Dogs and cats are in for a real treat when the new Edinburgh Animal Hospital opens in southern Chesapeake. The 8,000-square-foot hospital will be an enhanced venue for the exceptional care that owner Dr. Geoff Campbell and the dedicated 28-member staff of Edinburgh Animal Hospital have provided at their much-smaller clinic since opening nearby in 2006.

"My dream as a veterinarian has always been to build and design my perfect hospital," says Dr. Campbell, who has been a veterinarian in Hampton Roads for 28 years. "Our current hospital was the first step to that dream, but we had grown out of our current space, which is about 4,200 square feet. Our new hospital will allow us to continue to grow and service more pet families in the future. This is a state-of-the-art facility but maintains the feel and comfort of a home and family.  We all have pets and strive to treat all our patients as if they were our own."

Inside, the new clinic welcomes patients into an open and spacious reception area with separate waiting areas for dogs and cats. That separation concept extends back into the hospital, where the layout is designed so that cats and dogs have different exam, treatment and boarding rooms. Interior walls are insulated to minimize sounds, and equipment is tailored to meet specific needs.
 For example, three feline exam rooms have floor-level seating that eliminates space for a patient looking for a place to hide. "I remember the time a cat got into the backing of a chair, and we had to cut the chair to get the cat out," Dr. Campbell laughs. "That was an experience."

Cats also get their own special playroom, complete with climbing towers and an oversized window that entertains them with outdoor views.  In fact, natural light floods the entire hospital, thanks to numerous large windows that also provide views of a vast lake nearby.

"I love looking over at the lake," Dr. Campbell says, glancing across the street. "We've been a part of this community for years, and it's where I wanted us to stay. This corner lot has turned out to be the perfect spot."

Four exam rooms on the opposite side of the cat wing will see to the needs of dogs, which make up 80 percent of the 10,000 patients that come through the hospital annually.  Mobile specialists, such as cardiologists and dentistry services, will each have designated rooms. Six tables in another large, open area will be used for drawing blood, administering IV fluids, and other treatment needs. Adjacent is a fully-equipped surgical suite with two tables.

"Most of our surgeries are done in the morning on an out-patient basis, so most patients go home that day," Dr. Campbell explains.

Other individualized spaces include a lab that processes complete blood profiles, an X-ray room that provides instant digital images, and a pharmacy that fills prescriptions for heartworm, flea, tick, and allergy meds.  Meds, food, and preventive products can be automatically ordered and sent to a patient's home via the mobile app VitusVet or the clinic's website.

"Clients can also receive and send text messages to our hospital for many reasons, including appointment scheduling, refill requests, and checking on test results," Dr. Campbell points out. "This technology has really helped us communicate more efficiently with our clients."

For boarding purposes, cats are kept separate in condos with ensuite litter boxes. Dogs can choose to lounge in luxurious toddler-size beds in four "apartment" kennels or in smaller standard runs. Natural light pouring in through large windows is everywhere. "My current space has no windows in the back, so it's on the dark side," Dr. Campbell explains. "This boarding space will in no way be dark."

The 30-by-90-foot outdoor play area will be more like a toddler's playground, complete with AstroTurf, playthings, and a safe privacy wall.  "It will always be supervised," Dr. Campbell emphasizes. "No dog is going out there by themselves."

For the tough time when a pet's family needs to say a final goodbye, there is a "comfort room" with a separate door, allowing grieving loved ones to come and go in private.

The rustic Craftsman look of the new hospital's exterior reflects a homey feel that blends into the neighborhood's architecture and ambiance.

After finding the perfect location-an acre of land on a corner in front of Walmart at Edinburgh Commons, Dr. Campbell attended a Veterinary Hospital Design Conference in Kansas City, so he was tuned in to all the newest hospital design ideas.  Construction began in March and remained on schedule, thanks to the team at Covington, Hendrix and Anderson Architects, and Taylor Construction's Scott Taylor, who purchased materials ahead of time in order to avoid supply delays.

Admiring the building's exterior, Dr. Campbell beams with pride.

"My Campbell clan heritage and the name Edinburgh Commons are both Scottish, so I felt that the new hospital had to look like it would fit right into the Scottish Highlands here in Chesapeake," he says. "Scott Taylor took those design plans from the architects and made them come to life. I have watched in amazement as the numerous contractors have contributed and worked so hard to create my hospital. They have exceeded my expectations in so many ways."

Of course, building an exceptional veterinary hospital requires more than first-rate architecture. A top-notch team of individuals, each of them passionate about caring for animals, is vital. Four other veterinarians work alongside Dr. Campbell, and he hopes to add a fifth very soon.

With a new facility designed to emphasize patient comfort, Dr. Campbell will bring even higher-quality veterinary medicine and services to Hampton Roads.

"I have always been very progressive regarding veterinary medicine and want to stay current with new medications, new services, and new technology," he says with pride. "This new hospital will allow Edinburgh Animal Hospital to always remain cutting edge."