Lighthouse Veterinary Hospital

6030 Island Highway West
Qualicum Bay, BC V9K2E1

(250)757-9911

lighthousevet.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Here are some frequently asked questions. FMI please call us at (250) 757-9911.

  • What are the Hospital hours?

    Our hospital is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. We are closed on weekends.


  • Do I need to have an appointment?

    Yes, patients are seen by appointment.  Urgent cases may "bump" your routine appointment. We ask for your understanding. 


  • What forms of payment do you accept?

    Cash, Debit, Mastercard and Visa


  • Can I make payments?

    Payment is required at appointments unless otherwise arranged. If your pet is admitted for a procedure,  a deposit will be required. It will be deducted from your final bill.


  • At what age can I have my pet spayed or neutered?

    Spaying or neutering is often done at approximately 6 months of age.  All patients are examined prior to surgery to ensure they are healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure.  Pre-anesthetic blood and urine testing are often recommended prior to undergoing anesthesia  for surgery.


  • What is pre-anesthetic blood screening?

    These are tests  also known as Chemistries and CBC's which are run in-house to evaluate   function of all the major organs, as well as the amount and proportions of the blood cells.  IT helps to assure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery.


  • How long do sutures stay in after my pet's surgery?

    Most stitches are removed 10-14 days following surgery. They may need to stay in longer in special circumstances. 


  • Is it a good idea to let my female pet have at least one litter before spaying?

    There is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter, but there are good arguments for early spay/ neutering. A female dog spayed before their first heat has a lower than 3% chance of the chances of breast tumors later in life, and has a lower chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life.

    Neutered males don't roam the neighborhood. They have a lower chance of prostate cancer later in life, and are unlikely to spray and mark.  And of course they don't add to  the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.


  • Do you board pets?

    We only board pets with special medical needs in certain circumstances. 

    Following are a few of the kennels we recommend:

  • Best Friends Dog Care and Blackberry Hill Kitty Kottage  www.bestfrienddogcare.com 
  • Qualicum Cat Cottage  www.catcottage.ca
  • Comfy Cat Cottage,  www.comfycat.ca