Oct 9, 2026
Essential Equipment Checklist for a New Veterinary Clinic
A room-by-room equipment checklist for opening a new veterinary clinic or animal hospital, covering reception, examination, surgery, treatment, hospitalization and bathing areas.
Opening a veterinary clinic is mostly a sequencing problem. Equipment that arrives before the room is finished sits in the corridor, and equipment ordered late delays your opening date. This checklist organises the main items by room so you can plan procurement in the right order.
Start with the room plan, not the catalogue
Before choosing models, confirm the internal walls, door swings, drain positions and power outlets. Almost every item below is available in more than one size, and picking sizes after construction is finished limits your options and often forces compromises.
Examination and consultation room
- Examination table — fixed height, powered lift, or with an integrated scale depending on patient mix and staff preference.
- Instrument trolley for consumables and instruments within reach.
- Hand wash basin and clinical waste bins.
- Adequate task lighting above the table.
Surgery room
- Operating table — confirm height range, load capacity and whether you need Trendelenburg or lateral positioning.
- Surgical lighting and a stable instrument trolley.
- Anaesthesia and monitoring equipment.
- Storage that keeps sterile packs off the floor.
Operating tables are usually the longest-lead item in a surgery room, so specify them early.
Treatment and preparation room
- Treatment or wet-work table with drainage for wound flushing and dirty procedures.
- Instrument trolleys and mobile storage.
- Access to water, drainage and a sink.
Hospitalization and recovery area
- Veterinary cages or a modular cage bank sized for your patient mix.
- Separate area for infectious or isolation cases where possible.
- Therapy or oxygen-capable units if you handle critical cases.
- Easy-clean flooring and good ventilation.
For cage banks, decide the split between small, medium and large compartments before ordering. Mixed-size banks are usually more useful than uniform runs, and manufacturers offering custom veterinary equipment can build to your wall dimensions.
Bathing and grooming area
- Bathing tub — standard station or electric scissor-lift depending on staff handling and patient size.
- Non-slip access, splash protection and a rinse hose.
- Drying equipment and adequate drainage.
Reception, storage and support
- Reception desk, seating and a separate waiting area for cats where space allows.
- Lockable pharmaceutical storage and a refrigerator for vaccines.
- Linen, consumables and equipment spares storage.
- Cleaning point with drainage for mops and buckets.
Procurement sequence that avoids delays
- Finalise room plans and dimensions.
- Specify long-lead stainless steel items first: operating tables, cage banks and bathing tubs.
- Order examination, treatment and trolley items once room dimensions are fixed.
- Confirm export packing, delivery terms and installation requirements before shipment.
If several rooms are being fitted out at once, ordering from a single supplier reduces coordination work. Sinowise supplies cages, tables, tubs and trolleys as one package, and can review your floor plan before quoting. Send your plans through the contact form to start.