FAQs

If you have not called our office 2 hours prior to your appointment, and do not show up at the designated time, you may be charged a fee that must be paid prior to scheduling your next appointment. Missed appointments mean that another patient who needed medical care could not be seen. You must call our office at least 2 hours prior to your scheduled appointment to avoid this late fee.

Please do not email or message us that you cannot make your appointment or will be late via our website chat feature or Facebook, as they are not monitored 24/7.

We cannot, under any circumstances, accept medications for return for credit or as a donation once they have left our office. 

The wellness exam itself is $68.50. If your pet has an illness, injury, or other medical concern, the exam fee is $76.40.  To see vaccine costs, wellness screenings, etc., click HERE and scroll to Wellness Series.

An examination only (does not include diagnostics, medication, etc. - only the examination) is $76.40. Any pet with an "issue" - sickness, skin condition, injury, ear infection, etc. would be considered a sick pet.

We can get quite busy at times. It is best for both you and our staff if you have a designated appointment time with either the Kennel Technicians or the Veterinary Technicians or Assistants. Most pets require at least two technicians to perform a safe, stress-free nail trim, and when nail trims are scheduled, it saves time for both you and the technicians involved. All pets getting nail trims must be up to date on their rabies vaccination and have proof of current vaccination prior to making their appointment.

No, we do not. However, we DO offer our Preventive Health Care Plan, which gives our clients not only the benefit of the wellness care we recommend, but it helps clients to budget for their pet’s care by offering low monthly payments for their wellness care. The fees are discounted in the Plan, and it includes annual and semi-annual wellness exams, core vaccinations, flea, tick and heartworm prevention, as well as 2 deluxe baths for adult pets. These deluxe baths also include anal gland expression, ear cleaning, and nail trim. The Canine Bivalent Influenza vaccine (dogs only)is required for use of the Deluxe baths but is not included in the Plan. (Some people choose not to use the bath options.) We also have Puppy and Kitten Plans.

No, we do not.

Depending on the time of your emergency and the reason your pet needs to be seen, the emergency clinic may be the best choice for the health of your pet. We do not have a 24-hour clinic, meaning your pet will be alone after we leave for the night. Some pets require 24-hour observation, OR they may require treatment that we are unable to provide. During business hours, our veterinarian may refer you to an emergency hospital after stabilization for overnight or long-term care. Alternatively, upon your emergency call, we may refer your pet to the emergency vet in order for your pet to avoid a delay and for him/her to receive the appropriate care as quickly as possible. If we are about to close for the night, it is recommended you drive directly to the nearest emergency hospital. It is also recommended that you call and let them know you are on your way.

They are listed here on our Emergency page.

No, we do not provide a discount.

We offer multi-pet discounts in our Preventive Health Care Plans which gives our clients not only the benefit of the wellness care we recommend, but it helps clients to budget for their pet’s care by offering low monthly payments for their wellness care. The fees are discounted in the Plan, and it includes annual and semi-annual wellness exams, core vaccinations, flea, tick and heartworm prevention, as well as 2 deluxe baths. These deluxe baths also include anal gland expression, ear cleaning, and nail trim. The Canine Bivalent Influenza vaccine is required (dogs only) for use of the Deluxe baths, but is not included in the Plan. (Some people choose not to use the bath options.) We also have Puppy and Kitten Wellness Plans.

Yes. Boarding is charged per night.

Not at this time.

We cannot. We recommend, upon adopting a pet, that you research pet insurance BEFORE your pet needs it. Most will not cover pre-existing conditions, which is what will be determined if you bring your pet in for an examination after he’s already ill. We recommend Trupanion pet insurance.

Yes, we do! Refer a friend or relative who has never been here before, and they will receive a $10 credit for any services. YOU will earn a $10 credit on your (active) account. Your friend or relative MUST bring in one of our referral cards (with your name on it as the person who referred them) at the time of their visit in order to receive that credit. Regular fees apply for all services. Referral cards may be obtained at our front desk at any time!

Please see our Referral Program Page.

We no longer offer new client discounts unless accompanied by a referral card with the name of our client who referred them on it. With that signed referral card, the new client will receive the first exam for ONE pet free, and the person who referred them gets a $10 credit on their account. Any diagnostic testing, procedures, treatments and medications are at regular cost.

Please call us as soon as possible. We will be happy to reschedule your pet’s appointment. There may be someone who needs to get their pet seen by the doctor and we may be able to get them worked in if we know you are unable to make it.

If you will be longer than 5 minutes late, please call. It will likely be necessary to reschedule your appointment. Our doctors stay booked, and one late appointment can back up the entire schedule, making those clients who were on time wait longer than necessary.

We are unable to extend credit or offer financing. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. If payment may be an issue, we recommend applying for Care Credit prior to your visit. This may be done at www.carecredit.com. If you qualify, they offer 6 months interest-free financing for fees over $200. It can also be used for several human medical services. Payment for all services and medications is due at the time the services are rendered. Payment of one-half (1/2) the amount of estimated emergency services is due prior to treatment.

Likely not. Most human diseases are not transmittable to pets, and the opposite is usually true, as well.

Pets age faster than humans do. One year in a human’s life is equal to several in a pet’s life. A lot can change during that time. Since your pet’s life is shorter than yours, conditions that can pose health problems can come up more quickly. That is why we recommend yearly blood work. We can often find issues by reviewing blood work before those issues appear on physical examination. Blood work helps us treat or cure problems before they become more serious or even life-threatening. Our veterinarians also recommend blood work prior to surgical procedures to help ensure your pet's safety.

