FAQs

We accept cash, credit cards, Cherry, CareCredit, and All Pet Card.

We treat dogs, cats, small mammals (rodents, rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, and so on), birds (including chickens and ducks), and reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles, and so on). If you have a different kind of pet, just call and ask — we’ve even treated kangaroos!

Unfortunately, we do not take after-hours emergencies. We recognize the difficulty of travel during an emergency, but we simply are not equipped for after-hours care. We recommend calling:

• Thrive Mansfield: (817) 473-7838
• For exotics, Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas: (817) 410-2273

We recommend Cherry, CareCredit, or All Pet Card.

It’s the law. The FDA “requires animal examination and/or medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal(s) are kept” and this requirement “cannot be met solely through telemedicine.”

No. You can pay over the phone or we can text a payment link, and then have a relative or friend pick up your pet if you can’t make it on time.

Yes, we are appointment-based only. With our busy schedule, we cannot treat walk-ins and still provide the high-quality care we strive for.

Yes. We can easily email records to your personal email or to another veterinary clinic. If another clinic calls for records, we will contact you (the owner) for permission before sending them.

We have an online pharmacy through our hospital (Vetcove), where prices are very comparable to Chewy! If you’d still like to get medication from a different pharmacy, we can give you a paper prescription to pick up and take to the pharmacy of your choosing. We are not able to fax or call in prescriptions.

We don’t recommend other pharmacies because human pharmacies sometimes misinterpret our notations, thinking that the strength or dose should be like a human’s instead of an animal’s. Many online pharmacies don’t get their products directly from the manufacturer or don’t guarantee proper storage conditions. In fact, manufacturers frequently won’t guarantee products purchased through many online pharmacies.

Keep in mind that many preventative manufacturers provide rebates for us to offer when you purchase through us (whether in person or through our online pharmacy).

No.

No. We also do not recommend it — if a dog is not healthy enough to breed on its own, it isn’t a responsible decision to pass on those genetics.

We will remove dewclaws on puppies less than 3 days old that we have had a prenatal relationship with. After 3 days of age, it must be done under general anesthesia — we can do it at the time of a spay/neuter.

Hind dewclaws, except for certain breeds, are generally problematic (they get snagged on carpet, etc.), so we recommend removing them. Front dewclaws are usually more fully formed and less dangly, so they can usually be left in place.

Only for medical reasons, like trauma or cancer. In certain breeds, we will dock tails on puppies less than 3 days old that we have had a prenatal relationship with.

No.

Yes. A detailed conversation about the pros and cons can be discussed with our medical staff. Alternate options include regular nail trims, scratch posts in multiple locations, Soft Paws, and Feliway.

No. We recommend kennel training so they don’t bark while you are away. Separation anxiety requires training and sometimes medication.

No.

No. We are only able to evaluate animals in the clinic environment, which is very different from how a dog acts when left at home or defending its territory.

Every country has its own rules and guidelines for accepting animals. We will refer you to an expert in our area so you have the most up-to-date guidance.

First, once a pet reaches 3 years of age, it’s best for the “annual” visit to happen every 6 months. At this point, the pet is equivalent in age to 20–26 human years, so visiting once every calendar year is like a human going 6 or 7 years between doctor visits. That’s why we prefer to call these “wellness visits.”

We can’t put a set cost on a wellness visit because one pet’s needs may be very different from another’s. Our doctors and technicians will discuss your and your pet’s lifestyles to determine which vaccines and blood tests are appropriate, and we’ll ensure your pet receives parasite prevention that best fits your needs.

We will have already made sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations and performed a full physical to be sure your pet can handle the surgery. Your pet should be fasting for at least 8 hours before your check-in appointment and should not have water after midnight. A responsible adult over the age of 18 must bring the pet for check-in.

Once the procedure is completed, a technician will call you to let you know your pet’s status. Some procedures are day surgeries, while others require an overnight stay so we can continue to monitor recovery. We will send you detailed instructions to ensure your pet has the safest experience.

We also offer check-in the afternoon before surgery at no additional cost. Your pet will stay overnight with us and be ready for surgery in the morning without you having to worry about proper feeding and watering.

It’s a very hard decision. There are a few ways to look at it, and we have resources on our End of Life page. Some things to consider:

• When the bad days outnumber the good days
• When a pet can no longer do the things it normally enjoys (walks, fetch, playing)
• When pain medication isn’t enough to keep the animal comfortable
• When you can no longer keep an animal clean due to incontinence
• When an older animal bites due to uncontrolled pain or dementia
• When an animal can’t have surgery for a painful condition and we can’t manage the pain any other way
• Aggressive animals that have injured people or other animals

No. Being put to sleep is no more stressful for your pet than getting a vaccine. A staff member will be petting and talking to your animal while it passes, so it won’t be alone. You should only be present if it will help you mourn.

Every child is different. For some kids, being present helps them get closure. Other kids may find it disturbing to watch their pet pass away. If children are present, the vet will explain the process in simple terms to help them understand what is happening.

No, but we can bring the dog in on a stretcher. You can also come in and out of the side door, or we can schedule it in the morning so you have more privacy.

The medication used to euthanize animals is also deadly to humans, so we want to give the injection in the most controlled environment possible to reduce risk for our staff. If the dog is aggressive, we can prescribe medication to sedate him before you bring him in. In special circumstances, other options can be discussed.

No. We recommend Lap of Love or Sunset Vets for that service.

No. The medication is given by IV injection and is illegal to prescribe.

Before your pet’s body leaves the clinic, we attach a metal ID tag linked to a barcode. The cremation/aquamation company scans this barcode before every step of the process to make sure the right ashes get back to you. We’ve worked extensively with this company and have always been impressed by their attention to detail and organization.

Sure, but it isn’t easy to find a taxidermist willing to preserve pets.

Some cities have specific requirements, but many people choose this option. Pets should be buried very deep so that wildlife don’t dig them up — this can also cause poisoning due to the medication used to euthanize pets. If this is what you decide to do, we will place your pet in a specially designed bag that decomposes for home burial use.

• To reduce the risk of cancer
• To reduce aggression
• To improve focus during training
• To reduce escaping and roaming
• To prevent unwanted litters

*Dogs that are kept intact for breeding should be fixed as soon as they are done being bred.

• To reduce the risk of cancer
• To eliminate the risk of pyometra (a common, deadly uterus infection)
• To reduce dog fights
• So you don’t have to deal with a dog in heat
• To reduce escaping and roaming
• To prevent unwanted litters

*Dogs that are kept intact for breeding should be fixed as soon as they are done being bred.

• To reduce unwanted behaviors like spraying urine
• To reduce escaping and roaming
• To reduce cat fights
• To reduce unwanted litters
• To reduce the smell!

• To prevent unwanted litters
• To reduce escaping and roaming
• To reduce the risk of cancer
• So you don’t have to deal with a cat in heat and the behavior changes that go along with it
• To reduce cat fights

A spay (ovariohysterectomy) or neuter is as invasive and potentially serious for an animal as it is for a human. This procedure is not the same for every pet — factors include the pet’s age and weight at time of surgery, as well as other health conditions. For these reasons, we must examine the pet before providing a treatment plan with estimated cost.

If you are calling around for quotes, please keep in mind that our protocols provide the best medical care for your pet. We recommend pre-anesthetic blood testing; include medication to calm the pet and ease them into anesthesia; monitor blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, carbon dioxide, EKG, and respiration during the entire procedure; provide pain medication before and after; use a heated surgical table; administer antibiotics; apply cold laser therapy to promote healing; and include an overnight stay for continued monitoring and pain management.

No. That’s an old wives’ tale. Dogs calm down after having a litter just because they are older, not because of the litter.

We recommend spaying and neutering puppies and kittens at six months of age. Research shows there are proven medical benefits to spaying and neutering at this age, including reduced incidence of some types of cancer and infection.

There has been some discussion about waiting until large-breed dogs are more mature for a variety of reasons, but at this time there are no definitive scientific studies demonstrating a medical benefit to waiting longer for these procedures. If you have one of these breeds, please discuss with our medical staff.

Once the babies are weaned and the milk has dried up.

