South Shore Veterinary Hospital address, phone, hours, urgent care, appointments, forms, pharmacy, and pet visit guide
South Shore Veterinary Hospital is a full-service veterinary hospital for dogs and cats in Forest Lake, Minnesota. The clinic is located at 380 W Broadway Ave, Forest Lake, MN 55025, and the main phone number is 651-464-4210.
This guide helps pet owners quickly find the right contact route, request an appointment, understand same-day urgent care, complete new patient forms, request refills, prepare for a visit, use the online pharmacy, and ask for records or estimates.
Forest Lake, MN 55025.
Use for appointments, urgent-care availability, forms, refill questions, and general help.
Use only when the clinic requests records or forms by fax.
Tuesday and Thursday are listed as 8 AM to 8 PM. Saturday and Sunday are closed.
The hospital states dogs and cats are its specialty.
Same-day urgent care may be available, but capacity can fill and drop-off visits may be used.
About South Shore Veterinary Hospital
A practical overview for Forest Lake pet owners looking for veterinary care, urgent care, forms, and clinic contact details.
South Shore Veterinary Hospital serves Forest Lake and nearby communities with companion-animal care for dogs and cats. The hospital describes its approach as relationship-based veterinary medicine, with preventive care, diagnostics, surgery, dentistry, urgent-care support, and client education.
The hospital also describes a modern facility with multiple doctors, digital radiology, ultrasound, flexible endoscopy, and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery resources. For pet owners, the important step is to call ahead so the team can match your pet’s needs to the right visit type.
South Shore Veterinary Hospital contact information and hours
Use the table below to decide whether to call, fax, use a form, or request pharmacy help.
| Need | Contact detail | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Main reception | 651-464-4210 | Appointments, same-day urgent-care availability, records, forms, refill questions, and general clinic help. |
| Fax | 651-464-1534 | Sending records when the clinic asks for faxed documents. |
| Clinic address | 380 W Broadway Ave, Forest Lake, MN 55025 | Driving directions, appointment arrival, records transfer, and pharmacy pickup. |
| Monday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Routine appointments, same-day availability by phone, refills, and records help. |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Extended weekday appointment window. |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Routine care, diagnostics, refill pickup, and records questions. |
| Thursday | 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Extended weekday appointment window. |
| Friday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Routine visits, urgent-care calls, and weekend medication planning. |
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed | Use a 24-hour veterinary emergency hospital if your pet has an after-hours emergency. |
Same-day urgent care and emergency guidance
South Shore Veterinary Hospital states that same-day urgent care may be available, but pet owners should call before arriving.
How to schedule an appointment
Use these steps for wellness exams, sick visits, vaccine updates, diagnostics, surgical consults, and urgent-care questions.
New client forms and first-visit preparation
Completing forms and sending records early can reduce check-in time and help the medical team review your pet’s history.
New patient registration
Use the online form to provide owner details, pet details, vaccine history, prior care, medications, and reason for visit.
Previous records
Ask your previous clinic to send records before the appointment, especially vaccine certificates, lab results, imaging reports, and ongoing medication notes.
Bring practical items
Bring leash or carrier, medication bottles, prescription food label, stool sample if requested, insurance card or policy app, and questions for the veterinarian.
Plan for nervous pets
If your pet is fearful, reactive, car-sick, or difficult to handle, ask about Fear Free visit options, pre-visit medication, or waiting in the car.
Veterinary services and care areas
The hospital describes full-service care for dogs and cats, from preventive medicine to diagnostics, surgery, dentistry, and urgent care.
| Care area | What it may include | How to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness and prevention | Annual or semiannual exams, lifestyle-based vaccines, parasite prevention, nutrition conversations, and early disease screening. | Bring vaccine history, medication list, diet details, and any behavior or appetite changes. |
| Same-day urgent care | Drop-off evaluation for pets that need care sooner than a routine appointment allows, when capacity is available. | Call first, describe symptoms clearly, and ask whether the pet should be fasted or brought directly in. |
| Diagnostics | Lab work, digital radiology, ultrasound, bloodwork, urine testing, and other testing depending on the problem. | Ask whether your pet should fast, bring urine or stool sample, or avoid certain medications before testing. |
| Surgery | Surgical consultations, soft-tissue surgery, orthopedic-interest cases, laparoscopic or minimally invasive options when appropriate, and recovery planning. | Ask for a written estimate, fasting instructions, anesthesia plan, pickup time, and post-op restrictions. |
| Dentistry | Oral exams, dental cleanings, dental imaging or extraction planning when needed, and home-care recommendations. | Ask whether pre-anesthetic bloodwork is needed and whether extractions are possible during the same procedure. |
| Behavior and low-stress care | Fear Free handling, visit-anxiety planning, handling strategies, and behavior conversations during wellness or sick visits. | Tell the team before arrival if your pet is anxious, aggressive, noise-sensitive, or carrier-resistant. |
| Pharmacy and prescription diets | In-house medications, prescription refills, online pharmacy ordering, parasite prevention, and prescription diet support. | Request refills early and confirm whether an exam or lab monitoring is required before approval. |
Fear Free and low-stress visit tips
South Shore Veterinary Hospital describes Fear Free-certified professionals and a commitment to lowering pet fear, anxiety, and stress.