First of all, it’s the law. All pets must by vaccinated for rabies after they become 12 weeks of age. That first vaccine must be boostered a year after the first to stay current. After that, a rabies vaccine must be boostered every three years. For cats, it’s the same, unless you choose the PureVax rabies vaccine, which is given every year. If your unvaccinated pet should bite anyone, a quarantine period, anywhere from 10 days to 6 months may be ordered by Animal Control. There is no test for rabies that can be done while a pet is alive. For the safety of you and your pet, keep your pet’s rabies vaccination up to date!

In short, yes! Please watch these videos for answers to your questions!

Yes!

Please read more on our Blog

Starting prevention prior to a test can be harmful or even fatal to your pet. We also recommend yearly testing, even for those pets on heartworm medication. All medications have some kind of failure rate, whether it’s due to human forgetfulness, or a pet vomiting up the medication without the owner’s knowledge.

It is not as common, but we HAVE seen it in unvaccinated dogs as old as 8 years. Please ask your veterinarian what the best vaccine schedule is for your pet.

In short, no.

At AHS, we practice responsible medicine. We believe it is not responsible to give medication to a pet without seeing and examining the pet. What you think of as an infection might be something more involved or serious. Our job is to be an advocate for your pet, and prescribing medication that may not help or that might even be harmful to your pet is not good medicine. Prescribing medications for your pet without an examination is not in your or your pet’s best interests. A veterinarian is the best professional to determine proper treatment.

By law, treatment of a pet requires a doctor-patient relationship. We practice responsible veterinary medicine which means an examination must be done, in most cases, to correctly diagnose and treat the ailment.

While your pet may have ear mites, it may, instead, have an ear infection. Treating for ear mites doesn’t cure an inner ear infection and delaying treatment by treating for the wrong condition isn’t in your pet’s best interest. We often see an ear infection along with an ear mite infestation. Both would have to be treated to make the pet more comfortable. Untreated ear infections can lead to painful, messy ears, as well as damaged ear drums, hearing loss or ear hematomas, which may lead to surgery. Ears, like brakes on your car, are best treated as soon as a problem is observed, to avoid more expensive treatment. A follow-up exam will be scheduled to make sure the inner ear has healed and has been cleared of infection. This is important as, if the ear still has signs of infection, given a little time, the cycle will start all over again.

Please read Dr. Christy's DocTalk Blogs on these subjects.

CBD: CBD Blog

Essential Oils: Essential Oils Blog

Your pet may truly be constipated. However, it is also possible that he has a bowel obstruction or may actually have diarrhea. Your pet should be examined by a veterinarian in order to provide the appropriate remedy or care.

We recommend not to. Some foods can cause gastrointestinal upsets such as vomiting or diarrhea, and some may cause life-threatening conditions like pancreatitis or organ failure. Feeding table food can also cause your dog to prefer it over his balanced dog food. Feeding your dog table food may also contribute to obesity, which is one our most common health concerns for pets.

No, we do not. However, we DO have a pill that controls heartworms, fleas, ticks and most intestinal parasites. It is called Simparica Trio. Your pet would need a heartworm test to use that medication. We DO recommend keeping your pet on heartworm medication year-round. That would solve both the heartworm and the external/internal parasite issue. We also have a product called Bravecto, which is a pill that controls fleas and ticks for 3 months. Simparica (not Trio) is a monthly oral flea and tick control. Both Bravecto and Simparica require a prescription, and a doctor/patient relationship. If you would like either of these, we can schedule your pet for a free basic examination to get a prescription. While topicals are not as effective as the oral medications, we still offer Advantix II. It is available without a prescription or an exam. It, like the other products listed, must be used year-round! For more information on controlling fleas, please watch the video detailed below.

Thousands of pets go missing every year. Many of those pets are not returned to their homes. Microchips are permanent forms of ID that substantially increase the chances that your pet will be returned to you. That alone makes it worth providing your pet with a microchip. Even if you always accompany your pet outdoors, things can happen – He slips out of his harness or collar, someone leaves the door open, or the gate to your yard open. Storms can damage your house, leaving an opening for a pet to escape. If your pet travels with you, they may dart out of the car when you open the door. OR, if you are in a car accident, your pet may leave the scene of the accident. Prepare your pet for the unforeseen. You’ll never regret microchipping your pet, but you may regret NOT microchipping him or her.

No, we do not. While flea dips were once a temporary solution to flea control, we now have much better and safer products than the dips. Dips only kill the fleas that are on them during the dipping process. There is no lasting effect. Modern products are safer, more effective, and last from 1 to 3 months.

The best way to tell if dry & hot noses mean that your dog is not feeling well is to take his or her temperature. We do that by using a thermometer – (please – just use it for your dog only). A normal temperature for a dog is between about 100 and 102.5. If your dog is very excited, it may exceed 102.5. That being said, if your pet is not acting like he or she feels well, there may be cause for concern, regardless of your pet’s temperature. Is he eating? Playful? Lethargic? Vomiting? Diarrhea? If you suspect your pet is not feeling well, regardless of how his nose feels, a visit to the veterinarian is recommended. If you have immediate concerns, please call our office for an appointment. If you are worried about your pet, an appointment with the doctor can help put your mind at ease.

Yes. Many diseases, both human and pet-related, have been almost eradicated by vaccination. Parvo and distemper in dogs, and feline distemper and leukemia in cats as well as rabies in both species are the most common deadly diseases that can be completely avoided by following proper vaccination protocols.