What to Expect at Arbor View Animal Hospital

Whether you are visiting us for a routine wellness exam, a new health concern, or care for an exotic pet, our goal is to make your appointment as comfortable, informative, and collaborative as possible.

At Arbor View Animal Hospital, we want you to understand what is happening with your pet, why we are recommending each step, and what options are available. Our veterinary team proudly cares for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, small mammals, fish, and many other unique pets in Valparaiso and throughout Northwest Indiana.

Before Your Appointment

Before every appointment, we ask pet owners to complete a brief appointment form. This ensures our team has the most current information about your pet’s health, medications, diet, home care, and any concerns you would like addressed during the visit.

Forms are typically sent by text or email before your appointment and can also be accessed through our online forms page. Completing the appropriate form in advance gives our veterinary team time to review your responses and helps us make the best use of your appointment.

If your pet has received care elsewhere, please send previous medical records, vaccination history, laboratory results, imaging, and current medication information before your visit whenever possible.

Depending on your pet and the reason for the appointment, we may also ask you to provide or bring:

• A fresh stool or urine sample, if requested
• Photos or videos of symptoms that do not happen consistently
• A list or photos of medications, supplements, food, and treats
• Husbandry information for exotic pets, including enclosure setup, temperature, humidity, lighting, diet, and enrichment

Your Pet’s Examination

Your visit will begin with a member of our veterinary care team reviewing the information you provided and gathering any additional details about your pet’s medical history, home routine, current medications, diet, and the concerns that brought you in.

The veterinarian will then perform a physical examination tailored to your pet’s species, age, health, and reason for the visit. Even when an appointment is focused on one specific concern, a thorough examination may identify other changes that are important to your pet’s overall health.

For exotic pets, the veterinarian may also discuss nutrition, enclosure setup, lighting, temperature, humidity, enrichment, and other husbandry factors that can directly affect health. You can learn more about our exotic animal care services.

Recommendations and Treatment Plans

After the examination, the veterinarian and care team will discuss their findings with you in detail. This may include possible causes for your pet’s symptoms, recommended diagnostic testing, treatment options, expected outcomes, and any important changes to make at home.

When additional care is recommended, we will present a treatment plan outlining the proposed services and associated costs. We encourage you to ask questions and discuss your priorities or concerns.

In many situations, there may be more than one reasonable way to approach your pet’s care. Our team will help you understand the purpose, benefits, and limitations of each option so you can make informed decisions for your pet and family.

Diagnostics and Treatment

Some conditions can be diagnosed based on your pet’s history and physical examination, while others require additional testing. Arbor View offers a wide range of veterinary diagnostic services, including laboratory testing, digital radiographs, ultrasound, CT, fluoroscopy, and endoscopy.

Depending on the testing recommended, your pet’s condition, any preparation or sedation required, and appointment availability, diagnostics may be:

• Performed during the original appointment
• Completed through a scheduled drop-off appointment
• Scheduled for a separate appointment or procedure day
• Submitted to an outside laboratory or specialist for testing or interpretation

Our team will explain what each test is intended to evaluate, how your pet may need to be prepared, when results are expected, and what the next steps may be.

If treatment can safely begin during the appointment, we will discuss those options with you. Other treatments, procedures, or surgeries may need to be scheduled for another day. Before you leave, our team will review medications, home-care instructions, warning signs to watch for, and recommended follow-up care.

Follow-Up and Ongoing Support

Some test results are available quickly, while others take additional time. Once the veterinarian has reviewed the results, our team will contact you and explain what they mean for your pet’s care.

Please contact us if you have questions about your instructions or medications, if your pet is having difficulty with treatment, or if their condition changes. Depending on the situation, we may recommend continued monitoring, a recheck examination, additional diagnostic testing, or an adjustment to the treatment plan.

More Ways to Access Veterinary Care

Not every pet or appointment has the same needs. In addition to traditional veterinarian appointments at our Valparaiso animal hospital, Arbor View offers several other ways to access veterinary care.

Veterinary Nurse Appointments

Select services that do not require a new veterinarian examination may be scheduled as a veterinary nurse appointment with a trained member of our care team.

Availability and eligibility depend on the service requested, your pet’s medical history, and whether your pet has an established relationship with our hospital. Please call or text us so our team can determine the most appropriate appointment type for your pet.

Telemedicine

Our veterinary telemedicine consultations are available to pet owners regardless of location and provide a convenient way to connect with our veterinary team from home.

Telemedicine can be especially helpful for discussing exotic-pet husbandry, nutrition, enclosure setup, behavior, general care questions, follow-up concerns, and whether an in-person veterinary visit may be needed. Photos and videos can often provide valuable additional information during these consultations.

Telemedicine does have important limitations. A virtual consultation cannot replace a hands-on physical examination or diagnostic testing when those services are necessary. An in-person examination is required to establish the veterinarian-client-patient relationship needed before our veterinarians can prescribe medications, as required by law.

The medical guidance that can be provided virtually may also depend on your pet’s established relationship with Arbor View, your location, and applicable veterinary regulations. Our team will be honest about what can safely and appropriately be addressed through telemedicine.

If your pet needs an examination, diagnostic testing, emergency care, or treatment from a veterinarian in your area, we will recommend the appropriate next step.

House Calls and Mobile Veterinary Care

For pets who are anxious, have mobility challenges, or are difficult to transport, our mobile veterinary care team may be able to bring select veterinary services to your home.

House-call availability, available services, and the travel area are subject to scheduling and your pet’s individual needs.

Ready to Schedule?

Whether your pet needs preventive wellness care, evaluation for an illness, exotic animal care, diagnostic testing, or another service, we are here to help you determine the most appropriate next step.

Request an appointment online, or call or text Arbor View Animal Hospital at 219-762-7267.