Oak Ridge Veterinary Hospital- Frequently Asked Questions

We currently do not allow payment plans at Oak Ridge Veterinary Hospital. Payment is expected when your animal is seen or when you pick you pet up after a surgical procedure. We have applications on site so that you may apply for CareCredit for your pet if a payment plan is needed.

We are unable to accurately answer this question without first seeing your pet. The office visit and exam costs around $48.00, however the rest of the fees depend on what needs to be done with your pet and what kind of medicine, if any, your pet needs. If you bring your animal in for an exam and further treatment and/or testing is needed our doctors are happy to provide you with an estimate at that time showing the costs for the treatment they recomend for your pet at that time.

No, we do not allow for boarding pickups on Sunday. We only discharge animals during our normal business hours; Monday thru Friday from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm and on Saturdays from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm. Please try and arrive before 5:00 pm Monday through Friday for drop offs or pick ups. This helps our staff stay on schedule and ensures that you will get your pet dropped off before we close. If you arrive right at 6:00pm Monday through Friday it is possible that we will already be closed and you will not be able to drop off your pet for boarding until we open the next morning.

We recomend that you make boarding reservations at least two weeks in advance. Our kennels often fill faster around the holidays so it is best to book those as soon as you know you will be out of town. Please do not wait until the last minute to call and make boarding reservations. If you want to make reservations several months ahead of your trip you are more than welcome to do so but please call us one to two weeks before your trip to make sure the reservation is still in our computer system.

We recommend spaying or neutering your pet between 5 and 6 months of age. Spaying and neutering helps cut back on increases in the pet population and it can also increase the life span of your pet. Many pet owners do not realize that their pets can get ovarian, testicular, and mammary cancer. Spaying or neutering can decrease the chances of your pet getting these, and similar, illnesses.

Pets that come in for routine surgery stay with us at least one night after their surgery. If your pet comes in for surgery on a Monday they will stay with us Monday night and would be ready to go home Tuesday morning after 10:00am.

Our doctors recommend that they are on a name brand (not store brand like Ol’ Roy, Pet Pride, etc) puppy food for the first year. After the first year they should be switched to an adult food. At seven your pet is considered a senior and should be switched to a senior food. We also recommend that large breed puppies and dogs to be fed a large breed formula food.

While ear mites could be causing your pet to scratch his ears alot, this is most likely not the case. Most of the time scratching at the ears indicates the presence of an ear infection. Infected ears are often red, irritated, and have a yeasty odor. The best way to find out if your pet has ear mites or an infection is to bring them in and let a doctor examine the ears.

Our practice recomends year round heartworm preventative. When a pet has been off of heartworm prevention for several months we recommend testing for heartworms before starting them back on heartworm prevention. Starting a dog on heartworm prevention without testing first can cause major health problems if the dog is heartworm positive. How prevalent is heartworm disease? In 2001, more than 244,000 dogs in the U.S. tested positive for heartworms. Heartworm disease is a serious, and sometimes fatal, disease with an expensive and debilitating treatment. Using a heartworm preventative is the smart and affordable way to keep your dog heartworm-free. Flea and tick prevention is good to use year round but not necessary. During the winter months there are not as many, if any, fleas and ticks, therefore it is not necessary to use flea and tick prevention.

Mosquitoes transmit heartworm larvae from infected dogs to healthy dogs. The larvae then make their way through the bloodstream and into the heart where they begin to mature into adult heartworms. Adult heartworms live in the hearts and lungs of dogs and cats. Left untreated heartworm disease may be fatal but signs to watch out for of heartworm infection in dogs include: difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, lethargy, and sudden death. If your dog has shown some of these symptoms and you are concerned about heartworm disease contact us today to set up a heartworm test.

90% of all puppies are infected with roundworms. Dogs of any age can get roundworms from an environment contaminated by the feces of infected animals. Roundworms live in the intestines of infected dogs, causing obstructions and depriving them of nutrients. Serious infections may be fatal to puppies. Signs of roundworm infection in dogs include: diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing, dull scruffy coat, and “Pot Belly”. Though not as common as roundworms, hookworms are potentially more lethal. Hookworms feed on the intestinal walls of your dog. Dogs may be infected with hookworms by ingesting eggs or larvae in contaminated soil or feces. Hookworm larvae also infect dogs by penetrating directly through their skin. Signs of hookworm infection in dogs include: dark or bloody diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, weight loss, and sudden death.

Feline AIDS is caused by infection with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). FIV causes a potentially fatal viral disease that interferes with the immune system of a cat. The virus lives in the blood of the infected cat and is carried in its system throughout its life. Cats infected with FIV may remain healthy for up to 10 years. While some infected cats show no signs of disease, others may display initial symptoms, such as…
• fever
• loss of appetite
• diarrhea
• lethargy
• poor hair coat

FIV is spread from cat to cat primarily through bite wounds since the virus is shed in high levels through saliva. An actual bite wound is an integral part of the disease transmission. Although rare, it is possible for a mother to pass the infection on to her unborn fetus.

Feline leukemia is a serious disease in cats caused by a virus infection. It is a complex disease where leukemia (cancer of white blood cells) and cancerous tumors are only a small part. Other symptoms of feline leukemia include anemia, atrophy of the thymus gland, ulcers of the mouth, skin lesions, reproductive problems (such as miscarriages and weak or dying kittens), chronic digestive problems, and respiratory problems.
Feline leukemia is spread by direct contact with infected cats. It is usually transmitted thru the saliva but low levels of the virus can also be found in urine and feces. Licking, biting, and sneezing are common forms of transmission. Food dishes, water dishes, and litter boxes are likely sources of infections if healthy cats share them with infected cats.

The top 4 reasons to test your pet before anesthesia:

• You deserve peace of mind. Testing can significantly reduce medical risk and ensure your pet’s health and safety.

• Pets can’t tell us when they don’t feel well. A healthy-appearing pet may be hiding symptoms of a disease or ailment. For example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any visible signs of illness. Testing helps us evaluate your pet’s health up front so we can avoid problems related to anesthesia.

• Testing can reduce risk and consequences. If preanesthetic results are within normal ranges we can proceed knowing that anesthetic risk is minimized. On the other hand if results are not within the normal range, we can alter the anesthetic procedure, or take other precautions to safeguard your pet’s health and reduce the risk of potential complications.

• Testing can help protect your pet’s future health. These tests provide baseline levels for your pet and become part of his or her medical record for future reference.

We recomend that puppies and kittens recieve three sets of shots spaced three weeks apart. We will deworm usually with the first and second set of shots. We like to start shots at 6 weeks of age and finish the shots when your pet is at least 12 weeks old.