Yes, we can perform a spay procedure while they are in heat, but we recommend speaking with the medical staff prior to scheduling. Spaying while in heat does carry a slightly higher risk and may take a bit longer to recover. If you and the medical team decide to move forward, please note there is an additional fee.

No. The only options are to 1) let the pregnancy proceed and have the puppies, or 2) spay the dog while pregnant and abort the puppies. In cases of inbreeding, females under a year old, or mismatched breeding, the latter should be chosen.

No.

Yes, but it’s very rare, and we haven’t seen a single case. If they do get COVID, there would be a low risk of them transmitting it back to their owner (because that’s probably the person they caught it from). Dogs do not get COVID.

Cats live longer, healthier, happier lives if they are kept indoors 100% of the time. It is irresponsible to allow cats to roam.

Our area has an extremely high number of free-roaming cats, and many of them carry fatal diseases that cannot be prevented by vaccines — the only way to prevent them is to keep your cat inside. Our area also has animals (such as coyotes) that prey on small animals like cats.

Also, remember that cats are solitary creatures, so they are healthiest living alone or in groups of up to three cats. Feed pet cats indoors so the food doesn’t attract ferals.

Do NOT feed feral cats! It may seem cruel, but here’s why: feeding feral cats attracts more cats to the area, which increases disease spread, fighting, mating, and creates public health and nuisance issues. Many people think others are abandoning cats at their home, when in reality, they’re simply attracting more and more cats by putting out food.

If you have been feeding feral cats, we recommend gradually decreasing the amount of food you put out over 3 weeks before stopping completely. This is a case of tough love!

You will have to feed your cats separately. Put the cat that needs a special diet in a closed room with its food for 5 minutes while you feed the other cats. Once they have finished, put away all the food for all the cats.

The vaccine only protects against FeLV. There is no vaccine for FIV. The test checks for both diseases. Also, a vaccine is never a 100% guarantee of protection.

Yes. Cats are more likely to get lost than dogs. Choose a snug-fitting collar (two fingers fit underneath) that is a breakaway style, so if the cat does get caught somewhere, they can get out without being stuck. You can order a tag on Amazon with your phone number, or we can make one for you here!

There are several steps we can take to keep everyone safe and get your dog the care it needs. The vet can prescribe a sedative to give the dog at home before bringing him in. Call from the parking lot, and we’ll have you wait until we have an exam room available and the lobby is clear. We’ll also have you put on one of our muzzles before he comes inside.

During the exam, the vet will spend most of the time talking with you and visually examining the dog rather than doing a hands-on exam that will stress out the dog. If a thorough exam is necessary, we may give the dog a stronger sedative so he falls asleep.

No. Many dog breeds are very active, especially until they are a few years old (labs, huskies, doodles, heelers, just to name a few). There is no safe medication that will calm them down. Please consider this when choosing a dog for your family. For these breeds, strenuous exercise several times each day is essential!

Please call these rescue/rehabilitation organizations:

• DFW Wildlife Coalition: 972-234-9453
• Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (birds only): 972-225-4000
• Wild Rescue (rabbits only): 972-891-9286

Put it back where you found it. Mothers bring food to their chicks on the ground for a few days after they leave the nest, but can’t fly well.

Leave it where it is! The mother has not abandoned it. Keep your own animals away from it so it won’t be disturbed. Deer will hide their babies and then move them to a new location in a few days. The mothers will only briefly return to feed the baby and won’t come back if they see people watching.

No. Please call the rescue/rehabilitation organizations listed under the first question.

There isn’t a medication to prevent them from catching a parasite, so the best thing to do is run a fecal test in a month and then again a month later. Unless there are other symptoms after eating the animal, that’s all we need to do.

We’ll need to treat your pet’s wounds, and we’ll also need to assess the risk of rabies and other diseases. Sometimes a pet needs to be quarantined after a wildlife exposure.

Yes. The pet must have had an exam within 1 year and must have received a rabies and DHPP vaccine within 1 year.

No. Sedation is only safe if the patient is being continuously monitored by medical staff.

No. When the doctor deems it necessary, we can do medical grooms, but we are not professional groomers, and it won’t look as nice as a groomer’s work.

Yes. Some breeds (especially poodles) get very hairy ear canals that trap moisture, which can lead to ear infections.

You can try brushing their teeth if they tolerate it, but it’s much more important for dogs to chew to keep their teeth clean. We recommend VeggieDents or Oravet Chews given daily to help keep teeth clean.

Yes, we recommend having a wellness visit every 6 months since pets age much faster than humans.

Pets should start vaccinations at 6 weeks of age. They will need to return at 9, 12, and 16 weeks of age for boosters. This may vary somewhat depending on your and your pet’s lifestyles.

We also follow CDC guidelines for deworming pets to prevent transmission of parasites to the humans in your family. We believe that heartworm preventative should be started at 6 weeks of age, whether the pet is a puppy or a kitten.

As important as the vaccines themselves is the social interaction your pet receives while at our clinic. We work hard to establish a comfortable environment and relationship with your pet so they learn that the vet’s office isn’t a scary place.

Yes. They are still legally required to have the rabies vaccine up-to-date, and they can still get other diseases as well. At the time of your appointment, you can discuss with the medical staff about possibly moving some annual vaccines to be given less frequently.

We do not offer those tests. We don’t recommend them because results can vary depending on which lab is used, and there is no agreed-upon level that is “protective.” Studies have shown that the amount of antibody seen on titering does not always match whether or not a particular pet can get the disease.

Their bodies are different sizes, but their immune systems can both respond to small amounts of vaccines. This is why large dogs (and even cows and horses) don’t need larger doses of vaccines.

No — vaccines are still essential! If we know what vaccine caused the reaction, we’ll give a dose of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and possibly a steroid before the next dose. If we aren’t certain which vaccine caused the problem (for example, if multiple vaccines were given), we’ll just give one vaccine at a time in the future and monitor your pet afterwards for any reaction.

Yes. Heartworm is a deadly disease that is far easier to prevent than to cure. Dogs should be kept on heartworm medication year-round and have a yearly heartworm test. We have seen heartworm regularly in our area, especially with pets that are not on heartworm prevention.

Yes. Although fewer cats get heartworm than dogs, it is much more deadly in cats, as there is no treatment. Because of this, we recommend keeping cats on heartworm preventative year-round.

Yes. Pets still need yearly heartworm testing because there is a lot of potential for error. A dose might be missed; the pet might spit out a pill when you aren’t looking; topical products might not be applied properly and therefore not absorbed into the skin; and heartworm resistance, while not common, is a real thing.

Yes, we recommend flea prevention for all dogs and cats year-round, regardless of lifestyle. You may not have seen a flea, but they’re very good at hiding.

Fleas aren’t just a nuisance — they can carry tapeworms, a parasite that poses risks to both pets and people. They’re also a leading cause of flea allergy dermatitis, which results in persistent itching and skin irritation for your pet.

Yes! If a collar comes off your pet, a microchip is the only way for Animal Control or a vet clinic to identify it. Microchips also help get your pet back if it is stolen. Microchips are harmless and only hurt for a moment. Microchips cannot be tracked by the government — they are identification chips, not tracking chips.

Since pets can’t tell us how they’re feeling, blood work is essential for letting us see what’s going on inside your pet. For dogs and cats, we recommend yearly lab work when they are young to establish a baseline, then annually so we can watch for changes.

There are many types of parasites. We have to know what parasites are present to prescribe the right medication. Even when you find a worm in your pet’s feces and we can identify it, we still should perform a fecal test to ensure there aren’t other types of parasites as well. Most of them are microscopic and can only be found by testing.

Call the city that you live in. The requirements vary from city to city.

That depends on a few things: When did they eat the chocolate? How much? What kind of chocolate? How big is the dog? Are they having any symptoms? Call us!

Find out what medication it was, how much was eaten, when it was eaten, about how much your pet weighs, and if there are any symptoms already — then call us (or an emergency clinic if after hours). Every medication is different, so we need to evaluate each case individually.

We recommend Hill’s Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, or Royal Canin. We generally recommend dry food (kibble) rather than canned food because it helps keep the teeth and gums healthy.

