Client Information

Preparing for your visit:

Please bring any prior lab work and radiographs to your appointment, they may also be provided by your referring veterinarian.

What to expect the day of your appointment:

All clients must have an office visit with one of our surgeons before any procedures are scheduled or performed. Recommendations for diagnostics and procedures are only given after a thorough evaluation of the patient and the patient’s history. A surgical consultation is an essential part of the patient evaluation. You should anticipate spending between 30 and 60 minutes at our hospital the day of your first visit.

After the initial consultation, the surgeon will make their recommendations regarding diagnostics, treatment, and surgical procedures. If surgery is recommended, you will be given an inclusive estimate for hospitalization and procedures. You may schedule surgery that day with our Referral Coordinator or follow up at your earliest convenience.

Admission to our hospital:

On the day of surgery, patients should be dropped off after 7:30 am and before 9 am. Please bring any current medications, food for special diets, and comfort items that will make your pet feel as comfortable as possible.

Estimates:

An estimate of anticipated cost can be provided to you before your office visit. This estimate is based on the referral from your general veterinarian and our previous experience with patients that have presented with similar needs to that of your pet. The needs of individual patients, however, do vary. Therefore, a more specific estimate will be provided to you during your office visit.

Payment Policy:

A deposit of 50% of the estimated cost of intended procedures is required for all patients who are admitted to our hospital. Payment is due in full at the time your pet is discharged from the hospital. In order to minimize costs, we do not bill or carry open balances on patients.

Payments Accepted:

MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, and cash are all accepted. If extended credit is required we accept several CareCredit plans. You may visit www.carecredit.com for pre-approval prior to your appointment to apply for a CareCredit account.

Pet Insurance Policy:

We provide you with an estimate for the cost of your pet’s services before your pet is admitted. A deposit is due at the time of your pet’s admission for 50% of the anticipated bill. The remaining balance must be paid at the time of your pet’s discharge. For patients requiring extended hospitalization, the balance is due weekly to cover the costs of services provided.

For patients with pet insurance, it is the pet owner’s responsibility to pay Huntsville Veterinary Specialists & Emergency the initial deposit, weekly hospitalization charges, and the total balance due in the same manner as patients without pet insurance. Insurance reimbursement will be made directly to the client from the insurance company. HVSE does not accept payment from the insurance company.

Pet insurance reimbursement can vary greatly depending on the terms of the specific policy. Contact your insurance company for reimbursement details specific to your pet’s policy. At HVSE, we will make every effort to help you submit required documents and records to your insurance provider to facilitate your reimbursement.