
• When you arrive, a member of our client service team will help you through the check-in process.
• At check in, a veterinary nurse will take a medical history and triage your pet to determine severity of condition and to prioritize treatment for your pet. When multiple patients are waiting to be seen, our staff will triage on the basis of severity of signs. Unfortunately, less urgent conditions may need to wait while we tend to more critically ill patients. We work hard to see everyone in a timely manner. If we anticipate an extended wait, we will do our best to keep you informed of the situation
• If there are immediate concerns about your pet’s condition, the nurse will ask your permission to take your pet to the treatment area so the veterinarian may see your pet and initiate stabilization and emergency treatments.
• Once the doctor completes a physical exam, they will discuss their exam findings and recommendations with you. At that time, a member of our nursing staff will go over the treatment plan and associated cost with you.
• If diagnostic testing was performed, a doctor will review the results with you and recommend a care plan, which may involve inpatient or outpatient care. A member of the nursing team will review that care plan with you.

If your pet is admitted to the hospital…

• Some conditions require your pet being admitted to the hospital for more intensive care than we can provide on an outpatient basis. If this is the case, the doctor will review the recommendation with you, and then a member of our nursing team will go over the itemized treatment plan with you.
• Once admitted, your pet will receive treatments from our nursing team. They will be kept under the watchful eye of our veterinary team. The veterinarian will update you on your pet’s condition at least twice daily, and you are always welcome to call the hospital to inquire about the status of your pet.
• Visiting hospitalized pets is always encouraged - we just ask that you call the hospital prior to your visit so we can ensure that the time of your visit coincides with your pet’s treatment schedule.

When your pet is ready to be discharged from the hospital, you will be provided with a complete set of discharge instructions for you to follow when you take your pet home. We will also send you home with a copy of the medical record which will outline the treatment that your pet received. We will share a digital copy of these records, as well as any diagnostics performed, with your primary veterinarian to facilitate follow up care.