How long should I wait to bring in my pet if I notice a change in behavior?
If you notice your pet acting strangely, including loss of appetite or energy, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible for an examination by our doctor. Pets have an instinctive tendency to hide pain and illness so that they do not show any weaknesses that might attract predators. As pet owners, by the time we notice a change in behavior, the animal may have been suffering for several days already.
How often should my pet have an exam and blood work?
At Sparta Veterinary Services, we believe that the best way to prolong the relationship you share with your pet is to identify disease processes early, and prevent the progression of chronic illness before it becomes a problem. To keep tabs on your pet’s overall health, it is important to maintain annual exams and blood work. Pets seven years and older and those with chronic disease or mobility issues may require examination and blood work profiles on a more frequent basis.
How safe is my pet’s procedure?
At Sparta Veterinary Services, we only recommend those surgical procedures that are in the best interest of your pet. Each individual procedure varies from pet to pet and condition to condition. Typically, a physical examination, review of the patient’s medical history, and blood work are recommended for each pet that may have to be subjected to sedation or anesthesia. We will use this information to screen your pet for potential issues before beginning any procedure to help ensure the safety of your pet.
Although there will always be a minimal amount of risk associated with anesthetizing your pet, we take every precaution available to ensure that any risks are minimized. We also monitor vital signs throughout all stages of surgery and recovery.
What financing options do you offer (ex. Care Credit), or is payment expected at the time of service?
Sparta Veterinary Services strives to offer compassionate, comprehensive veterinary care to pet owners in Sparta, Tennessee and the surrounding communities. In order to continue a high quality of service, payment is expected in full at the time of examination or procedure. We accept cash, checks, and Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express credit card payments. All cards must be signed by the owner of the card. In order to focus on our patients’ needs, customer service and minimizing costs, we do not bill.
Sometimes an unexpected emergency occurs with our pets that is not within our immediate budget. If you would like the option of financing unanticipated expenses in order to provide the best care for your pet, we are partnered with Care Credit. It takes just 5 minutes to complete an application. You can either apply at our clinic, where we’ll call in your application over the phone for immediate approval, or apply yourself online at: https://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/.