Local pets are getting the royal treatment as the Animal Hospital of West Chester more than doubles in size to better care for animal clients and their humans.
The clinic was founded by Dr. Jennifer Dehnbostel in 2009, and they are proud to offer “small-town charm with full service medical and surgical capabilities,” in addition to boarding and grooming services. All of these offerings just got bigger, better and more helpful for patients and their families in their brand new building.
Main upgrades included expanding from two to five exam rooms.
“The new hospital facility was created out of necessity for additional patient care space, including exam rooms and hospital space,” Dr. Dehnbostel says. “Our primary goal for our new expanded space was to reduce stress for both the pets and the humans.”
More exam rooms allow reduced wait times in the lobby spaces, which conveniently has coincided with social distancing recommendations.
“Clients can immediately go to an exam and are not held in the lobby area, which can be an area of conflict for many pets,” Connie says. “We need to keep some distance between certain animals.”
Patients can expect more appointment availability with the new space, especially as an additional vet, Dr. Amy Snyder, began full time in July. Once animals are inside a treatment room, upgraded electronic tables mean more ease for animals to be weighed and examined. Larger dogs, for example, can get on the tables by having them raised or lowered for easier access and care. An expanded surgical suite with a separate dental and oral surgery area is helping the staff to better assist animals.
Another key feature is a separate special “family room” which Manager Connie Caton says allows the vet to hold personal conversations with clients regarding the care of their pet, including euthanasia conversations in private with clients, giving them the opportunity to grieve without seeing others. These clients even have their own entrance they can use to enter and exit to avoid having to interact with others during a sensitive time.
Grooming and boarding clients now have their own separate and spacious entrance as well. Dr. Dehnbostel says their larger boarding facility is not increasing how many pets they board, but rather just providing better service to them.
“Our two-floor hospital design keeps hospital and boarding/grooming pets separate, and the benefits are stress reduction, noise control and disease control,” Dr. Dehnbostel says.
Connie says, “Our goal is always to treat and take care of the animals...just having the ability to treat more animals given the space obviously drives our mission of making patients our priority.”
Animal Hospital of West Chester, 9335 Cincinnati Columbus Rd, West Chester, 513.777.5131, AnimalHospitalofWC.com