Frequently Asked Questions
Appointments & New Patients
Yes, we are accepting new patients at this time.
Call our animal hospital directly or go on our website and use the widget to request an appointment online.
All previous veterinary records (vaccine records, diagnostics, doctors’ notes, etc.) should be brought to your first appointment at our animal hospital.
You should book a standard wellness exam about 2-4 weeks in advance depending on the time of year.
Emergency & After-Hours Care
A pet emergency that may require immediate care includes known acute ingestions of toxic substances, respiratory distress, acute collapse, multiple seizures in a row, protracted and excessive vomiting and/or diarrhea, or male feline patients straining to urinate with no production. Please call our team for guidance.
We can often accommodate pet emergencies during our regular business hours. Please call our animal hospital to see if we are able to see your pet or if we need to refer you to a trusted nearby emergency veterinarian.
We recommend taking your pet to Metropolitan Veterinary Associates and Hickory Veterinary Hospital when our hospital is closed.
Billing & Payment
We accept cash, check, all major credit cards, and CareCredit as forms of payment.
We offer CareCredit, an affordable, monthly payment solution for routine and unexpected veterinary costs.
No, we do not process pet insurance claims directly. Payment is required at the time services are rendered, and then submit the receipts/records as needed for reimbursement by your pet insurance company.
General Wellness
Your pet should have a wellness exam at least once yearly for pets between 1 and 10 years old, and possibly every 6 months for senior pets depending on their health status.
If you have questions about scheduling your pet’s spay or neuter surgery, we recommend discussing your concerns with your veterinarian as age and breed can factor into the decision.
There are a variety of cat and dog vaccinations that are recommended based on lifestyle. As puppies and kittens, boosters are given every 3-4 weeks until the pet is around 18-20 weeks old. Distemper/parvo, lepto, and rabies are considered “core” vaccines in dogs (meaning they’re recommended for all dogs regardless of lifestyle), and rabies and FVRCPare considered “core” in cats. Other vaccines can be given based on risk of disease and lifestyle. You can discuss this with your veterinarian during your pet’s next appointment.
There are a variety of options for flea, tick and heartworm protection for pets. Your veterinarian will discuss the best option for your pet. We recommend both flea and tick and heartworm protection all year round to keep your pet safe.
Diet & Weight
The best type of food to feed your pet depends greatly on the pet’s breed and any medical conditions they may have. Your veterinarian can discuss this with you during your pet’s next appointment.
Your veterinarian can evaluate your pet’s body condition score and discuss their findings with you.
Your veterinarian can recommend the best strategies for changing and/or reducing your pet’s diet to safely and effectively promote weight loss.
There are a variety of options for flea, tick and heartworm protection for pets. Your veterinarian will discuss the best option for your pet. We recommend both flea and tick and heartworm protection all year round to keep your pet safe.
Dental Health
Signs of dental problems in pets include halitosis (bad breath), red or inflamed gums, loose teeth, difficulty chewing or dropping food.
Because every pet is unique, the recommended frequency of professional dental cleanings depends on their species, breed, and age. Your pet’s teeth should be evaluated by your veterinarian at least once yearly, and more often for pets with known dental disease.
At-home dental care is just as important to maintain your pet’s dental health between appointments with our team. Daily brushing is one of the most effective ways to prevent plaque and tartar accumulation.
Symptom-Related Questions
These symptoms are vague and can be difficult to pinpoint the significance of, since they may relate to a number of conditions. If the lethargy is severe, prolonged or the pet is in any sort of distress, it should be seen by a veterinarian.
A dry, honking cough is often caused by kennel cough, or Bordetella, a bacteria that is airborne and easily spread. It tends to be much more common in pets that board, groom, or go to daycare and regularly interact with other animals. A persistent cough may also indicate an underlying lung or heart condition. For this reason, any dog with a cough should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
The best way to tell if your pet has fleas is to move the hair back and check for fleas or flea dirt (little black specks). Fleas like to live by the tail based, hind legs, belly, and face. There are many other causes for itching, so you should consult with your veterinarian if the itching is moderate to severe and/or if you see hair loss or skin lesions.
There are a variety of environmental (e.g. heat/high temperatures) and metabolic factors, or diseases that can cause excessive drinking and urination. Your pet will likely need to be seen in-office for an exam, weight check, bloodwork, and urine sample testing.
If your pet’s injury is recent and you can gently touch the leg without causing pain or noticing significant swelling, a fracture is less likely. In these cases, it is usually safe to wait until later that day or the next day for a veterinary exam.
If you find a lump or bump on your pet, it will need to be examined and possibly tested (via a needle aspirate) to determine if it is necessary to be removed.
One episode of vomiting or diarrhea is generally not considered an emergency, unless it is accompanied by a significant change in your pet’s activity level or alertness. Contact your veterinarian if there are multiple episodes of one or both things.