Appointments Payment Hospitalization Pet Loss Support

Appointments

APPOINTMENTS WITH A SPECIALIST:  Because we are staffed around the clock, you may call at any time to make an outpatient appointment with our board-certified specialists in surgery, dentistry, radiology/ultrasound, and critical care; or residency-trained doctors in internal medicine and oncology. Call us at (970) 800-1106. No referral is needed, although we are happy to work with your family veterinarian to provide the best-coordinated care for your pet. Consultations are generally available Mondays through Fridays. Usually speaking, consultations are preferred in the morning, so procedures can be scheduled for late morning/early afternoon.

Clients may complete our Client Information Form in advance to assist with check-in. It’s helpful for our doctors to have your pet’s records reviewed before the appointment. Our Outpatient Appointment Form is available for your veterinarian’s convenience to summarize the case. Forms can be faxed to (970) 712-5595 or emailed to [email protected]

APPOINTMENTS FOR EMERGENCY AND URGENT CARE:  Emergency and urgent care visits are available at all times, seven days a week. If you wish to, you may call ahead at (970) 800-1106 to let us know you’re on the way, but it’s not necessary. We are fully staffed with emergency personnel at all hours, ready for any emergency or urgent care needs you may have. If you aren’t sure your pet needs to be seen, call us, and we can help you determine your pet’s needs. If you have your pet’s medical record, please bring it with you. It may prove helpful to our emergency veterinarian. Also, bring your pet’s current medications, and if your pet has ingested any toxin, please bring the packaging or container if you can.

Payment Policy

We require payment at the time of service. If further treatment is recommended, an estimate will be provided and reviewed with each client before diagnostics and treatment. If a patient requires immediate stabilization before an estimate can be written and approved, emergency authorization will be required with approval for stabilization.

Once the treatment plan is approved for hospitalization or a procedure, a deposit will be required. Deposits cover the low end of the estimated cost for the treatment plan. Any remaining invoice balance is due when the patient is checked out of the hospital, or a refund is provided if service costs are less than the estimated low end.

For your convenience, we accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express), Care Credit, and cash.   We do not accept personal checks.

To apply for Care Credit, visit this Care Credit link or call 1-800-667-0718.

 

At Four Seasons, one of our goals is to deliver the highest quality care at a reasonable and fair price. We understand that costs for our pets’ care sometimes quickly rise, and we empathize with the reality of medical bills. We also must pay for our own pet’s health care. We are here to support you through the financial and medical decisions associated with your pet’s care. Please let us know how we can further help in answering questions that may arise.

If Your Pet Is Hospitalized

After an initial evaluation of your pet, our doctor will discuss a diagnostic and treatment plan with you.

If our doctor recommends your pet be hospitalized for ongoing care, an itemized estimate will be provided and discussed in detail with you. Working closely with you, our team will develop a plan that works within your means to help your pet best. Tests and treatments will begin as soon as possible. Our doctors will update you on test results and call you when there is a change in your pet’s condition. In addition, your family veterinarian will be updated on your pet’s status and treatment. Your family veterinarian can also be integral to your pet’s treatment planning and continued care. Please feel free to call anytime, including through the night, for updates. Typically through the night, no news is good news.

Our emergency doctors and specialists often participate in morning and afternoon hospital-wide case rounds, presenting patients to all staff members working with your pet. We are all here to support one another.

 

Visitation can be arranged by calling us. You are welcome to visit either in an exam room or cage-side, based on your pet’s condition and other activities in the hospital.

We strive to make every pet as comfortable as possible. We have a variety of cage sizes and locations throughout our hospital area. We carefully consider individual needs when choosing a temporary “home” for your dog or cat. We have a collection of high-quality comforters, fleeces, cushions, pet beds, and special equipment to warm up or cool down the cages for your pet’s comfort. Overnight, we like to dim the lights to allow for rest.

Vital signs are routinely monitored and recorded by our nurses. IV fluid treatment and medications are administered according to the doctor’s orders. During their stay with us, patients benefit from lots of TLC and enrichment and are walked, fed, and kept clean. Highly trained, compassionate veterinarians and technicians are stationed within the hospital ICU area 24/7, so your pet is never left unattended. All our cages are visible from all room areas, so your pet is never out of sight. We encourage you to see where your pet stays while in our care; we’ll be happy to show you.

End of Life Care & Pet Loss Support

Losing a loved pet can be an emotionally difficult time in our lives. But, just as we owe our pets a good life, so do we owe them a good death. Fortunately, we live in a community in Northern Colorado that offers several resources for pet end-of-life care and grief support.

PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE

Their needs change as our pets age or become ill with chronic diseases. For pets suffering from a host of disorders, there are many therapies currently available that can make them more comfortable. These include pain management, massage, acupuncture, laser treatment, tools like portable stairs and ramps, toe grips, and non-slip mats. Talk to your veterinarian about palliative measures to ease your pet’s suffering. Some local veterinarians provide in-home hospice care to make terminally ill pets comfortable in their last months, leading to either a natural death or humane euthanasia.

Hospice Providers

  • Argus Institute at Colorado State University  Trained veterinary student volunteers do home visits, offer nursing care, help with end-of-life arrangements, and provide grief support. The service is available for those living within a 30-minute drive of the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins.
  • Home to Heaven In-home hospice and euthanasia services provided by veterinarians focused on caring, not curing. Through animal hospice, the dying process can be experienced with dignity as the pet rests at home with its loving family. Services are available along the Front Range from the Wyoming/Colorado border south to northern Denver.

 

PET LOSS SUPPORT

Many groups along the Front Range offer support for those grieving the loss of a beloved pet. Colorado State University’s Argus Institute, established in 1984, is a seminal source of information, resources, and counseling to support people grieving the loss of their pet. Please see the Argus Pet Loss Support and Resources page for more information about help available in northern Colorado.

OTHER SOURCES

Nationwide

  • Pet People Help Support Service 1-888-271-8444

 

Fort Collins

 

Greeley

  • Weld County Suicide Resource crisis intervention hotline  (970) 347-2120

 

Boulder

 

BODY CARE

Resources are available to help transport your pet for body care if your pet dies naturally at home. These services may be of assistance: