What are the clinic hours?
Our clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, and are closed on weekends.
For after-hours emergencies, please call our office number 509-925-2833, and option 1 will connect you with the on-call doctor. Please leave a message if your call is not picked up, as the doctor may be assessing another emergency. They will call you back as soon as they can.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes, patients are only seen by appointment unless your pet is having an emergency. If we have a full appointment schedule, our staff may ask if you would like to drop your pet off to be worked into our schedule.
We do our best to set aside multiple urgent appointment slots in our daily schedule, however, we are not always able to accommodate every pet in need. Once we hit our limit of patients that we can see in a day, we may refer additional urgent or emergency situations to the nearest emergency clinic.
What is your payment policy?
Payment in full is expected and appreciated at the time of service. We accept cash, checks and debit cards as well as VISA, Mastercard and Discover cards.
How old should my pet be before spaying or neutering is performed?
A pet may be spayed or neutered at almost any age, as long their reproductive organs have developed. However, the typical range in which most pets undergo surgical altering is between 2-6 months of age. If any additional questions remain please feel free to direct them to one of our veterinarians or visit the AVMA’s (American Veterinary Medical Association) website on pet health and sterilization at http://www.avma.org/communications/brochures/spay-neuter/spay-neuter_brochure.asp
Can I get medications without bringing my pet in for an examination?
By law, we cannot dispense or provide prescription medication without seeing and diagnosing your pet’s condition. However, please feel free call the hospital and we would be happy to schedule an appointment for your pet at the next available time. There are some non-prescription medications that do not require an examination.
When do I start vaccinating my pet and which vaccines are needed?
DOGS: DHLPP – (Canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus) – This vaccine is begun at 6 to 8 weeks and is given every 3 weeks until they are 14 or more weeks old. It is boostered in 1 year and then every 3 years thereafter, though intervals may be adjusted based on the veterinarians recommendation. Bordetella – May be given any time at 6 weeks or older as a single administration and continued as needed based on exposure, boarding, etc. Rabies – Given at 4 to 6 months of age, boostered in 1 year then every 3 years thereafter. Other vaccines such as Lyme disease, rattlesnake toxoid, leptospirosis are available as needed CATS: FVRCP-FELV (Feline distemper, respiratory disease viruses, Feline Leukemia Virus) – Begin at 8 weeks of age, repeat in 1 month then at 1 year and 3 years thereafter, or as recommended by the veterinarian. Rabies – Given at 4 to 6 months, repeated in 1 year then every 3 years thereafter.
When does a cat/dog go into heat?
The “heat” or estrus cycle is the mating period for female animals. On average cats will have their first heat cycle beginning at 6 months. The heat cycle will typically occur every two weeks during breeding season, until a pregnancy occurs. A dog’s first heat cycle normally begins between 6-12 months of age, although it varies. A dog will enter estrus approximately twice a year. The “in heat” period may last up to 21 days. Note: These are only guidelines. If you wish to discuss specific situations or concerns please inform the veterinarian at your next appointment.
What is the pre-anesthetic blood screening?
This is a set of blood tests available both in hospital and sent out to one of our partner laboratories and is done prior to undergoing anesthesia for surgery. It is available to all pets and is strongly recommended for older patients. It tests the organ functions and blood cell counts of your pet. The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to assure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery.
We strongly encourage owners to ask any and all questions regarding pre-anesthetic lab work. We recommend it be performed prior to any of our patients undergoing general anesthesia, and therefore are doing our best to keep cost manageable for everyone.
