Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I make an appointment?
YES, YOU CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, HOWEVER WE ARE NORMALLY BOOKED 4-8 WEEKS DEPENDING ON WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK YOU WANT TO COME IN. WE ALSO DO WALK-INS DAILY FROM 8AM-4PM MON-FRI AND 8AM-12PM SATURDAYS.
Q. If I walk-in, how long will I have to wait?
GOOD QUESTION. IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY CHECKED IN AND ARE WAITING IN FRONT OF YOU AT THE TIME YOU CHECK IN. AVERAGE WAIT TIME AFTER WE START SEEING PATIENTS FOR THE WEEKDAYS ARE 45 MINUTES AND ON SATURDAY IT'S AROUND 2 HOURS. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST "GUESSTIMATE" ON THE WAIT TIMES AND SOMETIMES YOU MAY END UP WAITING MORE OR LESS THAN THE TIME YOU WERE ORIGINALLY TOLD. OUR GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SPEND WAITING PHYSICALLY AT BLUE CROSS ANIMAL HOSPITAL.
Q. Can I check in over the phone?
YES, IN MOST CASES YOU ARE ABLE TO CHECK IN OVER THE PHONE. IF YOUR PET HAS AN ACTIVE RECORD WITH US YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PHONE CHECK IN. ONCE YOU ARE CHECKED IN, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAY ON PREMISES, YOU MAY GO AND DO ERRANDS OR GET SOMETHING TO EAT IF THE WAIT IS LONG. JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE BACK IN TIME SO YOU DO NOT MISS YOUR TURN. IF YOU PET HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY US OR IF IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE HAVE SEEN YOUR PET WE WILL ASK THAT YOU COME IN PERSON TO FILL OUT THE NEW CLIENT INFORMATION SHEET FIRST.
Q. I was here before that person who just went into the exam room, why do they get to see the Doctor before me?
THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY THAT MAY HAPPEN. THE MOST COMMON REASON IS THAT THEY HAVE AN APPOINTMENT. NORMALLY THE DOCTOR WILL CALL OUT THE APPOINTMENT TIME WHEN THEY CALL IN AS TO NOT CONFUSE PEOPLE OF WHY WE MAY BE GOING OUT OF ORDER. OTHER TIMES IS IT NOT UNCOMMON FOR OUR CLIENTS TO CHECK IN AND INSTEAD OF WAITING INSIDE THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE PROPERTY AND COME BACK AT A LATER TIME. YOU MAY THINK THEY ARE JUST CHECKING IN WHEN THEY COME BACK TO SEE THE STATUS OF THE WAIT, WHEN IN ACTUALITY THEY CHECKED IN BEFORE. HOWEVER IT IS ALWAYS OK TO CHECK WITH THE RECEPTIONIST TO MAKE SURE WE DID NOT SKIP YOU UNINTENTIONALLY.
Q. Where do I park? Is it free?
WE HAVE 3-4 STALLS ALONG THE SHERIDAN ST. SIDE OF OUR BUILDING THAT IS FREE PARKING. MAKE SURE YOU PULL ALL THE WAY IN AND DO NOT BLOCK THE SIDEWALK OR HPD MAY GIVE YOU A TICKET. IF THOSE STALLS HAPPEN TO BE OCCUPIED, THERE IS METERED PARKING ALONG SHERIDAN STREET.
Q. What is your payment policy?
PAYMENT IS DUE IN FULL WHEN SERVICES ARE RENDERED. WE ACCEPT VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER, JCB, AND CASH. UNFORTUNATELY WE NO LONGER ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS.
Q. Do you offer payment plans ?
AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COST OF PET CARE CAN SOMETIMES BE OVERWHELMING AND UNEXPECTED. IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR COSTS LOW AND OFFER YOU THE BEST PRICES WE DO NOT OFFER PAYMENT PLANS OR CARE CREDIT, IF YOU ARE UNSURE IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PAY PLEASE INQUIRE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS BEFORE SEEING THE DOCTOR.
Q. How do I request a refill on my pet's prescription?
IN MOST CASES YOU MAY COME IN PERSON AND WAIT WHILE WE DISPENSE THE MEDICATION OR YOU ALSO MAY CALL BEFORE HAND AND WE CAN PREPARE IT AND HAVE IT READY FOR YOU TO PICK UP AT A LATER TIME. IF YOU ARE FILLING OR REFILLING A MEDICATION THROUGH AN ONLINE OR MAIL ORDER PHARMACY, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU WILL NEED A WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION FROM THE VETERINARIAN AND SUBMIT THIS TO THE PHARMACY OF YOUR CHOICE. WE WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY PRESCRIPTIONS WITH ONLINE OR MAIL ORDER PHARMACIES BY PHONE OR FAX.
Q. Do you make house calls?
AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT MAKE HOUSE CALLS.
Q. What do I do if I need copies of my pet's health record?
YOU MAY CALL US AND REQUEST A COPY OF YOUR PET'S HEALTH RECORD FAXED TO A NUMBER OF YOUR CHOOSING. PLEASE ALLOW US TIME TO FAX RECORDS, OUR FILES ARE MANUALLY WRITTEN AND WILL NEED TO BE COPIED BEFORE FAXING WHICH COULD TAKE SOME TIME DEPENDING ON HOW LONG PATIENT HISTORY IS.
Q. Why do you require trial boarding for my dog?
ALTHOUGH BLUE CROSS ANIMAL HOSPITAL IS LOCATED IN A COMMERCIAL ZONED AREA, WE HAVE A SMALL APARTMENT BUILDING AS OUR NEIGHBOR. AS A COURTESY WE TRY TO MINIMIZE LOUD/CONSTANT NOISES OVERNIGHT, YOUR PET MUST BE ABLE TO SLEEP QUIETLY AT NIGHT. WE ALSO NEED TO CHECK YOUR DOG'S TEMPERAMENT. TRIAL BOARDING ALSO ALLOWS YOUR DOG TO GET TO KNOW THE FACILITY AND KENNEL ROUTINE. IT ALLOWS US AND YOU TO GET FEEDBACK AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR DOG FOR A LENGTHIER STAY.