Skip NavigationSkip to Primary Content

Woman holding a cat

FAQ

What efforts does the hospital make toward being GREEN?

OCRRA has recognized our hospital for outstanding recycling and waste reduction. This includes recycled paper and two-sided printing for receipts. Our hospital uses 100% clean renewable energy for its electricity needs.

What is Pet Portal?

Pet Portal is a site that connects you to your pet's information. The vaccination, medication, and diet history can be viewed. Requests for refills and appointments can be made. Your page can be customized with photos too. Care guides are articles that discuss various aspects of your pet's health.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Cash, Check, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Care Credit. We now accept Apple Pay and Android Pay. Payment is expected at the time services are rendered. You can also apply for care credit here.

What is CareCredit? How can I apply?

CareCredit is a healthcare credit card that can be used for you and your pet. You can apply online or over the telephone. You may visit CareCredit online at www.carecredit.com or call 1-800-365-8295. CareCredit offers a few different payment options, some of which are interest free. They also have a Pay My Provider link to help you manage your account.

What is the best diet to feed my pet?

This is a very good question since a healthy diet is a mainstay in preventative medicine. We all want our pet's food to be safe, nutritious and meet their particular needs. Because each pet is an individual with specific needs, this is a question that is best answered after a discussion with your veterinarian. In general, you will want to be sure the pet food meets requirements for a particular life stage and activity level. Feed puppy/kitten food until 12 months of age, and feed a large breed puppy formula to any puppy whose adult weight will be over 50 pounds.

If you need help deciding which pet food manufacturer may be the best?

Please clink on this link below, which contains 10 questions pet food manufacturers should be able to answer.

http://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/evr_multi_10_questions_for_pet_food_manufacturers

Is automotive antifreeze harmful to my pet?

Yes! Antifreeze is very dangerous to your cat or dog if swallowed. In very small quantities it can cause kidney failure and death. The early signs of ingestion are listlessness and stumbling. The pet will often look "drunk." If you notice these symptoms, call our office immediately. Of course the best thing to do is prevent any animal from drinking the anti-freeze by checking for radiator leaks often and having them repaired right away. Be sure to clean up anything that has formed a puddle under the car. You can also select non-toxic antifreeze the next time you refill your radiator.

Is chocolate bad for pets?

Yes, chocolate can be harmful to your pets. The effect on the pet depends on the quantity and the type of chocolate consumed. White chocolate does not contain stimulants and is not toxic. Milk chocolate contains fewer stimulants than dark chocolate, therefore, less dark chocolate can be eaten before toxic effects are seen. The toxic effects of chocolate can range from hyperactivity to heart rate changes. If a large enough quantity is eaten -- death can result. Call us if your pet has eaten chocolate and we will instruct you on the proper action to take.

Why do I need to register in order to buy online?

This process will allow us to keep your mailing information on file for future purchases, so that you do not have to re-enter that information each time. Your credit card information will not be saved and will require re-entering each time purchases are made in order to provide security for your credit card information.

Why do puppies and kittens need booster vaccinations?

When a puppy or kitten is born it acquires antibodies from the mother after nursing. How long this maternal antibody lasts in a given puppy or kitten is different from animal to animal and the maternal antibodies against different diseases wear off after different times. We DO know that by 16 to 20 weeks of age, maternal antibodies are gone and the baby must be able continue on its own immune system. While maternal immunity is present in the puppy's or kitten’s system, any vaccines given will be inactivated. Vaccines will not be able to "take" until maternal antibody has sufficiently dropped. To give babies the best chance of responding to vaccination, we vaccinate intermittently (usually every 2 to 4 weeks) during this period, in hopes of gaining some early protection.

Why does my pet need a physical examination with each vaccination?

It is important to administer vaccines only to healthy animals. If the animal is already suffering from an illness, or is receiving certain drugs, its immune system may not be able to respond to the vaccine appropriately. Many illnesses are very subtle in the early stages, and a physical exam by a veterinarian may reveal an illness that is not yet causing major problems. For that reason, prior to vaccinating your pet, we will ask you about your pet's medical history and perform a complete physical examination.

Why does my pet need a physical examination every 6 months to be on long-term medication?

Doctors want to monitor body weight, assess your pet's response to medication, discuss any troubleshooting and medication administration problems, evaluate continued need for medication, and determine the overall health of your pet. Laboratory tests may be performed to ensure that the medication is at the optimal dose and that the pet is not developing a tolerance to the medication or encountering any side effects.

Why does my pet need a yearly physical examination to refill flea medication?

Your pet's overall health, body weight, and the need for vaccinations or medication is examined. Any potential adverse effects and any newer, safer, or more effective medications that become available will be discussed.