FAQs – General Veterinary

We accept cash, debit, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and CareCredit. Please note that payment is due at the time services are performed.

Some signs, such as limping are a clear indicator of pain, but some signs are more subtle. Look for symptoms such as excessive vocalization, lack of appetite, change in behavior or normal habits, and lethargy. Call us right away if your pet is showing signs of illness, injury, or pain.

If your pet is having an emergency during our hospital hours, please call us at 540-894-4572 or bring them to our hospital located at 11012 Kentucky Springs Road in Mineral, Virginia.

If your pet has an emergency after hours, please contact one of the following emergency facilities in our area:

Richmond
Dogwood Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center
5918 West Broad Street
Richmond Virginia 23230
804-716-4700 (For Emergencies)
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Veterinary Referral and Critical Care
1596 Hockett Road
Manakin-Sabot, Virginia 23103
804-784-8722
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Charlottesville
Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital
370 Greenbrier Dr., Suite A-2
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434-202-1616
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Best ages will vary depending on size and breed. Please call us for more information.

Vaccinations are an important part of keeping your pet healthy. Regular vaccines keep your pet safe from preventable infectious diseases. During your pet’s wellness exam, our veterinarians will develop a vaccine schedule tailored to your pet that will prevent illness and disease.

Kennel cough is easily transmitted from dog to dog and spread through the air. It is caused by viruses and/or bacteria that affect the respiratory system of dogs. The best way to reduce the severity of the disease is by frequent vaccination. There are several types of vaccinations available to treat kennel cough.

We recommend annual blood work to detect infections and diseases, helping us to prevent disease early on. In many situations, early detection is essential for more effective treatment. The type of blood work will be determined specifically for each pet depending on his or her individual needs. This annual blood test is convenient to do at the time of your pet’s annual heartworm test, but it can be done at any time of year.

Our in-house pharmacy has a large selection of prescription medications and therapeutic diets for your family pet. Our staff members can help you select the best medication, choose the proper dosage, and provide information on side effects or interactions. Contact us immediately if your pet experiences an adverse reaction, or if you have any questions or concerns regarding a prescription medication.

Heartworm disease is a serious disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes and can be fatal if left untreated. Our veterinarians recommend that all dogs be given year-round heartworm prevention, regardless of their lifestyle.

Dogs can become extremely sick if placed on heartworm prevention while they have a severe heartworm disease. Even if they have been on heartworm prevention year-round there is always the possibility that the product may have failed for various reasons (your pet spit out the pill, did not absorb the pill appropriately, topical medicine was not applied properly, forgot to administer medication on time, etc.) and the earlier we can treat your pet for heartworm disease, the better the prognosis. Some companies will guarantee their product providing that you use the heartworm prevention year-round and are performing yearly heartworm test.

No. Heartworm disease is a blood-borne disease that is transmitted through mosquitoes. A routine blood test will confirm whether your dog has heartworm disease.

Yearly professional dental exams, tooth scaling, and polishing are necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums for your pet. Oral diseases can have a negative impact on your pet’s overall health; therefore it’s important that your pet receives a dental exam by our veterinarians on a regular basis.

Regular at-home dental care is recommended to help maintain your pet’s oral and overall health. Home dental care for your pet should start early, even before their adult teeth come in. Pet owners should brush their pet’s teeth frequently as tooth brushing is the best method of preventing plaque, calculus, and bacterial build-up. There are also additional options for at-home dental care such as dental formulated foods, water additives, and dental treat.