Hospital Policies – Daniel Island Animal Hospital

At Daniel Island Animal Hospital, the safety, health, and well-being of your pet—and every member of our community—is our top priority. Please review our policies to help us maintain a safe, respectful, and efficient environment for everyone.

Appointments

Appointment-Based Veterinary Care

To ensure every patient receives the focused attention they deserve, we operate by appointment only. This allows us to provide thorough and personalized care tailored to your pet’s unique needs.

Urgent & Sick Pet Visits

We understand that medical issues can arise unexpectedly. That’s why we reserve daily time slots for urgent or sick pet appointments. If your pet shows sudden symptoms or suffers an injury, please call us immediately. We will do our best to fit your pet into one of our same-day sick visit slots.

In rare cases when we reach daily capacity, we will refer you to one of our trusted emergency or urgent care veterinary partners to ensure your pet receives prompt medical attention.

Appointments - Late Policy

At Daniel Island Animal Hospital, we value your time and strive to keep appointments running smoothly so every pet receives the dedicated care they deserve. To ensure your pet benefits from their full exam time, please arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment.

What Happens If You Arrive Late?

If you arrive 10–15 minutes late, we will do our best to accommodate you in one of the following ways:

  • Work-in appointment: Your pet will still receive a full examination from your veterinarian, but may need to wait and will not have a designated exam room.

  • Drop-off: You may be asked to leave your pet with us for care throughout the day.

  • Rescheduling: If our schedule allows, we may be able to move your appointment to a later time that day.

Please understand that our ability to accommodate late arrivals depends on daily appointment flow and staffing.

Missed Appointments & Repeat Lateness

Repeated late arrivals or missed appointments without notice may result in a missed appointment fee and/or may require prepayment to reserve future appointments.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us provide timely, quality care to every patient.

Hospital Safety Policy

For the safety of all pets, clients, and staff:

  • Dogs must remain on a leash at all times.

  • Cats must be secured in a carrier.

If you're concerned about how your pet may react to others in the waiting area, please notify a receptionist. We’re happy to escort you directly into an exam room or through a side entrance, when available.

Rabies Vaccine Policy

In accordance with South Carolina Law and the Rabies Control Act, all pets must have up-to-date rabies vaccinations to receive care at our hospital.

  • No medical exemptions are allowed in the state of South Carolina.

  • Proof of vaccination is required before services can be provided.

  • If a pet is not current on rabies vaccination, service may be denied or limited to emergency care under strict safety protocols.

This policy ensures the safety of our clients, staff, and other patients, as rabies is a fatal and zoonotic disease.

Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR)

To provide medical care, we must maintain a valid Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) under South Carolina law.

  • A physical exam must be performed by one of our veterinarians at least once every 365 days.

  • Without a valid VCPR, we cannot legally diagnose, prescribe, refill medications, or offer medical advice.

This ensures our recommendations are based on accurate, up-to-date information about your pet’s health.

Mutual Respect Policy

We are proud to foster a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all clients, pets, and team members.

  • We promise to treat every client and pet with kindness, empathy, and professionalism.

  • In return, we ask that all clients treat our staff—including receptionists, technicians, assistants, and doctors—with respect.

We do not tolerate:

  • Abusive language

  • Shouting or threats

  • Disrespectful or aggressive behavior

In severe or repeated cases, services may be refused or terminated. A respectful environment helps us focus on providing exceptional care for your pets.

Payment Policy

To support the high level of care we provide, we require payment at the time of service.

Accepted payment methods include:

Please request a treatment plan estimate before services are rendered if you have any questions about cost.

Additional payment terms:

  • Card payments incur a 3% processing fee (cash discount available).

  • Returned checks will be subject to a $30.00 fee.

  • Outstanding balances must be paid before further services are provided.

  • Balances over 120 days past due may be sent to collections.

If you have any questions about our policies, please don’t hesitate to call us. We’re here to support you and your pets with compassionate, transparent care.