Here are some of the most frequently asked questions. If you don't find the information you are looking for on this page, feel free to email us.

Why should I spay or neuter my pet?

Through neutering, you can help your dog and cat live a happier, healthier, and longer life. The primary benefit of spaying or neutering your pet is controlling the pet population and reducing the numbers of unplanned, unwanted pets. Castration stops the mating drive in males, reducing the urge to roam, which in turn, reduces the risk of fights, injury, poisoning, accidents, and contracting diseases. In cats, spaying eliminates the constant crying and nervous pacing which is a sign that a cat is in heat. If you have more than one pet in your household, all the pets will get along better if they are neutered. A long-term benefit of neutering is improved health. Early neutering nearly eliminates breast cancer, and totally prevents uterine infections and uterine and testicular cancer.

Why is veterinary care for my pet(s) so expensive these days? Sometimes I believe I'm spending more on my pet's health care than on my own.

Relatively speaking, veterinary care is a great deal. The cost of veterinary care has actually risen very little during the last 20-30 years. When compared to the rising cost of human health care, pet care is not at all unreasonable.

Bear in mind that your veterinarian is not only your pet's general physician, but also its surgeon, radiologist, dentist, neurologist, opthalmologist, psychiatrist, ears/nose/throat doctor, and pharmacist.

Your veterinary bill is a reflection of the costs of maintaining suitable facilities, equipment, and support personnel to provide the level of care that is expected in animal medicine today. Remember too that the original cost of the animal has no bearing on the cost of the services rendered.
Although it may feel as if you are paying more for your pet's health care than your own, chances are that you probably have adequate health care insurance for your own needs. Consequently, you may never see the total bottom-line figure for your own doctor bills. When human health care costs are added up - including insurance, deductibles, and pharmaceutical costs, there is no comparison to the much lower veterinary care costs.

Why can't veterinarians advise, diagnose or prescribe over the phone and save me a whole lot of time and money?

Not only is it unethical and illegal to prescribe for an animal that hasn't been physically examined by a veterinarian, it is also impossible to come up with an accurate diagnosis and rational plan of treatment.

A veterinarian cannot make a diagnosis based only on symptoms observed and described by an owner. Your pet cannot verbalize its symptoms, and the outward signs may be an indication of any number of internal causes with a wide variety of clinical treatments. A complete physical examination is required to determine the cause of the symptoms and the best course of treatment.

Asking a veterinarian to advise, diagnose and/or prescribe over the phone/e-mail is the same as asking your physician to prescribe medications for you over the phone/e-mail without ever examining you. If you were told to take an antacid for what turned out to be a heart attack, the results would obviously be disastrous! Your pet deserves more consideration.

Do I need to make an appointment to see a doctor or can I just walk in?

We do prefer to hold scheduled appointments, but we try very hard to never turn any patient away. We can typically accommodate most appointments within a couple of days of calling. Along with offering scheduled appointments, we also give our clients the option of admitting their pet for the day. A day admit allows us to see patients sooner if our appointment schedule is full, it also allows us to see more critical cases or emergencies right away, ensuring that they are closely supervised and given necessary medical attention immediately.

I just got bit or scratched by an animal, what do I do?

Pets mouths and claws have a lot of harmful bacteria. If you get bitten or scratched, wash the area thoroughly with antibacterial soap and call your primary care physician immediately.

Can I get my medications on-line cheaper?

It is the policy of Richland Animal Hospital that all prescriptions for medications filled by sources other than our hospital pharmacy be certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and are required to be licensed in the State of Michigan. (See our letter on Internet Pharmacies)

Accepted forms of Payment

Payment is due at the time of services. We accept Cash, Check, Debit, Visa, MasterCard and CareCredit. Other billing options can be discussed with our office manager.

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