Patient Visitation Guidelines

Clients may be allowed to visit their animals subject to the approval of the attending clinician.

The client must sign in and sign out at the Purdue University Equine Hospital Reception Desk so that we are aware of which clients are here and how long they are here.

Clients are expected to make arrangements for visitation in advance and to schedule visitation during regular visitation hours (MondayFriday 10:00 a.m.8:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m.). Every effort should be made to keep most of the visiting hours between 10:00 a.m.5:00 p.m. Exceptions may be granted only at the discretion of the attending clinician.

Visitation will take place in the animal’s stall. Clients will be accompanied to the stall by a student, clinician, or nurse. The client cannot be allowed to be in the stall without the presence of a student, clinician, or nurse. Allotted length of a visit is no more than 60 minutes at a time twice a day. Shorter times may be appropriate due to the health status of the patient. The clinician on the case will determine this.

Clients/owners/agents are not allowed in the induction/recovery areas of the Equine Hospital. They are also not allowed in surgical and imaging areas. The one exception would be clients observing standing cow surgery in Treatment Room One with the approval of the senior clinician on the case. Children under 16 years of age are not allowed to observe standing surgeries.

Special Circumstances

Foals in NICU: Visitation in NICU is at the discretion of the clinician on duty. Children under the age of 16 are not allowed in the NICU.

Special Cases: Owners will not be allowed in a stall with an animal that is in a sling, the Aqua Cow, has neurologic deficits, or is otherwise restrained in some fashion.

Isolation: It is rare that a client is allowed in the isolation area to visit with their animals. Owners can at times observe animals while standing in the clean corridor of the isolation facility, but approval by the senior clinician is mandatory. They must be accompanied by the student or a DVM on the case at all times while they are in the isolation facility. Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to visit animals in isolation.