FAQs

Dogs: Dogs need to have glucose curves performed every 4-7 months depending on the control of the animal. It is also very important to evaluate full blood work and urinalysis. An uncontrolled animal may have glucose in the urine which can lead to urinary tract infections.

Cats: Cats will either need glucose curves performed every 6-12 months depending on the control of the animal. For the difficult animal we can also perform fructosamine levels. It is also very important to evaluate full blood work and urinalysis.

Dogs and Cats: Give the medication as directed and have an appointment for 4-6 hours after the medication was given. Since these drugs are metabolized by internal organs, we also need to perform full blood work and urinalysis evaluation yearly.

Dogs and Cats: Give the medication as directed. For animals on Trilostane or Lysodren we will need a drop off appointment 4-6 hours after the medication to get accurate levels on our ACTH Stimulation test. Frequency of this test should be at least every 12 months and may need to occur more frequent depending on the response of the animal. Full blood and urinalysis should be every 6 months.

Animals need to have their electrolytes evaluated every 3 months. It is also important to have a full blood work and urinalysis every 6 months.

Animals will need blood work and urinalysis performed every 6 months. These medications are metabolized via the liver and can cause damage over time. Monitoring is required for this drug to be dispensed.

The medication was given. We need to also make sure that the medication has been given consistently over the prior 10 days. We also recommend full blood work to be performed yearly at the same time of the test.

Give the medication at your normal times and schedule an appointment during the day to pull the blood. We also recommend yearly full blood work at the same time.

We recommend annual blood work to detect infections and diseases, helping us to prevent disease early on. In many situations, early detection is essential for more effective treatment. The type of blood work will be determined specifically for each pet depending on his or her individual needs. This annual blood test is convenient to do at the time of your pet’s annual heartworm test, but it can be done at any time of year.

Our in-house pharmacy has a large selection of prescription medications and therapeutic diets for your family pet. Our staff members can help you select the best medication, choose the proper dosage, and provide information on side effects or interactions. Contact us immediately if your pet experiences an adverse reaction, or if you have any questions or concerns regarding a prescription medication.

Heartworm disease is a serious disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes and can be fatal if left untreated. Our veterinarians recommend that all dogs be given year-round heartworm prevention, regardless of their lifestyle.

Dogs can become extremely sick if placed on heartworm prevention while they have a severe heartworm disease. Even if they have been on heartworm prevention year-round there is always the possibility that the product may have failed for various reasons (your pet spit out the pill, did not absorb the pill appropriately, topical medicine was not applied properly, forgot to administer medication on time, etc.) and the earlier we can treat your pet for heartworm disease, the better the prognosis. Some companies will guarantee their product providing that you use the heartworm prevention year-round and are performing yearly heartworm test.

No. Heartworm disease is a blood-borne disease that is transmitted through mosquitoes. A routine blood test will confirm whether your dog has heartworm disease.

Yearly professional dental exams, tooth scaling, and polishing are necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums for your pet. Oral diseases can have a negative impact on your pet’s overall health; therefore it’s important that your pet receives a dental exam by our veterinarians on a regular basis.

Regular at-home dental care is recommended to help maintain your pet’s oral and overall health. Home dental care for your pet should start early, even before their adult teeth come in. Pet owners should brush their pet’s teeth frequently as tooth brushing is the best method of preventing plaque, calculus, and bacterial build-up. There are also additional options for at-home dental care such as dental formulated foods, water additives, and dental treat.

We strive to schedule appointments convenient with your schedule. If you need to change or cancel your appointment, we request that you contact us as soon as possible.

Call us at (540) 894-4572.

We accept cash, debit, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and CareCredit. Please note that payment is due at the time services are performed.

Some signs, such as limping are a clear indicator of pain, but some signs are more subtle. Look for symptoms such as excessive vocalization, lack of appetite, change in behavior or normal habits, and lethargy. Call us right away if your pet is showing signs of illness, injury, or pain.

If your pet is having an emergency during our hospital hours, please call us at (540) 894-4572 or bring them to our hospital located at 1835 New Bridge RoadMineral, VA 23117.

If your pet has an emergency after hours, please contact one of the following emergency facilities in our area:

Veterinary Referral and Critical Care
1596 Hockett Road
Manakin-Sabot, Virginia 23103
804-784-8722

Hours  

• Monday - Saturday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
• Sunday: Closed

Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital
370 Greenbrier Dr., Suite A-2
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434-202-1616

Partner Veterinary Emergency & Speciality Center
1616 Three Chopt Road,
Henrico, VA 23233
804-206-9122

UrgentVet - Short Pump Location
11521 W. Broad St,
Richmond, VA 23233

UrgentVet - Midlothian Location
14300 Winterview Pkwy, Ste 106,
Richmond, VA 23221

UrgentVet - Carytown Location
3531 Ellewood Ave,
Midlothian, VA 23113

Hours  

• Monday - Friday: 3:00pm – 11:00pm
• Saturday & Sunday: 10:00am - 8:00pm

Better Pets, Urgent Care
6127 Mechanicsville Turnpike,
Mechanicsville VA 23111
804-442-2713

Best ages will vary depending on size and breed. Please call us for more information.

Vaccinations are an important part of keeping your pet healthy. Regular vaccines keep your pet safe from preventable infectious diseases. During your pet’s wellness exam, our veterinarians will develop a vaccine schedule tailored to your pet that will prevent illness and disease.

Kennel cough is easily transmitted from dog to dog and spread through the air. It is caused by viruses and/or bacteria that affect the respiratory system of dogs. The best way to reduce the severity of the disease is by frequent vaccination. There are several types of vaccinations available to treat kennel cough.

We monitor the animal by evaluating the following:
• Heartbeat and Rate (ECG)
• ETCO2: Monitors the amount of Carbon Dioxide they are exhaling
• Blood Pressure
• Respiration Rate
• Oxygen concentration in the blood
• Temperature of the patient
• We keep the animal hydrated with IV Fluids

Anesthesia is a procedure that requires all organs to be working well. When we evaluate the blood work, we determine that the kidneys and liver are functioning correctly along with normal levels of red blood cells and white blood cells are present. If abnormal finding is noted, then we either change our anesthesia protocol or wait on doing the surgery until a cause for the abnormal finding is diagnosed. Our goal at Lake Anna Veterinary Hospital is to perform the safest anesthesia possible and return your dog or cat to you alive!

Water is okay to leave down but should be removed in the morning by 7am.

• Physical Exam
• ECG screen to evaluate the heart is functioning normally
• IV Catheter for administering anesthesia medications and IV Fluids. This is also important because if an emergency occurs, we already have access to the blood stream.