Ask before the visit
If your pet panics in the car, growls at exams, hides in carriers, or shakes in the lobby, ask whether a pre-visit calming plan is appropriate.
Car waiting may help
For nervous pets, ask if you can wait in the car until the exam room is ready rather than sitting in the lobby.
Bring high-value treats
If medically appropriate, bring treats your pet loves. Positive reinforcement can help with vaccines, nail trims, and exams.
Tell the team what works
Share whether your pet prefers the floor, carrier, lap, table, towel wrap, muzzle, distraction, or slow handling.
Online pharmacy, prescription refills, and medication pickup
The hospital links to an online pharmacy and provides refill request options for medication and diet needs.
Medical records, vaccine proof, and specialist transfers
Medical records are often needed for boarding, grooming, travel, emergency care, specialists, insurance claims, or switching clinics.
Billing, estimates, and payment policies
The hospital states that payment is expected when services are rendered and that it does not bill after the visit.
| Billing topic | What pet owners should know | Best question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Payment timing | Payment is expected at the time services are rendered. | “What is the estimated total due today?” |
| Accepted payments | The urgent-care/payment information references cash, check, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and CareCredit. | “Do you currently accept this payment method for today’s visit?” |
| Estimates | Ask for written estimates for surgery, dentistry, hospitalization, advanced diagnostics, or urgent-care treatment plans. | “Can I review a low-to-high estimate before treatment starts?” |
| Urgent care | Urgent cases may need diagnostics and treatment decisions quickly, so ask for staged estimates when possible. | “What is needed today, and what can wait?” |
| Dental or surgery | The final cost can change if extractions, lab abnormalities, additional medications, or surgical findings occur. | “At what point will you call me for approval if the plan changes?” |
Pet insurance and CareCredit financing
Pet insurance and veterinary financing work differently from human health insurance, so plan ahead before an urgent visit.
Pet insurance
Most veterinary clinics require payment at checkout, then provide invoices and medical notes so the owner can submit a claim for reimbursement.
CareCredit
The hospital’s payment information says it accepts CareCredit. Approval and promotional terms are controlled by CareCredit, not the clinic.
Before treatment
Ask for diagnosis names, itemized estimate, doctor notes, and invoice details if you plan to file an insurance claim.
Before surgery
Ask whether the estimate includes pre-anesthetic bloodwork, pain medication, recheck, collar, dental radiographs, or take-home medications.
What to bring to a South Shore Veterinary Hospital visit
A little preparation helps the appointment run smoothly and gives the veterinarian better information.
| Bring or prepare | Why it helps | Extra tip |
|---|---|---|
| Previous medical records | Helps avoid duplicate vaccines and gives the doctor a baseline for chronic issues. | Send records before the visit if possible. |
| Medication list | Prevents drug interactions and helps refill planning. | Bring bottles or photos of labels. |
| Food and supplement details | Diet affects weight, allergies, digestive issues, kidney disease, and diabetes care. | Take a photo of the food bag and ingredient panel. |
| Stool or urine sample if requested | Helpful for parasite screening, urinary symptoms, diarrhea, senior care, and wellness panels. | Ask how fresh the sample should be. |
| Insurance or financing info | Helps with claim documents or payment planning. | Ask for itemized invoices before checkout. |
| Behavior notes | Fear, pain, aggression, hiding, or appetite changes can affect the exam plan. | Share triggers before the pet is handled. |
Location, map, and arrival information
Use the map for directions to the Forest Lake clinic. Call first if your pet is contagious, very anxious, or needs urgent care.
South Shore Veterinary Hospital
380 W Broadway Ave
Forest Lake, MN 55025
Main: 651-464-4210
Arrival safety rules for dogs, cats, and contagious pets
Safe arrival protects your pet, other patients, and the veterinary team.
Dogs
Keep dogs on a secure leash and close to you in the parking area and lobby. Avoid retractable leash extension near other pets.
Cats
Bring cats in a secure, latched carrier. Do not carry a cat loose in your arms because noise or dogs can cause escape.
Possible contagious illness
If your pet has coughing, parvo-like signs, severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or unknown contagious exposure, call from the parking lot before entering.
Anxious or reactive pets
Tell staff before arrival if your pet may bite, panic, bark intensely, or become aggressive around other animals.
South Shore Veterinary Hospital FAQs
Common questions about the Forest Lake clinic, appointments, urgent care, forms, records, payment, pharmacy, and visit preparation.