Frequently asked questions
1. What are your office hours?
Our office hours are:
Monday to – Friday 8:00 a.m. to – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to – 1:00 p.m.
2. What is the earliest/latest I can bring my pet in?
Our earliest appointment is 8:00am Monday thru Saturday. Our latest appointment is 6:30 pm Monday thru Friday and 1:00 pm on Saturday. We may take later appointments on an emergency basis and upon availability .
3. Do I have to have an appointment?
It is better to have an appointment. There is less of a waiting time. We do accept walk-ins but there will be a longer wait time .
4. Do you have someone here all night to check on my hospitalized pet?
We do not have staff here after hours. We hospitalize low risk animals, but we send higher risk animals to a 24 hour hospital for continuous monitoring.
5. What do I do if I need you after hours or on a holiday?
We may take an emergency call if we are available at the time of Emergency.
If you are not able to reach us right away, call the Emergency Animal Clinic at 602-995-3757 or 623-974-1520.
Also, the Emergency Animal Clinic at 9875 W. Peoria Ave is open 24 hours a day, everyday of the year.
6. Can I just drop my pet off and pick him/her up after work?
We do occasionally allow owners to drop off their pet, if the situation calls for it. If it is necessary to drop off your pet, please call our office to schedule a time.
7. Can I make payments?
We do not make payment arrangements; payment is due at the time of service. We accept cash, checks with a valid drivers license, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and Debit cards with either the Visa or MasterCard logo.
8. How old must my pet be in order to be spayed or neutered?
Your pet can be spayed or neutered as early as 4 months of age.
9. Is declawing my kitten cruel? When should it be done?
No, it is not cruel. The pain and discomfort of the surgery can be adequately controlled with pain medication and laser surgery. The laser cauterizes nerve endings which decreases pain sensation. We recommend declawing be done after 4 months of age.
10. Do you board pets?
Yes, we do board pets at our sister clinic West Plaza Animal Hospital at 3528 W. Bethany Home Rd , Phoenix 85019 which is located on the northwest corner of 35th Avenue and Bethany Home Rd. However, the boarding facility is always booked so make sure you call in advance to reserve a place. Requirements for boarding:
Dogs: up to date on vaccines (Rabies, DHPP-Cv and Bordetella), current on flea and tick preventative. If they are not current, there will be a charge to update their boarding requirements.
Cats : up to date on vaccines (FVRCP, Feline Leukemia and Feline Rabies) current on flea and tick preventative
11. What do you recommend for heartworms? Is it necessary?
We recommend keeping your dog on heartworm prevention year round. In addition to preventing heartworm, medications such as Iveheart or Interceptor also prevent or eliminate intestinal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. Yes, it is necessary. As with all diseases, it is easier to prevent than to treat. Even when successfully treated, there can be residual negative effects on the heart. If your pet is 6 months or older, a heartworm test is needed before starting preventative. If your pet is on heartworm preventative year round, we recommend heartworm testing every 1 or 2 years.
Internet Pharmacy
This is also not highly regarded in the veterinary field. The manufacturers of important preventative products such as Heartgard, Frontline, or Advantix, do not guarantee the product when purchased through online pharmacies. These products are prescription medications and should be treated accordingly. If you purchase these medications through your veterinarian there is a guarantee on the product. If it is a matter of convenience, our clinic offers shipping of medications for you. All you have to do is have an active pet-veterinarian relationship (been examined within the past year) at our clinic. The amount of money that you may save is not worth the liability of your pet becoming ill because the product you purchased did not work properly.
"Money is tight but don't make your pets pay the price".
Online pharmacies are becoming increasingly popular because of the extensive discounts on their products. We strongly recommend against buying your prescriptions online. After consulting with the certified manufacturers/distributors of some of these products it has come to light that these pharmacies are not obtaining the medications they sell from the companies who make them. Furthermore the manufacturers void any guarantee on their product if it has been purchased online. Product guarantee is only given to veterinarians selling the product (as said on the front of most product packaging). Therefore, the question remains "what are they selling?". The Western Animal Hospital will not work directly with any online pharmacy to dispense any type of medication. We consider it an obligation to your pet to provide optimal guaranteed product backed by our drug companies. If you insist on using these pharmacies we cannot be responsible for the risk or the effects it may have on your pet because we cannot verify the origin of the product. Our doctors can provide you with a written prescription for purchase of which you are free to do with whatever you want. There is a fee for this prescription and you must pick it up from our office in person. If you have any questions regarding this information please feel free to call our office. You may also contact the company that produces these products at the numbers listed below. For your convenience we have provided some of the more common drugs manufactured by these companies.
Merial:1-800-MERIAL-1 (637-4261) makers of Heartgard Plus, Frontline
Novartis: 1-800-637-0281 makers of Sentinel, Interceptor,
Bayer: 1-800-255-6517 Advantix, Advantage
Pfizer: 1-800-366-5288 Rimadyl, Revolution
Virbac: 1-800-388-3659 Iverhart
What are the dangers in obtaining my vaccines from somewhere other than my veterinarian?
