Frequently Asked Questions

  • We strive to make your experiences at our animal hospital as comprehensive and efficient as possible. If you are bringing your pet in for the first time, please bring any pertinent previous medical information (such as vaccine history and medical records from previous veterinarians) so that we can determine what services, if any, are due.

    For routine wellness exams, please bring in a fecal specimen (obtained the day of the exam), and for dogs over six years old, it may be helpful to collect a first morning urine sample the morning of the exam.

    We are always looking to offer any food- (or toy-) based reward to your cat or dog, to help make the experience less stressful for him or her. You can bring your pet’s favorite treats to the visit to try to help facilitate this process (although we will always have our own options to offer).

  • Our receptionists will greet you and alert the staff that you have arrived for your appointment. One of our skilled and knowledgeable veterinary technicians will bring you and your pet into an exam room and take a brief history regarding the reason for your visit. After the technician consults with the doctor, the doctor will review the history and ask any additional questions they feel necessary.

    A full and thorough physical exam is performed on every animal, whether he/she is being seen for a wellness exam or a medical problem. This includes prior to all routine vaccinations—there is no such thing as “he just needs a shot.” A physical exam allows the doctor to ensure that your pet has no issues that may preclude vaccination. It may also identify problems you were unaware of, preventing unnecessary repeat visits.

  • West Caldwell Animal Hospital is one of only 15% of animal hospitals throughout the US and Canada that is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). We have maintained continuous accreditation since 1964. Accreditation is acquired through an entirely voluntary evaluation process whereby our medical standards and practices are scrutinized by representatives of AAHA to ensure we are providing consistent and high-quality care for our patients. The accreditation inspection occurs every 3 years and involves evaluation of more than 900 standards in the areas of medical care (including anesthesia, contagious diseases, dentistry, pain management, patient care, surgery and emergency care), diagnostics, pharmacy, management, medical records and facility. It is not required for any veterinary practice to be accredited – West Caldwell Animal Hospital submits itself for this rigorous process to make sure we are keeping up to date with the latest current standards of medical practice and providing the very best for our patients and clients.

  • The decision to spay/neuter your pet is a wise one, as it can prevent certain medical issues from developing as your pet ages, and can also help to limit the problems of overpopulation, reducing the epidemic of homeless or abandoned dogs and cats.

    On the day of your pet’s spay or neuter, you can expect them to spend the day in the hospital with us. Our responsibility is to support your pet throughout the day, from pre-anesthetic sedation to close monitoring throughout their recovery period.

    Food should be withheld from your pet after 10pm the night before his/her surgery – water is ok up until the time of drop-off. Drop-off time is between 8:00-8:30a.m. the day of the procedure. A veterinary technician will review the estimate for surgery as well as any recommended procedures that are appropriate at this time (such as microchipping, preoperative blood or cardiac screening, screening for hip dysplasia in large breed dogs, removal of retained baby teeth, removal of unwanted dewclaws, etc.). They will also go over any questions or concerns you may have.

    Once the procedure is complete, you will receive a phone call updating you on your pet’s condition and discussing discharge instructions. Pets that are spayed or neutered will be sent home the evening of their surgery. Depending on the pet, your pet may or may not be discharged with pain medication and/or an Elizabethan (“lampshade”) collar.

    We do recommend bringing them into the hospital again the following day, to monitor their incision and their temperature.

  • Our office is only staffed during regular operating hours, so there is no 24-hour care. If overnight monitoring is warranted or desired by the client, transfer to one of our local emergency clinics will be discussed. This is generally handled by the client transferring their pet to and from the emergency hospital.

  • We refer all of our after-hours emergencies to any of the following locations:

  • If you are being referred to a veterinary specialist, you will need to contact the specialist’s office to schedule an appointment. Once your appointment is made, their office should contact our office so we can fax pertinent medical records for their review. It is always best to let us know after you have made your appointment with them so that we can ensure that records are sent in a timely fashion. X-rays or ultrasound reports can be provided as well, if needed.

  • Yes! You can schedule appointments through your PetPage. Please note that online appointments are easiest to schedule several weeks in the future.

    For any emergency appointments or for appointments needing more rapid attention, please call us 973-226-3727.

    While we are reachable by email (wcah3727@gmail.com) and text message (973-226-3727), phone calls are always the fastest way to reach us and ensure a more rapid response.

  • Unfortunately, at this time, we do not offer boarding.

  • We do not offer grooming services at this facility. However, we do offer bathing, including medicated baths, when needed. If a pet’s personality and personal grooming habits warrant, we can offer a clipdown and bath under sedation.

    For animals that are particularly difficult at the groomer, this can be a less stressful alternative. Because it does involve sedation, normal pre-anesthetic recommendations apply, which may include pre-procedure bloodwork for older or at-risk pets.