Dog & Cat HospitalCalabasas

Patient Education

Hospitalization & Inpatient Care

Monitored inpatient care for sick or recovering patients — continuous observation, nursing support, and active treatment in one place, from admission through discharge.

Some medical situations require more support than an outpatient visit can provide. Severe vomiting, respiratory distress, acute kidney injury, diabetic ketoacidosis, post-surgical recovery, sepsis, and neurological emergencies are conditions where continuous monitoring and the ability to respond quickly to changes are as important as any single treatment. Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas's inpatient care unit allows pets to receive IV fluid therapy, injectable medications, frequent vital sign assessment, nutritional support, and hands-on nursing care throughout the day. Hospitalized patients are never left to wait between scheduled appointments — the team responds to what the patient needs in real time.

How It Works

Admission begins with a complete assessment: physical examination, vital signs, and baseline diagnostics (bloodwork, urinalysis, imaging as indicated). A treatment plan is established and updated as the patient responds. Throughout the hospital stay:

  • Vital signs — temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure — are checked at regular intervals appropriate to the patient's severity
  • IV catheter access allows continuous or intermittent fluid therapy and rapid drug administration without repeated needle sticks
  • Serial bloodwork monitors trends in kidney function, electrolytes, glucose, and other values that guide treatment adjustments
  • Nutritional support — appetite stimulants, syringe feeding, or in some cases a feeding tube — is provided for patients who are not eating voluntarily, since anorexia significantly impairs recovery
  • Wound care, urinary catheter management, physical repositioning for immobile patients, and other nursing care are provided as needed
  • The attending veterinarian communicates with the owner at regular intervals with updates on the pet's status, findings, and evolving plan

The in-house laboratory allows the team to run bloodwork and check results within minutes rather than waiting for an outside lab — this speed is meaningful in acute or rapidly changing situations.

Your pet's condition needs immediate attention — we're here

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What to Expect

The hospital team will estimate a length of stay at admission, but that estimate is always subject to how the patient responds. Some conditions stabilize faster than anticipated; others take longer. Owners receive updates and can call for status reports during the day — clear communication about what is happening, what is being done, and what the next decision points are is a priority. At discharge, written home-care instructions, a summary of the hospital course, all current medications, and scheduled follow-up appointments are provided. Most patients who are discharged are meaningfully improved from their admission status, and the transition to outpatient monitoring is discussed in detail before the pet leaves.

Good Candidates

  • Pets with conditions requiring continuous treatment that cannot be delivered on an outpatient basis — IV fluids, injectable antibiotics, blood glucose monitoring, oxygen therapy
  • Post-surgical patients who need monitoring overnight or for several days following a complex procedure
  • Pets with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious metabolic emergency that requires IV fluids, insulin drips, and frequent electrolyte monitoring
  • Patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who need intensive IV fluid diuresis and serial kidney value monitoring
  • Pets with severe vomiting, diarrhea, or both who cannot keep oral medications or fluids down
  • Animals recovering from trauma, toxin ingestion, or severe infection who need frequent reassessment over a 24-hour or multi-day window
  • Pets with borderline respiratory distress who may need oxygen support and are not stable enough to be sent home between appointments

Frequently Asked Questions

1Will my pet be alone overnight at the hospital?
Staffing arrangements vary by hospital. At Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas, the team will clearly communicate the overnight monitoring arrangements for the pet's specific situation so owners can make informed decisions. In some cases, transfer to a 24-hour emergency and specialty center is recommended for pets who need overnight intensive monitoring.
2Can I visit my pet while they are hospitalized?
Visitation is generally encouraged when the patient's medical status allows — owner visits can reduce stress and support recovery. The team will advise on the best times to visit and whether the pet is stable enough for interaction at a given point in their hospital stay.
3How will I know what is happening with my pet while they are in the hospital?
The team provides regular updates by phone, and owners are welcome to call for status checks. Major findings, treatment changes, and decision points are communicated as they occur — owners should never feel they are waiting in the dark about their pet's condition.
4What is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in pets?
DKA is a serious complication of uncontrolled or newly diagnosed diabetes in which the body, starved of glucose at the cellular level, breaks down fat in a way that produces ketone acids — these accumulate in the blood and cause severe metabolic disruption. Signs include vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and a fruity or acetone smell to the breath. DKA requires hospitalization for IV fluid and electrolyte correction before insulin management can be started safely.
5How long will my dog or cat need to stay in the hospital?
Hospital stays range from under 24 hours for mild conditions requiring only a short course of IV fluids and observation, to several days for acute kidney injury, DKA, post-surgical recovery from a major procedure, or severe infection. The attending veterinarian provides an estimated length of stay at admission and updates that estimate as the pet responds.
6Is it better to hospitalize my pet or treat them at home?
For conditions that require IV medications, continuous monitoring, or rapid treatment adjustments, hospitalization is medically necessary — these things cannot be replicated at home. For conditions that are stable enough to be managed with oral medications, the veterinarian will discuss outpatient options and what warning signs would warrant a call or return visit.
7What information will I get when my pet is discharged?
Discharge includes written home-care instructions, a summary of the hospital course and findings, all current medications with dosing instructions, and scheduled follow-up appointments. The team walks owners through every item before the pet leaves and provides a contact number for questions that arise at home.

Your pet's condition needs immediate attention — we're here

Call us to discuss whether your pet's situation requires hospitalization and what inpatient care at Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas looks like.

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