Client Information & Appointments

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital is open for large and small animals 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Except for emergencies, animals are seen by appointment only, with or without a referral. Call 509-335-0711 to schedule an appointment.

If your veterinarian has referred you to our hospital, our team will work closely with them to review your animal’s condition and the next steps for care.

A 24-hour emergency service for small and large animals is available. Please call 509-335-0711 if you are bringing in an animal for an emergency so we know you are on your way.

If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please call us to cancel as soon as possible (preferably 24 hours in advance). Your cooperation will allow us to care for another patient during that appointment time.

For the protection of your pet and others, please keep your pet in a sturdy transport carrier or on leash.

After checking in, you will be met by a veterinary student or a technician to discuss your pet’s medical history and to perform an initial physical examination prior to visiting with one of our veterinarians.  

We strive for complete and thorough care for your pet while also training students and providing experience to our residents and interns, and this sometimes takes time. Although you may meet only a small fraction of our team, you can rest assured your pet is being evaluated by many highly trained and experienced professionals. The collaboration among our team ensures your pet receives access to the most advanced treatments and care.

Your care team

When you allow us to care for your pet, you will have a compassionate team committed to serving you and your animal. As a teaching hospital, we are also dedicated to training the next generation of veterinarians. Our team is made up of veterinary students in their final year of the program, veterinary technicians, interns, and residents collaborating with our veterinarians to provide the highest levels of care to our patients.

• Faculty – With more than 70 veterinary faculty on staff, our team has decades of training, experience, and expertise in every area of veterinary medicine.
• Technicians – Our veterinary technicians assist and support our veterinarians and help to manage patient care. Many have completed additional training to specialize in specific care areas.
• Patient Services – Our friendly patient services coordinators are often the first people you interact with at the teaching hospital. They manage check-ins and appointments, and can answer many of your appointment questions.
• Front Desk Team – From scheduling appointments to recommending hotel accommodations and explaining your bill, we have a friendly, knowledgeable, and dedicated team committed to assisting you and helping you get the answers to any questions you have surrounding veterinary care.
• Residents – Our residents are veterinarians who have typically completed an internship and are pursuing a three-year residency program for training in a specialty area.
• Interns – Our interns are veterinarians who are pursuing a one-year internship for advanced training.
• Veterinary Students – Our fourth-year veterinary students train alongside faculty to complete their medical training. Upon graduation in May, they will be fully qualified to practice as veterinarians.

When your pet is discharged, you will often receive both oral and written instructions. If you were referred by a veterinarian, he or she should also receive a copy of the discharge instructions. Due to time delays in mailing, however, it is often helpful to provide your local veterinarian with a copy of the written discharge instructions if necessary.

If your animal is staying at the hospital, ask the student to provide you with a business card with their contact information. If you return to visit your pet or to meet with hospital personnel, please be prepared to provide the receptionist your name and the name of your animal, student, and veterinarian when you arrive.

We encourage you to ask your students and veterinarians questions regarding any aspect of the medical care for your pet. If questions arise after you have left the hospital, please call the main hospital switchboard number at 509-335-0711. Please inform the operator of your name, the student’s name, the doctor’s name, your animal’s name, and the purpose of the call.

The WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s online patient portal allows you to view upcoming appointments, see your animal’s patient records, view invoices, or pay online.  Our staff will create an online account for you at your first appointment.  You will receive an email with a link to reset your password (please check your junk mail folder if you don’t see it). After you have reset your password, you will be prompted to log into the online patient portal.  

If you have questions or difficulties accessing your portal, please call 509-335-0711.

WSU offers a variety of online resources and advice in addition to in-person gatherings for those mourning the loss of a pet.