A pet’s first visit to the vet can seem a bit daunting, so we’ve put together a list of info and resources to help you prepare.

At your first appointment, we will gather information about your pet’s background, health, diet, and training. We can also address any questions or concerns you might have.

Your veterinarian will examine your pet from nose to tail, looking for things like heart murmurs, ear infections, and/or parasites. Your veterinarian can also provide pet-proofing tips, training assistance, and parasite protection recommendations.

Before Your First Appointment

  1. Complete all relevant Patient Forms prior to your first visit.
  2. Assemble and be sure to bring all the proper items with you:
  3. Your pet’s adoption or purchase records
  4. Any existing medical history
  5. A list of current medications and supplements
  6. Current feeding schedule and the brand of food you use
  7. A list of questions you have for your veterinarian
  8. Collect any necessary stool or urine samples if requested.

If you’re bringing in your dog, be sure he or she is accustomed to being on a short leash. If you’re bringing a cat, be sure to have an appropriate carrier.

Feel free to bring your pet’s favorite treats to keep them happy and distracted!

Appointment Policies

Please arrive 5 minutes prior to your pet’s appointment for check-in. If you have not filled out all relevant patient forms yet, plan to arrive 10 minutes ahead of your appointment.

While we do our best to make sure all of our patients are seen on time, there will be times of occasional unexpected delay due to an emergency or because we are providing care for a patient that needs a little more time. Please accept our apologies should this occur, and understand that the same dedication and courtesy will be provided to your pet should they ever need it.

Drop-Off Appointments

What are Drop-Off appointments, and why do we offer them?

A “drop-off” appointment means that you will be leaving your pet at our hospital to be seen at the veterinarian’s earliest availability that day. That can sound scary to a pet owner, but we promise your pet isn’t being placed into a kennel and forgotten while they wait to see the doctor. Your pet is always our priority at Shores Animal Hospital! We provide comfortable bedding, water, and scheduled potty breaks for each patient. The entire time that your pet is here, a Veterinary Technician is watching them to ensure they are receiving proper care. We allow you to drop off your pet because our doctor’s appointment schedules fill up (sometimes a week in advance), but they are able to provide medical care to dropped-off patients in-between their scheduled appointments. We prioritize patient care in the following order:

  1. Emergency Situations
  2. Scheduled Appointments
  3. Drop-off Appointments

Since dropped-off patients are worked into the day’s schedule, it is often unclear what time they will be seen – so they may be with us for a large part of the day. Our goal is always to work with each patient as soon as possible, but it may be as late as 5:30pm before you are able to pick up your pet. However, there is no need to worry when you leave your pet in our care. At Shores Animal Hospital, we treat our beloved patients with the same excellent quality of care as if they are our own pets.