Animal Care Hospital

1991 St. John Ave

Dyersburg, TN 38024

 

 

boarding facilities

  We are a full service small animal hospital and boarding facility.  Our boarding facilities are reserved for those clients that receive their annual vaccinations and wellness exams at our hospital.  Your pet will need to be current on all vaccines for boarding.  This controlled boarding allows us to insure the health of every pet staying with us.

We offer separate accommodations for our canine and feline guests.  All rooms are heated and air-conditioned and have an elaborate ventilation system.  All guests are kept separate from hospitalized patients, and any patients with contagious illnesses are kept completely isolated.

  Why would I need to board my pet and will I feel guilty?

People board their pets for many different reasons from going on vacation to having their house painted.  No matter what the reason is, you can always be assured that your pet will receive the highest quality care available in this area.  Unfortunately, everyone has some feeling of guilt having to leave their pet in a new place. Visiting our hospital and getting to know our caring staff will help ease these feelings.  It’s only natural for you to worry about your pet; they are after all members of your family.  You are welcome to call our office anytime to check on your pet during their stay with us.

What happens if my pet were

to become sick or hurt during their stay?

Most pets do just fine; it’s their ‘parents’ that do all the worrying.  However, if by chance something were to happen, our hospital has a doctor on call 24 hours a day, and they are at the hospital during the day 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The doctor on call after hours will come in periodically to check on the animals.  Your pet will receive the highest quality veterinary care available.  If our doctors feel your pet warrants some type of medical treatment, we will not hesitate to provide the necessary care.

What if my pet is taking medication?

Sometimes pets must take medicine just like we do.  Please bring all medication with you when your pet comes to board.  We will list your pet’s medication on an instruction and dosage card that will remain with them at all times.  This will help insure that your pet is given their medicine at the appropriate times.  If you are a new client, it would be a good idea to bring any medications with you to the pre-boarding visit to discuss any medical history we may need to know.

What should I do to prepare my pet for their ‘vacation’?

Once again most pets do fine and adapt well to new surroundings. You may want to familiarize your pet with our facility so that the experience won’t be completely new.  After making arrangements to board your pet, bring them to our hospital and let them ‘sniff around’ and visit for awhile.  Our staff will be happy to show you around and let your pet visit where he or she will actually be staying.  This will also allow time for your pet to become acquainted with our staff.  You may want to repeat this process several times especially if your pet has never been away from you.  Before you make your first trip to visit, prepare some questions to ask while you’re here.  The more you know, the more comfortable you’ll feel and the more we know will help us to provide the best care.  Don’t hesitate to ask all the questions you can.  

  What should my pet pack?

Although we will provide everything they may need, our guests are invited to pack any personal items (blankets, toys, bones, treats, bed, etc…) that will make their stay as comfortable and as enjoyable as possible.  Your pets are more likely to stay relaxed if they have some of their own personal belongings from home.  Their sense of smell is outstanding and being able to detect the scent of home and you will help make their stay more comfortable.  

Should I send my pet's own food or will it be provided?

All guests are provided with fresh water daily and the menu includes the canned or dry variety of Science Diet, Iams, or Eukanuba foods at no extra charge.  Guests are welcome to bring their own cuisine.

How big will my pet’s room be?

Room sizes vary according to size and preference.  Feline suites range in size from 2’X3’ all the way to our double condominiums measuring 6’X2’.  Canine suites range in size from 2’X3’ for our small guests to extra large runs measuring 6'X6' for our large guests. We also offer luxury suites that include furniture for an "at home feeling". All accommodations have maid service at least twice daily and of course if any accidents occur.

   

  Can I make any special requests for my pet while they are vacationing?

Absolutely!! Don’t ever hesitate to request something for your pet even if you think it is silly.  Some ‘parents’ ask things like ‘Can my baby stay outside most of the day if it is nice?’ or ‘Can you make sure my pet has some personal, one on one attention while they are here?’.  We also have clients that send special treats and request that we give them at a certain time of day.  You may also request that your pet have any medical or surgical procedure you have planned, performed during their stay.  This will allow them time to recover under the care of our doctors.  Others request that their pets be bathed or get a haircut before they return home. We understand that pets are part of the family and they deserve to be treated like it.

Who will be taking care of my pet during their stay?

Your pet will receive the highest quality care available from our professional healthcare team.  The animal care specialists will be spending the most time with your pet.  They will be taking your pet in and out, making sure they have clean rooms and fresh food and water.  Our animal care specialists will also be the ones bathing your pet.

What if my pet gets dirty during their stay?

Unfortunately, there is no way to completely insure that your pet will stay sparkling clean.  There may be accidents where your pet might step or sit in ‘something’.  There may be times when they go out to play when it’s muddy and you know dogs, if there is one mud puddle in the yard, they will find it.  And what about those frisky felines?!  For some odd reason they enjoy playing and lying in their litter boxes. Go figure!  Good news though, your canine friends will receive a free bath after 3 nights of boarding.

We don’t usually bathe cats after 3 nights because they do a pretty good job of cleaning themselves but if you request it, they will receive a free bath.  If your pet stays longer than 3 nights, he/she will receive their bath on the morning they go home.  Even if your pet isn’t planning to stay 3 nights, you may request that they have a bath before going home for a minimal charge.

Will boarding affect my pet’s behavior?

Anytime a pet is removed from their own environment there is a risk of behavioral changes and other problems.  Some pets experience intestinal problems such as diarrhea.  They can be affected by stress just like we can. Your pet’s eating habits may also be affected.  Some pets may eat like they haven’t eaten in weeks (some of us are guilty of eating more on our vacations also) while others may not eat much at all.  This can cause weight gain or loss and this can also be attributed to the change of an unfamiliar environment.  Try to imagine how you would feel in a place you weren’t familiar with.  You shouldn’t be surprised if you notice some different behavior habits after returning home.  This could range from anything like attention seeking behavior to sleeping a lot more because they’ve simply worn themselves out playing and barking at other dogs.

  Will my pet be able to ‘get out’ and exercise?

For your canine companions, we offer 4 separate outdoor playgrounds for them to romp and play.  Our animal care specialists enjoy playing and entertaining your pets.  For our more leisurely feline friends, we offer a more subdued setting.  They are given the opportunity to roam in a controlled environment daily.  However, as we all know, cats can be funny sometimes and most prefer to stay in their rooms where they feel more comfortable.