Visiting hours and policies

COVID-19 updates

Unfortunately, we will not be able to allow visitation to hospitalized patients during their stay except (on a case by case basis with clinician approval) in the case of end of life situations.


Our goal is to provide all animals brought to Veterinary Medical Center facilities with the best possible care. We limit visiting hours to ensure our veterinarians and technicians have adequate time to care for all patients and maintain our facilities.

All clients are strongly advised to pre-arrange visit consultations with their doctor. Please be aware that direct communication with your doctor may not be available at the time of visitation. Your doctor will be informed of your visit and circumstances may necessitate that communication with your doctor occur by phone at a later time. 

To ensure a safe and healthy environment for all animals, we ask that our visitors adhere to the VMC’s infection control guidelines when visiting your animal and due to privacy concerns, you will only have access to your animal and information about your animal. 

Once visiting hours conclude clients with hospitalized animals are encouraged to leave the hospital. Due to University security restrictions, clients may not stay at any VMC facility overnight. Please check with the front desk for a list of local lodging and dining options.

All visitors are required to sign in at the front desk before entering visiting areas.

Visiting hours and policies by facility

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Lewis Small Animal Hospital

Visiting hours

Monday-Friday
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekend and holidays
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Visits with hospitalized patients will be limited to 60 minutes per visit, with two visits maximum per day.

Small animal client visitation policy

  • All visits must occur in specified visiting areas, including the Commons (west hospital cubicles), the ICU Visiting Room, and the Client Comfort Room (VMC 310). Please do not visit with your pet outside of these areas or take your pet outdoors without the permission and supervision of a student or staff.
  • Visiting outside standard visiting hours and time limits is not permitted without an appointment with, and supervision by, your veterinarian. After hours visitation without clinician authorization will not be accommodated.
  • Clients are not permitted to view anesthesia induction/recovery, or surgery.
  • Only immediate family is permitted to visit in clinical areas, and only one person will be allowed to visit at a time. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult family member.
  • If your pet cannot be safely removed from his/her kennel for visitation, staff may escort you into the Intensive Care Unit or Wards for visitation. 
  • Visitation may be terminated or denied at any time at the discretion of ICU staff, depending on the condition of patients and/or a veterinary crisis in the unit.
  • Your visit to ICU or your pet’s hospital ward will be limited to a total of 30 minutes (two visits per day). 
  • Clients may visit patients housed in Isolation during standard visiting hours and at the discretion of hospital staff. 
    • Visitation to isolation cases is limited to window viewing only for a maximum of 15 minutes per visiting block.
  • Clients may not bring raw meat, including BARF diets, into the hospital for patient consumption in order to prevent potentially infectious agent contamination of all ICU patients. 
  • Please do not sit or lie in your animal’s kennel, and make sure to disinfect your hands before and after each visit.
  • Please turn off your cell phone during your visit.
  • Please do not enter clinical areas of the hospital or otherwise walk through areas marked “Authorized Personnel Only.”

Large Animal and Piper Equine Hospitals

Visits to the Equine Center may occur at any time during visiting hours, visits to patients at the Large Animal Hospital are by appointment only during the times listed below. Please discuss your visitation needs with your doctor or technician.

Visiting hours

Monday - Friday
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Weekends and holidays
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Clients with hospitalized patients may visit for up to 60 minutes per day.

Large animal and equine visitation policy

  • All visits must occur in or outside your animal’s specified stall. Please do not walk your animal outside of the stall without the permission and supervision of a student or staff.
  • Visitation will be limited to immediate family or up to 2 individuals designated by the owner (this may include friends, trainers, or barn staff). All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Visiting outside standard visiting hours and time limits is not allowed without an appointment with a veterinarian, technical staff, or the student assigned to your animal’s case. After hours and extended visitation is not possible without prior authorization.
  • Visitation may be terminated or denied at any time at the discretion of your veterinarian, dependent on the condition of the patient and/or the need for your veterinarian to attend to incoming emergencies.
  • If your animal is considered contagious or potentially contagious 
    • Visits will be restricted. Animals hospitalized in isolation or partial isolation stalls (including critical neonates) may be visited by appointment with your veterinarian for up to 20 minutes, one visit per day. 
    • All visitors to isolation or partial isolation stalls will be expected to adhere to infection control protocols, including but not limited to disinfecting, gowning and gloving upon arrival and departure.
    • All visits to isolation are supervised to facilitate compliance with infection control protocols and to ensure the safety of patients and visitors. 
  • Please wash your hands thoroughly before and after each visit, and do not touch animals other than your own.
  • Please do not enter clinical areas of the hospital or otherwise walk through areas marked “Authorized Personnel Only.”
  • Immune-compromised individuals, including children under the age of 12, should not visit patients in Isolation or Partial Isolation.