Client Information
What to Expect From a Referral to Hale Veterinary Clinic
Please take the time to look through our Client Information Package before your pet's appointment for valuable information about our location, phone estimates, some information about our team, and more. Please also fill out our New Patient Form in advance.
1. Obtaining a Veterinary Referral
The process always begins with a referral from your primary care veterinarian. Dr. Hamilton will review your pet’s history with your regular veterinarian.
2. Scheduling an Appointment
Once Dr. Hamilton has reviewed the details of the referral, the pet's owner should call our office directly to schedule an appointment.
Note that we schedule visits in two, three, and four-hour blocks to allow time for evaluation, treatment planning, and treatment. While there are instances where your pet's treatment can be done during their initial visit, in many cases, this is not possible. We will schedule another appointment to complete their treatment.
3. Initial Examination
At the beginning of the visit, Dr. Hamilton will perform an oral examination of your cat or dog. He’ll then collaborate with you to develop an initial treatment plan.
4. Anesthesia, Diagnostics & Treatment
Your dog or cat will be anesthetized to allow Dr. Hamilton to conduct a more thorough oral examination. An integral component of a comprehensive oral evaluation are intra-oral dental radiographs, which are obtained once your pet is anesthetized. The treatment plan and estimate will be revised as needed, and Dr. Hamilton will proceed with the treatment of your pet's oral health concerns.
Pet Owner Resources
At Hale Veterinary Clinic, we are committed to education. Not only do we want to help better the field of veterinary dentistry with educational articles, but we also want to help ensure that our clients know the importance of dental care for dogs and cats. We have a divers range of information on our Youtube channel.
Check Out Our Educational Videos
FAQs About Our Hospital
Learn more about our office policies, payment options, and appointment booking by reading through our hospital FAQs.
- What types of payment options are available?
Payment for service is due upon discharge. Payment can be made by cash, Mastercard, Visa, debit card or a combination of these methods.
- How can I find your location?
We are located on the corner of Fife Road & Deerfield Place in Guelph.
- Will I be provided with an estimate of costs?
Cost estimates may be discussed at the initial telephone consultation with the pet owner. While phone estimates may be given, it is important to understand that our team has not had a chance to examine your pet to assess their specific oral health issues. We will give a more detailed and certain estimate after a comprehensive oral examination and radiographs.
Please take a look at our Client Information Package for more details regarding phone estimates.
- Should I call ahead to book an appointment?
Hale Veterinary Clinic works on a referral basis. However, once we've received a referral from your veterinarian, we will call you for a consultation. This is when we can discuss your pet's specific needs and schedule an examination.
- What is your appointment cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer the space in our schedule to other clients.
- What types of animals do you treat?
We provide dental treatment for cats and dogs.
- Can you help with my pet insurance?
We’re happy to help you fill out pet insurance forms for your pet’s visit.
- How do I get a referral?
As a pet owner, you can access our services through a referral from your regular veterinarian. Typically, we see the more challenging cases.
- How are exams and treatment scheduled?
Examination and treatment are by appointment only, Monday to Friday, at Hale Veterinary Clinic in Guelph, Ontario.
We schedule visits in two, three, and four-hour blocks to allow time for evaluation, treatment planning, and treatment. Please note that while we do everything in our power to get your pet's treatment done in this initial visit, there are cases where this is not possible, and we will schedule another appointment to complete their treatment.
Cases are handled on an outpatient basis with the patient going home shortly after surgery.
Accepting New Referrals
Hale Veterinary Clinic is accepting new referrals! If you are a veterinarian looking to refer a patient, please fill out our referral form. If you are a client whose pet has already been referred to us, learn more about what to expect at your pet's appointment.