What to Expect During Your First Visit

Whether you bring your animal to UW Veterinary Care for a routine check-up or an advanced surgical procedure, our team of leading veterinary specialists will tend to you and your animal with confidence and compassion.

Upon arrival at our hospital, you will be welcomed by one of our friendly greeters before a senior veterinary student or large animal technician escort you and your animal to an examination area. A team consisting of a senior veterinary student and a Large Animal clinician (most often a resident and a faculty member) will take a medical history and conduct a physical examination, then they will work with you to develop a diagnostic and treatment plan. Once a plan is agreed upon, a written estimate will be provided to ensure that you are comfortable with the next steps in the treatment plan.

This process reflects our commitment as a teaching hospital to train the veterinary specialists of tomorrow. By working closely with board-certified clinicians, our residents, who are already licensed veterinarians, further develop their knowledge of veterinary medicine. This constant collaboration helps ensure that your pet receives the highest level of comprehensive care and access to the most advanced treatments and technologies.

While we are classified as a teaching hospital, UWVC is still an independent entity; only a small portion of our budget comes from state funding. As such, we cannot offer reduced prices for our medical services or treatments.

If your animal does not require hospitalization, your care team will schedule a time for you to pick up your animal and discuss the day’s findings. If your animal does require hospitalization, we request a deposit of 50% of the lower end of the estimate at the time of admittance. You will be called at least once a day with updates on your pet’s condition and test results. Our reception desk is staffed daily from 7:30 am until 11 pm, and patient releases are typically arranged during these working hours.