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Department Information – Pet Surgery and Orthopedics

Appointments

To schedule appointments, please call 713-693-1111. You can also email us at info@gcvs.com.

Patient information forms may be completed prior to your appointment. Please fill out the appropriate form(s) found on our Forms page, and submit them via email or bring them with you to your appointment.

Admissions

An admission time for your pet will be arranged between 7:00 and 8:00 am.  This will enable us to provide the best quality of care to both you and your pet. Please be sure your pet does not eat after 10:00 pm the day prior to any anesthetic procedure or surgery, unless otherwise instructed by your surgeon. It is okay to provide water during the night until 6:00 am. Be sure to discuss all current medications with your pet’s doctor to determine if they should be given the morning of surgery. It is imperative that you leave phone numbers where you can be reached during the day as well as during the evening hours. We will provide a Patient Admission Information Form for you to fill out at admission time. Please indicate on this sheet if your pet has experienced any changes in their condition over the last 24 hours. Please notate the food and/or medication your pet has consumed over the last 24 hours, and if you are leaving food and medication for us to administer during their stay. Most patients are hospitalized at least one night following surgery in order to be monitored for progress. Client/patient services staff member will admit your pet the morning of surgery. f you have additional questions for the doctor, please let us know prior to admission.

Procedural Updates

We will make every effort to contact you after surgery. Our ICU staff members, who are on staff 24 hours a day, may call you first with an update. It is important to note that even though your pet will be admitted in the morning, it does not necessarily mean that surgery will be performed in the morning. The morning admission time allows the doctors and staff to prepare for your pet’s needs. The staff at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists is here not only to provide patient care, but also to act as a liaison between you, your pet, and the doctor. Please let them know if you have questions or concerns so they can help. We are a 24-hour patient care facility.

Daily Updates

We understand the anxiety that comes with having a pet hospitalized. Our staff members provide daily updates after 10:00 am, which allows time for the doctor to evaluate your pet’s progress.

Discharges

One of our staff members will contact you when your pet is ready to go home. A client service staff member will go over discharge instructions with you at the time of discharge. If you have ANY questions, please ask the discharging technician at that time. If a recheck appointment is needed, please schedule the appointment before leaving. When you get home, please look over the discharge instructions in the event you may have questions. Please do not hesitate to call or email with questions or concerns. Additionally, we welcome your comments and suggestions on how we can improve our care for you and your pet.