Veterinary Hospital

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital is beginning to allow clients back into the hospital on a preliminary, phased basis - currently for after hours clients only. Regularly scheduled daytime appointments are still being received in the same method as throughout the pandemic. Please see below for details of both scenarios.

Our Emergency Room remains open 24/7 for emergent medical concerns. Please call 530-752-1393 (small animal) or 530-752-0290 (large animal) if you need help assessing the urgency of an animal’s condition.

• From 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., clients are still asked to check in outside the front door to the hospital, where they will be greeted by a client service representative. (As of July 12 [due to temporary elevator repairs in the main lobby], check-in will take place at the East Entrance to the hospital. Ample signage and personnel will direct clients.) Following check-in, patients will be escorted into the hospital by a veterinary technician, and clients have the option of waiting in their vehicles or in the nearby Scrubs Cafe on the Vet Med campus (with restrooms) that allows for proper physical distancing.
• From 5 p.m. - 8 a.m., clients will be permitted to enter the lobby of the hospital to check in their animal. Following check-in, patients will be escorted into the hospital beyond the lobby by a veterinary technician, and clients have the option of waiting outside or in their vehicles. Upon discharge, clients will be asked to re-enter the lobby and pay, but will then be asked to wait outside for discharge instructions and to pick up their animal. Veterinary students will be providing a concierge service to direct clients appropriately.
• The VMTH Pharmacy will reach out to clients needing prescription medications. We are encouraging mail options for those needing refills rather than coming to the hospital. If you must come to the hospital to pick up prescriptions, a hospital staff member will retrieve your prescription after greeting you at the front door.
• The VMTH’s ongoing Pet Loss Support Group meetings have been moved online for the foreseeable future. If you are interested in attending, please contact our counselor Florence Soares-Dabalos at fsoaresdabalos@ucdavis.edu to register. Florence can also help with resources for client counseling services, including individual pet loss grief counseling. Please see our Hospital Wellness Services website for more information.

Thank you for your continued support and patience during this time. By following these guidelines, you’ll be helping us keep our team safe, ensuring we are able to continue to offer our community world-class veterinary care.

For the latest updates and resources on coronavirus, please see our COVID-19 Information page.