• Puppies should be on puppy food for the first year of their life. Large breed puppies should be on puppy food specifically for large breeds.
• Find a good diet and stick with that same product; do not switch brands for variety.
• We DO NOT recommend grain-free, raw, vegetarian, homemade, freeze-dried, store brands, or boutique brands. These usually don’t provide balanced nutrition.

We recommend Hill’s Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, or Royal Canin. We generally recommend dry food (kibble) for most cats because it helps keep the teeth and gums healthy. Canned food has added water, which is helpful for cats with kidney disease.

• Kittens should be on kitten food for the first year of their life.
• Find a good diet and stick with that same product; do not switch brands for variety.
• We DO NOT recommend grain-free, raw, vegetarian, homemade, freeze-dried, store brands, or boutique brands. These usually don’t provide balanced nutrition.

You should be able to easily feel a dog’s individual ribs, but not be able to see them. When viewed from above, you should be able to see a slight narrowing at the waist.

The circumference of the abdomen should only be slightly larger than that of the chest. You should be able to easily feel a cat’s individual ribs, but not be able to see them. Most domestic cats have an ideal weight of 8–10 lbs. Some cats with very large frames may be healthy at a higher weight, but this is pretty rare.

• Eliminate all treats, table scraps, and human food. Treats can be substituted with a few pieces of their kibble.
• If you are free-feeding (leaving food out), you will need to switch to feeding measured meals twice daily.
• Increase exercise.
• Dogs should be tested for hypothyroidism, which could be a contributing cause to obesity. While cats technically can be hypothyroid, it is uncommon, which is why we typically will not test cats.

No! Many common human medications (Tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin) are deadly to pets. We have seen unfortunate cases where well-meaning owners fatally poisoned their own pets. On rare occasions, we will instruct an owner to give their pet a specific medication and dose of an over-the-counter product.

Animals are very good at hiding pain. It’s easy to tell when a dog is crying out, but subtle pain can be very difficult to notice. Some signs include:

• Limping (limps are almost always due to pain)
• Not eating as much
• Being reluctant to get up, or slow to get up and down
• Not playing as much
• Whimpering, crying, etc.
• Grumpiness, especially not wanting to be petted or picked up
• Difficulty going up stairs, jumping onto the bed, etc.
• Shaking, trembling
• Licking at particular spots excessively
• Excessive panting

Call Animal Control and discuss the situation.

The dog must be specifically trained to complete a task, like pulling a wheelchair. The certification comes through your human doctor.

You just need a letter from your human doctor. Please note that emotional support dogs are NOT service dogs and are not allowed in restaurants or grocery stores. Some airlines allow emotional support dogs to travel with the owner, but not all.

Call your doctor immediately, even if the wound seems minor. Report the bite to Animal Control.

The person who was bitten needs to see their doctor immediately, even if the wound seems minor. Report the bite to Animal Control. Discuss the incident with your veterinarian and come up with a plan to avoid it happening again.

Call your doctor immediately, even if the wound seems minor. If that’s not possible, go to the nearest ER. The rabies virus is fatal, and treatment is recommended to reduce the risk of catching the disease. If you were able to capture the animal (dead or alive), contact Animal Control for next steps. We are able to test animals for rabies, but there are costs to you.

Talk with your obstetrician (OB) about the risk. Have someone else clean the litterbox, and be sure it is cleaned every single day (the parasite isn’t infectious for the first 24 hours). We can test your cat to see if it is shedding the parasite.

Teach children to wash their hands after petting animals. Clean up animal feces immediately. Clean the litterbox daily, and have it in a location where small children can’t access it. Bring in a fecal sample from each pet every year for parasite testing.

Do not use sand around playground equipment, and sandboxes should be secured with a lid when not in use to prevent feral cats from defecating in the sand. Do NOT feed outdoor cats!

Call your child’s pediatrician. Save the worm or take a picture to help identify the type. Bring in a separate fecal sample from all of your pets so we can find out from which (if any) of the animals your child contracted the parasite.

Call Poison Control for free help: 1-800-222-1222