See VRCC’s face book page

• Let guests know the rules concerning your pets. If you let guests know what is and is not acceptable when it comes to your pet, you decrease the risk of your guests doing something that could harm your pet. Don’t just assume that because they have a pet they’ll know what is good or bad for yours.
• Don’t share table scraps with pets. Many common foods which people eat can cause serious harm to pets. Raisins and grapes are known to cause renal failure in dogs. Macadamia nuts can cause short-term hind-limb paralysis and chocolate can harm the central nervous system, heart, and kidneys.
• Keep holiday plants away from pets. Many of these plants are known to be poisonous to animals, such as lilies, holly, amaryllis, and mistletoe. Don’t worry about the poinsettias, though. Once thought to be poisonous, poinsettias have proven to be benign.

If you think your pet has ingested something which may be hazardous to their health, contact your veterinarian or animal emergency hospital IMMEDIATELY!

CareCredit works similar to a credit card

Financing pet care available through CareCredit. Click the logo above for an application.

CareCredit is designed specifically for financing patient care services such as trips to the dentist, doctor, or in this case, veterinary services for your pets. Each time you use the card you qualify for special promotional financing such as no interest for 6, 12, 18, or 24 months if the bill is paid in full prior to the end of the applicable payment period. Purchases of $1000 or more qualify for longer term financing such as 24, 36, or 48 months. More information about CareCredit, how it works, and an application can be found at www.carecredit.com.

Payment to VRCC is simple and affordable

In addition to the easy financing available through CareCredit, VRCC helps make your veterinary visit easier by providing a single invoice. No more receiving separate invoices for doctors, labs, or x-rays. Your total visit cost will be covered on a single invoice. To make things even simpler, a full cost written estimate will be provided to you at time of admission. A deposit is required and the balance can be paid after services or treatment have been provided.

Caring for your pets shouldn’t be a financial burden. Let Veterinary Referral and Critical Care (VRCC) help ensure your pets health and well-being by offering easy, hassle free invoicing and financing for your pet care expenses so you can focus on the health of the patient.

Emily will solidify VRCC’s 16 year commitment to providing the highest quality, compassionate and cost effective care for cardiac veterinary patients 24-hours a day.  Emergency evaluation of critically ill cardiac patients expedites appropriate patient management and improves patient comfort. It also provides clients with knowledge essential for long-term decision making and greatly reduces overall costs of emergency care.

As always, VRCC’s specialty services are available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year for our patients who need us the most. Please join is in welcoming Emily to the Central Virginia area.  We think that you will find her to be a phenomenal asset to our veterinary community!

Watch the VRCC blog and Facebook page closely…more news is on the way!

Do thundershirts work for pet anxiety?

Apparently, you use it when a dog is anxious, fearful or over-excited. The theory is that the Thundershirt’s gentle, constant pressure calms the pet.

According to the manufactures website “Most dogs respond with the very first time they use it.  Others may take two or three times.  Over 80% of dog owners report significantly reduced anxiety symptoms when using Thundershirt.”

They do offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. So does it work? We don’t know but it is an interesting concept. Some say it works, others say it didn’t work for their pet.

Do let us know if you’ve tried it and what your results were.  We’d love to see pictures on our facebook as well!
www.thundershirt.com

This on-site lab gives us access to a broader array of tests and allows for rapid return of results. This translates to earlier diagnoses and intervention which in turn improves outcomes.

We hope your wait isn’t lengthy but since we are a surgery and  emergency care veterinary facility, sometimes cases come in that need immediate response or a surgery goes longer than expected. We appreciate your patience when this happens.

Fun for you can be stress for your pet

That sweet stuff isn’t the only danger present on Halloween night. Indoor and outdoor pets often suffer from stressful encounters with costumed children, which put both at risk of injury. It is probably best to keep pets safely secured indoors Halloween night.
Make them a safe haven, well away from the front door as the constant ringing of the doorbell.  Also be wary of your furry friend slipping out this door as you greet trick-or-treaters.

Pet Costumes

If you do decide to dress your pet up, make sure the costume is properly sized and does not restrict movement, sight, or breathing in any way.  Pets that are scared may injure themselves or others simply trying to escape their costume.

By far the single most important thing you can do to be prepared for safe Halloween with your pets will be to know the location of an emergency animal hospital and have your veterinarians phone number on hand.

VRCC is open for emergency services from 6pm to 8 am during the week and all day on weekends and holidays.  We are located conveniently at 1596 Hockett Road, right off 288 and 64 in the short pump area.  Our number is 804.784.VRCC (8722).

It is an honor to have our doctors recognized by their peers for compassionate care, dedication, and veterinary expertise. Thanks to all the veterinarians that voted for us and congratulations to all the phenomenal veterinarians that share this honor with them.