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Frequently Asked Questions and Helpful Information About Your Visit

Do I have to make an appointment?
 
Making an appointment is always preferred. This allows our hospital to manage our time well and provide you and your pet with the attention you both deserve.

 

Do you offer boarding or grooming services for my pet?
 
We do not offer boarding or grooming services. 
 
 
What is the drop off procedure on the day of my pet's surgery or dental cleaning?
 
Please bring your pet to the hospital between 7:15am-7:30am. Plan to spend 10 minutes or so with a technician to answer your questions, review your pet's surgery, sign our consent forms, and discuss a time for pick up.
 
Please withold food after 9pm the night before your pet's surgery.

 

How much will my annual visit cost?
 
Every pet's visit is unique and tailored to your pet's health conditions, vaccine needs, and even your lifestyle. We understand that shopping around is a great way to find the best pricing for your family, but remember; the treatment plans you recieve are not always 'apples to apples'.
 
Be sure to inquire if the vaccines quoted are 1 year or 3 year ... this is the most common misunderstanding when shopping around. One doctor may seem less expensive than another, but you'll find that the vaccine quoted is only good for one year. Three year vaccines are a better value, and better for your pet in that they are vaccinated less frequently.
 
Ask about the office visit or exam fee as well. Often times a low exam fee is a simply a loss leader and you may be overcharged for other services.
 
If your pet needs surgery, be sure to ask about what is included. Important factors such as pre-anesthestic bloodwork, placement of an IV catheter, and IV fluid administration during your pet's procedure all alter the cost of a surgery. Again, make sure you're comparing equal services.
 
 
 

 

What will the veterinarian check during a wellness examination?
 
During a routine examination, your veterinarian will ask you questions about your pet's diet, exercise, thirst, breathing, behavior, habits, elimination patterns, lifestyle, and general health. He or she will also perform a physical examination of your pet.
 
Based on your pet's history and the examination, your veterinarian will make recommendations for specific preventive medicine treatments such as vaccination, parasite control (including preventive treatments for fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites nd heartworms), nutrition, skin and coat care, weight management or dental care.

 Why can't I return unused medication, even when it has not been opened?

 
Florida law clearly states that prescription drugs sold by a veterinary prescription drug retail establishment pursuant to a practitioner's order may not be returned into the retail establishment's inventory.  The concept behind that is that retail pharmacies including her own practice cannot take back prescriptions  because they cannot verify and validate  that the  identity, strength, quality, purity, or potency of the drug product is what is on the label and therefore the safety or effectiveness is in question.  In addition, once the medication leaves with the patient the prescriber has no assurance that the product was stored properly which again could affect the identity, strength, quality, purity, or potency of the drug product.  Click here to view the FDA web page regarding proper disposal of medications. Locally, Cypress Pharmacy participates in the "Dispose My Meds" program where you can drop off expired or unwanted prescription medications. 
 
What else might be checked during my pet's wellness examination?
 
Your veterinarian will recommend that a fresh sample of your pet's feces (bowel movement) is examined as part of every wellness exam. This sample will be processed and microscopically evaluated for the presence of parasite eggs. He or she will also recommend heartworm testing on a schedule that is appropriate for your geographical part of the country.
 
Early Detection Bloodwork is also generally recommended.
 
Some typcial blood work screens include a CBC (complete blood count), biochemistry panel, urinalysis, and thyroid hormone testing. Within each catagory, your veterinarian will advise as to how extensive the testing should be.
 
Why do we recommend this testing?
 
Pets cannot tell you how they are feeling, and as a result, disease may be present before you are aware of it. To further complicate matters, as part of their survival instincts, most pets will hide signs of subclinical disease (i.e., a disease that is in its early stages and is only causing minimal symptoms). This means a health condition can become highly advanced before your pets shows any obvious or recognizable problems.

 

What payment methods are accepted?
 
We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, Cash, Checks, Care Credit and ScratchPay. We do not offer payment plans or have in house charge accounts.

 

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