•Because of storage and delayed administration procedures the vaccine may be inactive.
•If injected in the wrong area the injection site may become abscessed or may not absorb correctly into the body.
•You don't receive any information from your veterinarian about the vaccines being given.
•Typically a pet is not examined when given a vaccine by a non-veterinarian. Your pet may be sick and vaccine administration may be detrimental without your knowledge.
•Vaccines given at home are not considered valid at most veterinary clinics for the above reasons, making it less cost-effective for you.
Important information about your dog's health :
Routine Checkups
Think about the regular care you receive throughout your lifetime from pediatricians, dentists, physicians, ophthalmologists and so on. Why settle for anything less for your Pet ? Now think about the fact that Pets age an average of seven years for every one of ours - and it's clear why regular care is so critical. At West Plaza Animal Hospital we recommend that your Pet receive a comprehensive physical exam every six months to a year. A regular checkup lets you know if your Pet needs deworming, training, dental care, a change in diet, grooming or special testing or care. By giving your Pet the regular care it needs, you give them the best chance to live a long, happy life with you !
Nutrition
A healthy, nutritious diet builds a foundation for well-being and disease prevention throughout you Pet's lifetime.As a dog ages, his nutritional needs change; for example, a puppy needs a diet high in calories and protein to maintain his active lifestyle and to grow healthy bones and muscles. An older dog may need a diet restricted in calories and supplemented with fiber for optimum weight and gastrointestinal health.
Nutritional counseling is a vital component of your Pet's health care and a part of every geriatric physical examination.We can help you decide which food is best for your pet during each life stage.In most of the cases, the routine senior canine blood work is the only one that will tell us which of the foods are helping your dog live longer and better.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are one of mankind's greatest medical achievements and can help your dog live a longer, healthier life.Vaccinations protect dogs from many viral predators, including parvovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, parainfluenzavirus, giardia and distemper. These organisms cause a wide range of disease symptoms, from sneezing to bloody diarrhea and death.
Just like a child, your puppy needs to be protected at an early age and given boosters as an adult.West Plaza Animal Hospital will develop the safest possible vaccine schedule.
Parasite Control
Many types of worms can affect your Pet, and some can be contagious to you and your family.Worms attach to the intestinal lining, causing painful diarrhea or life-threatening conditions. They also compete for your Pet's nutrients, stunting growth and depriving your Pet of energy. Worms live inside your Pet, so it may not be obvious that your dog is suffering an infestation.
Most puppies are born with worms, so our doctor immediately begin to tailor a deworming schedule to meet your Pet's needs.Our goal is to recommend the safest and best deworming medication at the appropriate time for your Pet.
Along with vaccinations, routine deworming and fecal checks, providing your puppy with a heartworm preventive will decrease the likelihood that your Pet will be infected with a worm that can cause fatal heartworm disease.. To ensure that no infection has occurred, we recommend testing your Pet's blood every other year.
You Pet needs also protection from parasites that attack from outside, like fleas, ticks, lice and mites.
Important information about your cat's health :
Nutrition : A healthy diet that provides proper levels of energy and nutrients is the foundation for well-being and disease prevention.Your cat needs a protein-rich food with the highest quality amino-acids, such as those found in most premium Pet foods.
Your Pet also needs "life cycle feeding," which means a diet that corresponds to your cat's age. For example, a kitten needs a diet rich in calories and minerals for a more active lifestyle and for healthy, growing bones and muscles.An older cat on the same diet could quickly gain weight. The best food for older cats is restricted in fat and supplemented with fiber.At Western Belle Animal Hospital, nutritional counseling is included in any physical examination. We're always ready to help you make a lifetime of good decisions about nutrition for your Pets.
Vaccination
Vaccination protects your cat from many feline diseases, including feline chlamydia , feline leukemia virus (FeLV) , feline rabies, feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia and feline herpes virus infection. These organisms cause a wide range of disease symptoms, from sneezing to death.
Just like a child, your cat needs to be protected at an early age and given boosters as an adult. At Western Belle Animal Hospital, we will develop the safest possible vaccine schedule for your Pet.
Parasite Control
Many kittens are born with worms, which attach to the intestinal lining and can cause painful diarrhea or life-threatening conditions. Intestinal worms stunt your cat's growth and energy level by competing with your Pet for nutrients, and some types of worms can be transmitted to humans.
At Western Animal Hospital, we use a microscope to check for worm eggs in your cat's stool sample.We will always recommend the safest and most effective deworming medication at the appropriate time for your Pet. In fact, all kittens are routinely dewormed to prevent or treat intestinal worm infections.
Ask our doctor to design a deworming plan for your Pet's needs. For example, cats at risk for heartworms—a different type of worm that causes severe cardiovascular disease—will need a preventive dewormer specifically for that parasite. We'll also help you with the pests that assault your Pet from the outside, like fleas, ticks, lice, and mites.
Spaying and Neutering
As your Pet's voice and keeper, you will make many important preventive care decisions, one of which is whether to spay or neuter your cat. Scheduling this important surgery early in your Pet's life helps prevent many future problems, among them uterine infections, cat fights, roaming, spraying, and overpopulation.
