Trust Guilford Veterinary Hospital
We understand your pets are family, which is why we deliver the same care that your doctors give to you. As dedicated and experienced veterinarians, Guilford Veterinary Hospital provides the highest level of healthcare for your pet.
Based in Guilford, CT, our mission has always been to help your animals live the longest, happiest, and healthiest lives. We offer a range of services that allow you to treat your pet to quality care for any situation.
Animal Care You Can Count On
Whether your pet needs an annual wellness exam, or they are suffering and need immediate surgery, count on our team to take care of them. We use a comprehensive and gentle approach to every service we offer for your pet’s maximum comfort. Here are just a few of the services we provide…
Wellness & Preventative Care
Therapeutic Services
Surgical Services
Diagostics Services
Other Services
Call 203-453-2707 Now!
Guiding You Through Excellent Pet Care
Our team is determined to deliver exceptional care to our patients and educate their owners as we go. We strive to be a collaborative space that offers everything a pet owner could need for their pets member. Whether you need emergency resources, disease control, or animal products, we are here to help.
Caring For Your Pet As Our Own
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have an appointment?
Yes, we are best able to provide timely service to you and your pets if you schedule an appointment first. If you have an emergency, please call us before coming so that we know to expect you. If it is after hours, you should also call the hospital and our answering service will direct you to the nearest emergency facility.
What should I do if my pet needs emergency care?
We are always ready to help if your pet has an emergency during our regular business hours. If possible, we ask you to call is so we know your pet is coming down. This way we can prepare the necessary supplies and equipment needed for the nature of the emergency. After hours, we refer our emergency patients to:
Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine
4 Devine Street, North Haven, CT 06473
(203) 865-0878
or
535 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT 06437
(203) 533-6444
Pieper Veterinary Center
730 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 347-8387
They function for us just like Yale-New Haven emergency room does for your doctor.
Can my pet just come in and get their nails cut? Do I need to see a doctor?
Technician procedures, often referred to as “in backs,” are available for services that do not require a doctor’s exam. These are done as quick outpatient procedure with one of our technicians. They can include nail trims, anal gland expression, medication injections, subcutaneous fluid administration, drawing samples for blood tests as well as other services. Your pet does need to be up to date on their rabies vaccine. Appointments are required for technician visits. Hours for technician visits are Monday – Friday 10am-3:30pm and 4:30pm-6pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm.
Why should my pet have pre-anesthetic blood work?
It is GVH protocol that patients are required to have a blood screening done to ensure that organ function is normal. This screening is a good way to evaluate the status of current medical conditions, as well as to detect any new conditions which may need to be addressed.
Why does my indoor-only pet need to be vaccinated?
Even though your indoor pet is at a lower risk of disease, there is always a chance of infection. This can happen if other animals have access to your house, whether it’s your neighbor’s dog or wild animals. It is actually quite common to have bats enter a home and expose the pet to the rabies virus. Rabies vaccination of pet dogs and cats is required by CT state law, since it is a fatal disease contagious to humans as well as other animals. We recommend vaccinating every pet with at least the core vaccines for rabies and distemper. Other vaccines, for diseases such as canine Lyme disease, leptospirosis, influenza and bordetella and feline leukemia, are given depending on the lifestyle of your pet.
Do I need to arrive to my appointment time early?
Please try to arrive 5 minutes before your appointment time. Sometimes appointments do end up requiring more than their allotted time, and we ask for your understanding if the doctor is running late. Also, please try to avoid arriving late for your appointment as this will cause the doctor to run late for the rest of the day. Please call to discuss options if you are running late. We will try to accommodate you the best that we can.
Should my pet be fasted for an ultrasound appointment?
Whether or not your pet can eat depends on the region of the body that is being evaluated with ultrasound, and whether or not sedation will be used. Ultrasound examinations of the abdomen must be done on an empty stomach. Ultrasound involves the use of sound waves which cannot penetrate through food that is sitting in the stomach. Thus, organs around the stomach cannot be visualized if the pet has eaten that morning. Check with your doctor before you feed your pet the morning of an ultrasound. If there is any doubt, it is best not to feed your pet, but you may request that we feed your pet after the procedure is done.
At what age can I have my pet spayed or neutered?
Spaying and neutering is usually done at approximately six months of age, but can be performed at any age after six months. Exams are performed on each patient prior to anesthesia to determine if they are healthy enough to undergo the procedure. We do require that vaccinations are current at the time of surgery. We require that a pre-anesthetic blood screen is done prior to the procedure. A microchip can be implanted at the time of the procedure if desired.
Does my pet have to stay in the hospital overnight after its surgery?
Pets that have had major surgeries, as well as routine procedures including spays and neuters, stay in the hospital overnight. We do this so pets can recover in the safety of the hospital, while our veterinary team monitors them for any post-anesthetic complications. We can also provide injectable pain control when needed. Other surgical procedures and dentals may go home the same day or may stay in the hospital overnight, depending on how involved the procedures are.
Why does my pet need flea/tick and heartworm preventative year round?
Due to the large number of internal and external parasites present in the environment, controlling parasites year round is the most reliable way to ensure protection of your pet and well-being of your family. Year-round prevention is the most effective way to control cat and dog parasites and the diseases they can carry.
What Patients’ Owners Say
For more information about our veterinary hospital, please contact us at 203-453-2707 today!
Business Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Technician Visit Hours:
Monday - Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
*Technician visits are unavailable during staff meetings; we will inform owners as to when meetings are when the visits are scheduled.
