Our reception area is a good place to obtain information on various veterinary topics that are of concern. Ask our veterinary technicians/assistants a question or pick up a handout on topics that interest you.
Clients are welcome to drop in any time to weigh their pets on our walk-on scale, and we can easily track their weight progress on our computer system. Whatever your concern while visiting us, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.
The treatment area is usually the centre of activity in the hospital, and much of our time is spent here.
This is where much of our blood sampling, intravenous and urinary catheterization, in-hospital patient check-ups, and many other procedures occur. Our dental table with sink is located here; pets under general anesthesia for teeth cleaning or extractions are able to remain clean and dry during the procedure.
The examination room is generally where we spend most of our time while you are here for an appointment. Our examination rooms allow pets a bit of room to roam about while waiting for the doctor or during client-doctor discussions. We have all the equipment and tools needed to perform complete physical exams of your pet. The treat jars are never far away, as our regulars have come to find out.
In this room, X-rays are used to take radiographic pictures. Our X-ray machine and automatic radiograph developer enable us to take pictures of almost any part of a pet’s body. Radiographs can be an important part of looking into why a pet is sick, monitoring the progress of an ongoing illness, or even determining the number of puppies or kittens inside an expecting mother.
For safety purposes, staff are the only people allowed in the radiology room. Staff use special clothing to protect themselves from X-ray beams, and our exposure is monitored. Taking several X-ray pictures of your pet is harmless. The entire room is lined with lead to prevent any X-rays from leaving the room.
If we collect samples from your pet (such as blood, urine, feces or skin), these samples are taken to our in-hospital laboratory. Our lab contains equipment to analyze samples in order to obtain a better picture of your pet’s health. Some special tests that are sent to other laboratories, such as the Atlantic Veterinary College, are first processed and packaged in our lab. Our ability to process and run samples right here in the hospital means we have results within minutes.
Our surgery suite is equipped for administering anesthesia and monitoring our patients’ vitals during procedures. All of our sterile surgeries are performed in this room to reduce the risk of post-operation infections. Following surgery, patients are generally moved out of the surgery suite to recover in the comfort of their cages.
Our hospital has separate kennel rooms to house our dog and cat patients, located at opposite ends of the hospital. Any barking dogs in the hospital shouldn’t bother cats who usually prefer a quieter, calmer environment. We also have an observation room that is located in our treatment area. Animals of concern that need to be more closely monitored can be placed in this room. A large window allows staff to keep an eye on these pets while working in the treatment area.
The kennels are made of stainless steel to allow thorough disinfecting between every patient. All pets staying at Royal Road Veterinary Hospital sleep on blankets and towels and are given hot water bottles to snuggle up to if they wish.