Admitting Your Pet

If your pet remains in the hospital for tests or treatment, you will be asked to sign a consent form allowing the AEC to begin treating your pet. (You must be 18 years of age or older to sign this authorization agreement.) This form allows you to designate your wishes should your pet have cardiopulmonary arrest and authorizes charges for services. You will be given an estimate for the charges, typically for the first 24 hours of care. Payment in full is due at the completion of medical services.

CPR Options
The discussion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation options is always an important yet sensitive topic. This must be decided for all animals admitted to the AEC, regardless of the severity of illness. Be sure to discuss the following options and associated potential costs with your AEC veterinarian. The cost of CPR is not included in the estimate.

Surgical CPR option: This choice indicates that you authorize all efforts and procedures determined appropriate by the veterinarian to try to resuscitate your pet. This may include surgical opening of the chest and providing direct manual heart massage to promote blood flow. If successful, this option requires surgical closure of the chest and potentially mechanical ventilation for a period of time. This option is more often recommended when the patient is young or had a sudden onset of clinical signs in a previously healthy pet.

Medical CPR option: This choice indicates that you authorize obtaining an airway, breathing for your pet, external chest compressions, and the administration of drugs and fluids to try to re-establish circulation and respiration. This option is recommended most often.

Do not resuscitate: This choice indicates that you do not authorize any resuscitative efforts should your pet have a cardiopulmonary arrest. The veterinarian is authorized to administer pain medication should the patient appear to be suffering during this transition period. This option is always an acceptable choice based upon the family’s beliefs and needs.

Once you have completed your Admissions Form and left a deposit, you can go behind the scenes and visit your pet. The Animal Emergency Center is not responsible for your pet’s personal items, so please be sure to gather them and take them with you.

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