Country Hills Veterinary Hospital

FAQs

My dog is itching and I think it has fleas; how can I tell?
Fleas are small, dark brown-black insects. You can usually see them, often near the base of the tail or on the belly. They flee from light. You can also see “flea dirt”. This dark, grainy material in the hair coat or on the skin turns red when moistened, as opposed to dirt, that continues to be black even when wet.
When do dogs/cats come into heat?
Puppies and kittens usually reach puberty around six months of age. After this time female dogs usually come into heat twice a year; on average the heat cycle takes about three weeks to complete. Female cats are different; they come into heat seasonally. Cats normally cycle at approximately three week intervals during the spring, summer, and fall.
Why does the clinic recommend blood testing before procedures requiring anesthesia?
Pre-anesthetic blood testing allows us to evaluate your pet’s basic organ function. The testing could warn us of a condition not obvious on physical exam. It may indicate that we should take extra precaution with your pet’s anesthesia or surgery, or avoid a procedure altogether until a discovered problem can be corrected.
What is your payment policy?

Payment is expected at time of service for either in clinic or house calls. We accept cash and most credit cards. We also accept CareCredit and scratch pay. We unfortunately do not accept checks.

What is a microchip?
A microchip is a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder that is about the same size as a grain of rice. The microchip itself does not have a battery—it is activated by a scanner that is passed over the area, and the radiowaves put out by the scanner activate the chip. The chip transmits the identification number to the scanner, which displays the number on the screen. The microchip itself is also called a transponder.
Why do I have to test my dog for heartworms if I give a preventative every month?
Heartworm preventatives are not 100% effective. Sometimes a dose gets missed, spit out, vomited or is just not adequately absorbed, resulting in inadequate protection. Heartworm testing is a safeguard against your pet suffering from heartworm disease without your knowledge. Furthermore, giving some types of heartworm preventative to a dog that has heartworm infection may actually result in a shock-like reaction due to a rapid kill of immature heartworms.
I want my pet to let me clip his nails when he’s older. How do I do it?
It is important to help your pet associate nail trims with “good things” to look forward to. This association is accomplished by playing with the pet’s feet one at a time, and then rewarding it with food treats. Do not clip any nails yet. Instead, gradually increase the length of time spent holding the foot, start touching each individual toe, then clicking the clipper (a noise that can be scary to some pets), and then clipping a toenail. Do not expect to be able to clip all its nails at the same time or to reach this comfort level within a couple days. Give it plenty of time and treats.
I know what’s wrong with my pet; why can’t you just give me the medication?
A Federal law requires that veterinarians establish a valid client-patient-doctor relationship before treating an animal and/or providing medication. Also licensed veterinarians are the only people who can diagnose and treat animal illnesses.
It is After Hour’s and my pet has an emergency? Who do I call?

We recommend all our afterhours animal emergencies to Bluegrass animal Emergency in Lexington Ky (859) 268-7604