F.A.Q.
Veterinary visits are stressful for many pets and while we, as owners, usually bring our pets comfort, this is not always the case during veterinary visits. Dogs often feel the added stress of needing to protect their owner which exacerbates their stress. Owners often times will be anxious about how nervous their pets are. Both dogs and cats are very intuitive and pick up on their owner’s anxiety, creating a viscous cycle. Removing pets from their owners often helps relieve their tension and make blood draws and urine collection much faster, less stressful, and, most importantly, safer for both our staff and your pet.
There are certain vaccines that all pets should get. These are called “core” vaccines. Non-core vaccines are those given based on exposure risk. Whether your pet is indoor, outdoor, or both, exposed to other animals, travels frequently, or spends time in the woods or waterways are all important factors in deciding which vaccines your pet should get. During wellness visits, our staff will discuss your pet’s lifestyle and make recommendations about the vaccine protocol best suited to your pet. The one vaccine that is required by law for all pets to get is rabies due to this virus’s public health implications.
No one likes going to the doctor but it can be even more stressful for pets than people. There are several things that you can do at home to help.
From the time your pet is a puppy or kitten start getting them used to the things they will experience while at their veterinary visits
- Touch their paws, open their mouths and lift their lips, look in their ears, lift their tails, gently massage the scruff of your cat’s neck, and press gently on your pet’s belly.
- Make sure your dog is accustomed to wearing a collar and doesn’t only wear it when they go somewhere stressful (groomer, vet, etc.)
- Make sure your cat is accustomed to being in a carrier.
- Use the carrier as a safe space, not just something you pull out when your kitty has to travel.
- Feed your cat treats or their daily meals in their carrier and keep a blanket inside so they can use it as a bed.
- If your cat is an adult already you can get them used to the carrier gradually by starting to feed them treats or a little canned food in the carrier with the top off then eventually getting them used to going inside with the top on.
- Make sure your pet is accustomed to riding in the car.
- Bring your dog by Pinnacle Veterinary Group for happy visits to hop on the scale and get a treat occasionally.
We believe strongly in doing everything we can to make your pet’s visit as stress-free as possible. Everything from color palette to lobby arrangement to even the needles we use have been chosen to improve your pet’s experience. We use Fear Free methods wherever possible in our handling of pets and utilize treats and even pheromones to help make your pet feel more comfortable. Unfortunately, not all pets will be won over by our efforts. If your pet is among the few that behavior modification techniques aren’t enough to make their veterinary visits less stressful we can dispense anti-anxiety medications prior to your pet’s visit to facilitate a less stressful experience.
We do not offer payment plans. We do accept Cherry financing plans, Care Credit and TruPanion. If you have questions about these services we are happy to answer them or you may visit their websites at:
Heartworm prevention is highly effective. However, no prevention is 100% effective. A small percent of dogs who are on heartworm prevention every month will still become infected with heartworms. Dogs do not show signs of heartworm disease until in the advanced stages. Early detection is very important in the treatment of heartworms so the sooner we identify positive dogs, the better their prognosis.
All pets having a surgery or dental procedure will need to come in for a pre-operative appointment. At this time, pre-anesthetic blood work will be performed to ensure that your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. We will also dispense a “Comfort Pack” which is a medication pack to be administered orally the morning of surgery. These medications will help calm your pet prior to arrival on their procedure morning which allows for a much smoother and safer experience.
Be sure to fast your pet from food based on the specific instructions provided for your pet. Tiny animals may become hypoglycemic if fasted for too long so it’s important to follow instructions carefully. They should be allowed to have water until they are admitted for their surgery.
Make sure your pet arrives at their scheduled time. Late arrivals may necessitate rescheduling the surgery.
If your pet experiences an emergency during our business hours please call us right away to let us know you are on your way if you can safely do so. Having an estimated time of arrival and a brief explanation of the issue will help us prepare for your pet’s arrival. If you are unable to safely call us please pull straight to the front of the clinic, come inside, and let the receptionist know you are here with an emergency BEFORE bringing your pet inside.
If your pet experiences an emergency after business hours please call one of the following emergency clinics:
- Magnolia Veterinary Hospital in Anderson- 864-222-2188
- Fetch Vets in Greenville – 864-900-5888
- VEG in Greenville- 864-252-9520
- Upstate Vet in Greenville- 864-233-7650
Insurance coverage varies widely in both human and veterinary medicine. Having coverage for wellness plans can be helpful but knowing exactly what is covered is critical before starting with any insurance provider. Insurance that covers injuries, illnesses, and emergencies can literally be a life-saver and Pinnacle Veterinary Group strongly recommends obtaining insurance for these circumstances.
Keep in mind that most insurance companies do not pay up front; you must pay for your visit then submit forms to you insurance company to be reimbursed.
We accept Trupanion insurance at Pinnacle. This is one of the few, if not the only insurance company that pays your bill at the time of service. You can visit their website here.
When you call Pinnacle Veterinary Group to schedule a euthanasia appointment our receptionist may ask you several questions regarding your wishes for the appointment. While these questions may be difficult to answer, having this information before you arrive will help us make your experience as positive as possible. Upon your pet’s arrival we will take them to the treatment area to place an IV catheter while you sign a consent form and pay for the visit. Once this is done your pet will meet you in the exam room. When you are ready your veterinarian will administer a sedative to allow your pet to fall asleep. Once your pet is fully sedated your veterinarian will administer the euthanasia injection. From the time the injection is fully administered it usually takes 1-2 minutes for a pet to pass away.
We encourage you to stay with your pet for all or part of the procedure. Some people only choose to only stay until their pet is sedated but not for the euthanasia injection.
After the procedure is complete we will prepare your pets for aftercare in accordance with your wishes.
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Our goal is to get ahead of any potential problems through regular care and help provide the best life possible for your pet.