Appointments
To better facilitate patient flow, we request that clients arrive a few minutes prior to their appointments. This allows our reception staff to update your personal information and check your pet in. If you or your pet is new to us, we’d appreciate you arriving ten to fifteen minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. This allows for the time you need to fill out the necessary paperwork associated with your pet’s visit, and the time we need to enter it into our computers. You can also print out our client and pet information sheets from this website to expedite your check in process. These pages can also be found in our frequently asked questions section.
Payment Options
We are a pay at service clinic, and do not offer any payment plans. We accept credit, debit, cash, checks, and Apple Pay. We do also accept CareCredit, a credit card designed to pay for out-of-pocket health and wellness expenses including veterinarian care. More information and applications can be found at CareCredit.com.
Small Animal Surgeries
Admissions for standard small animal surgeries such as spays, neuters, and dentistries can be done between 7:45 and 8:30 am the day of surgery. Arrangements can be made to have your pet dropped off the night before as well.
Admitting times for non-routine surgeries should be discussed with your pet’s doctor or another staff member as these will vary depending on the surgery. Certainly, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
When dropping off your pet for surgery, please plan on spending ten to fifteen minutes filling out pre-surgical paperwork and admitting your pet. While we recognize that this may be somewhat inconvenient, it is very important that we have the information that we request at this time to ensure the safety and proper care of your pet. If you would like, we can fax or e-mail most of this paperwork to you to further expedite your pet’s check-in.
Surgery Preparation
For routine surgical procedures, such as spays, neuters, dentistries and mass removals, your pet should not be given access to food for twelve hours prior to surgery. We recommend taking your pet’s food away by 10:00 PM the night before surgery. It is okay for them to have water at any time. If your pet is admitted the night before surgery, we’ll see to it that food is withheld appropriately.
Breeding Your Dog
Breeding can be costly and risky. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize how much work, time, and expense is involved in the process of breeding.
The first thing that you must consider is whether your pet should be bred. Most pets, although lovable, are not of breeding quality. Genetic defects and other problems should not be perpetuated, because they can cause serious medical problems for future generations. People who breed dogs for a living are very careful about choosing which dogs they will breed based on physical characteristics and behavior.
Some people decide that it would be fun to breed and just start looking for a dog that has the proper equipment and is willing. This can be a huge mistake. Breeding your pet is a serious endeavor and should not be taken lightly. There are far too many pets that end up in shelters without good homes. If your breed of dog has large litters, what will you do if you are unable to sell the puppies? Do you want to contribute to the pet overpopulation problem?
In addition, there are many good reasons not to breed your dog. First, for the dog’s own health. Male dogs that are neutered are less likely to be hit by cars. This is primarily due to the fact that male dogs have a very strong urge to roam and find a fertile female. Male dogs will go over or under fences, through doors and windows, and will pull leashes out of unsuspecting hands. Additionally, neutering greatly reduces the incidence of prostatic disease and testicular cancer.
Similar health benefits are found by spaying your female dog. If you have your female spayed before a year of age you greatly decrease her chances of developing breast cancer. Additionally, you eliminate the possibility of uterine infections and cancer. Another benefit is that you will not have to clean up after a messy heat cycle, or chase persistent male dogs out of your yard.
If you still feel that you want to breed your pet, note that dogs should be tested for a contagious disease called brucellosis prior to breeding. Not only does this disease cause spontaneous abortion in dogs, but humans can contract it as well. There is a blood test to screen for this disease that can be done by your veterinarian. Because dogs can carry this disease without showing any outward signs, screening for brucellosis is important.
Ear Infections
An ear infection is a common ailment in dogs, especially if they have skin conditions or allergies. Most owners will not pick up on the symptoms of an ear infection until the dog’s symptoms are severe. The earlier an infection is detected and treated, the faster the dog will recover, and the less pain and discomfort it will have to endure.
It is recommended that you thoroughly check your companion on a regular basis. This good habit will allow you to detect problems sooner and will teach your dog to cooperate during an examination. It will be much easier to treat your pet for an illness if it has already become accustomed to having you touch various parts of its body.
To evaluate the ears, you should look at how your dog holds its head. Is it holding its head normally, or is it tilting it slightly to one side? Are both of the ears being held in the same position, or is one drooping more than the other? Is the dog scratching its ears more than usual? The best test is to lift the earflap and smell. If you detect a foul odor, chances are that an ear infection is present or is about to occur. If the infection is severe, you may even be able to see redness within the ear canal, as well as infective debris draining from the ear. Infected ears are extremely painful, so be gentle when checking them. You can tie a tube sock around your dog’s muzzle to discourage biting, but do not put yourself in danger if your dog is showing its teeth.
If you detect any abnormalities, or your dog won’t allow you to examine its ears, you should schedule the first available veterinary appointment. The veterinarian will determine the best course of action based on your dog’s level of pain and the stage of the disease.
After the acute stage of an ear infection is controlled, it is important to properly clean your dog’s ears. An experienced animal health provider can teach you how to do this. Regular ear cleanings may prevent ear infections from occurring in the future. This is especially necessary if your dog swims a great deal, since excessive moisture in the ear can lead to infection.
Dog Diarrhea
Diarrhea in dogs can be a common, yet concerning issue. It often resolves on its own, but it’s important to monitor your dog and provide the right care to ensure their health and comfort. Please read Managing Diarrhea in Your Dog: A Helpful Guide to help you understand and manage diarrhea in your dog.
You should contact your veterinarian if your dog shows any of the following signs:
- Diarrhea lasts more than 48 hours
- Vomiting accompanies the diarrhea
- Blood or mucus in stool
- Lethargy or weakness
- Loss of appetite or refusal to drink water