Spays (which are technically known as ovariohysterectomies) and neuters are routine and generally safe, but they are major surgeries that require general anesthesia and an all-day stay. Western Belle Animal Hospital uses safe, human-quality anesthetic agents, for a faster recovery. Spays and neuters are usually performed when the Pet is four to five months old.
Routine Checkups
Think about the regular care you receive throughout your lifetime from pediatricians, dentists, physicians, allergists, ophthalmologists, and so on. Why settle for anything less for your Pet? Now think about the fact that Pets age an average of seven years for every one of ours, and it's clear why regular care is so critical.
We recommend health checkups once-twice a year for your cat. These professional evaluations will help you make sure you're on track with your cat's health care. Keeping your Pet up to date on all aspects of health care gives your cat the best chance for a long, happy life.
Even with balanced nutrition and a good amount of love and attention, cats can still get sick. By spotting the symptoms, you can try to prevent or cure your cat’s illness with the proper medical care.
Some steps you need to follow
1. Keep an eye out for fleas. Watch your cat if they show symptoms of having fleas such as becoming particularly itchy, or if you notice bites on human members in your household. To check for fleas, groom them over a sheet of white paper. Look for a few fleas caught in the comb’s teeth or flea dirt on the paper. Flea dirt is actually excrement of undigested cat blood, and appears black and comma shaped. If you place it on damp cotton wool, the flea dirt dissolves into bloody streaks. Many commercial products are available both to kill adult fleas and remove fleas from the environment. Ask your vet for specific recommendations.
2. Prevent hairballs by grooming your cat to remove excess hair. Hairballs are formed either at the back of the throat or in the small intestines. There are many products already on the market to prevent hairball build-up such as oils, treats, and diets. If your cat vomits frequently and the problem isn’t resolved with regular brushing, you should consult with the veterinarian to be certain that a more serious problem is not the cause.
3. Watch for symptoms of an overactive thyroid such as increased appetite or thirst, unexplained weight loss (particularly muscle mass), nervousness or irritability, frequent vomiting, lethargy and weakness, diarrhea, or a coat that looks ungroomed. An overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, is a condition where the thyroid gland becomes enlarged and produces excess amount of thyroid hormone. The condition is often provoked by a benign tumor on one or both lobes of the thyroid gland. The good news is that thyroid tumors have only a 2-5% chance of malignancy. A cat with the condition may not present every symptom, but the presence of two or more should prompt a visit to the veterinarian’s office.
4. Know the symptoms of feline diabetes, which include vomiting, dehydration, weakness and loss of appetite, increased thirst and urination, weight loss, breathing abnormalities, and an unkempt-looking coat. Feline diabetes can affect cats of any age, but is most common in older, obese cats—-typically males. If your cat has any or several of these symptoms, take him to the vet. The vet will test for blood sugar levels and sugar levels in the urine.
5. Be mindful of your cat’s litter box habits. If your cat starts meowing a lot and jumping in the sinks or bathtubs or has any other unusual behavior, be sure to have them checked by a vet. Inappropriate or difficult and frequent urination, appetite loss, listlessness, blood in the urine, or frequent licking of the genitals may indicate feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). This is a painful inflammation of the lower urinary tract that has the potential to be fatal very quickly (sometimes within 24 hours). Feline lower urinary tract disease has a number of causes, from decreased water intake and urine retention to viruses, bacteria, or diet. (Diet is especially important to male cats who have been neutered as some dry foods are prone to cause urinary infections). As with any serious condition that could threaten your cat’s life, if you see these symptoms, call or take it to the vet immediately. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
6. Watch for excessive discharge at the eyes and nose. If your cat constantly appears to be ‘crying’, s/he may have an allergy or sinus infection. This can also be a symptom of the onset of kidney failure, along with excessive drinking/urination, lethargy, and a lackluster coat. Have your cat checked by a veterinarian if s/he exhibits these symptoms. Kidney failure can be fatal and is common in older cats.
Tips
Watch your cat carefully for any change in their normal activities. Sometimes unusual changes are just normal, especially if they have been frightened or had their food or litter changed to a different brand. If in doubt, have them checked out by the vet. Waiting more than three days can be dangerous.
When brushing your cat, take a moment to feel along the limbs for any unusual lumps or bumps. These may be developing cancerous tumors and need to be checked out by your vet.
Warnings
The most common flea, the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) may carry the Dipylidium caninum tapeworm larvae. If cats eat fleas during grooming, they may become infested with these tapeworms. Fleas also could transmit other infectious agents. If kittens are exposed to fleas, they may become anemic. Cats can also develop an allergy to flea bites, resulting in excessive scratching or possibly skin disease. Finally, humans are also susceptible to itchy flea bites, usually on the ankles.
If your cat does not eat/drink anything for 2 days, bring them to the vet immediately for an examination.
The most common symptoms of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in cats are lethargy and apathy. If your cat is unusually tired and loses interest in exercise and regular daily activities, this could be a sign that your pet is unhealthy, possibly undernourished.
