FAQs
Do I need to bring my pet in for a visit?
We like to see your pet at least 1-2 times a year, even when they’re healthy. This makes sure we can catch problems before they actually start affecting your pet as well as keep up to date on their vaccines and preventatives. An annual exam is required for us to have a doctor/patient relationship with your pet before we can safely prescribe medication (even refills).
Another time it is important to bring your pet in is when they are showing signs that he or she is sick or in pain. The first questions we will ask is if you are noticing any of the following:
Diarrhea, Vomiting, Lack of Appetite, Low Energy, Straining to Urinate, Respiratory Distress, Open Wound(s)
Of course, there are plenty of other things your pet could be doing to show you they’re not feeling the best but if you see one or more of the above signs, please schedule an appointment. It also never hurts to give us a call to ask if what you’re seeing is something to be worried about!
Do you do payment plans?
No. All payments are due at the time of service. Most of our exams cost $50, so it is good to plan to have at least that much before your appointment. Once the doctor has performed her exam, she can recommend best care for your pet. We encourage all pet parents to politely request an estimate of cost for those recommended services and we will happily get one prepared! We don't ever want anyone being surprised or unable to pay at the end of a visit. If you have a specific budget, it is helpful to let the technician checking you in know that before the doctor recommends services so that she can keep that in mind.
Please see our PAYMENT page for more information if you are concerned about the cost of your visit.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes. In order to give every patient the time and attention they deserve, we organize our day by appointment times. Each pet is given between 30 - 45 minutes for a regular visit, depending on the reason we are seeing them. During busy times of the year we can be booked out as far as 1-2 weeks, so we recommend calling as soon as you notice an issue with your pet.
Book an AppointmentWe do understand that sometimes things happen that aren’t planned for, so we provide the following alternative options:
URGENT CARE APPOINTMENTS | We are not an emergency clinic, however if our doctor has available time in their day we will do our best to fit in as many patients as we reasonably can. When a patient requires urgent care that cannot wait until an available appointment time, the rest of the day’s appointments will likely be affected. For this reason this exam cost is slightly more ($60).
DROP OFF APPOINTMENTS | If we cannot find an appointment time that works well for a pet parent, we can sometimes offer what we call a “drop off”. This means we will gather the information and concerns from the pet owner, bring the pet inside, send the pet parent home, and have our doctor start their exam as soon as they are free. The timing for this depends on if we have appointments end early, if we have a “no-show”, or if there is still available time set aside in the day. There is no additional charge for a pre-planned drop off appointment.
EMERGENCY CLINICS | Again - we are not an emergency clinic, but we do work closely with the two emergency clinics in Des Moines who provide urgent care 24/7. If an issue is severe enough and we don’t have a doctor available, we will likely refer you to one of them as they have better supplies and capability to manage emergencies.
IOWA VETERINARY SPECIALTIES: 515-280-3051
BLUE PEARL PET HOSPITAL: 515-727-4872
Do you see exotic pets?
At this time, we do not have any veterinarians who see exotic pets. Our veterinarians treat cats and dogs only. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Do you board pets?
We provide medical boarding services for pets who require medication or are too old/reactive to safely stay at a boarding facility. Our boarding patients do not have play time or interact with other pets. If you have a young and healthy pet your best choice would be somewhere they could have staff dedicated to playing with them and interacting with them in an enriching way.
Do you groom pets?
We provide full grooming services for pets! Victoria, our professional groomer, offers top-of-the-line grooming services including haircuts and trimming, nail clipping and anal gland expression, ear cleaning, medicated bath and full brush services. We provide professional grooming services for all breeds of dogs and cats. If your pet needs medical grooming, have severe matting or need to be shaved down, we can also sedate them to be groomed.
Why do I have to call before I enter the building?
The past two years have changed everyone's world, including here at our hospital. To keep our team and our community safe, as well as keep things organized and flowing smoothly, we've changed our appointment protocol and continue to adjust as necessary. This new system works best if you call us from the parking lot when you arrive.
