Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What are your hours?
A: Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM.
Q: How do I get in touch with you?
A: E-mail is probably the easiest way to contact me ( ). You can also call me at 857-998-7811. If I am in another appointment or on the road, I may not answer. Please leave a message, I am diligent about returning my calls as soon as I am able. If you contact me on the weekends or in the evenings, I will get back to you on the next business day.
Q: What species do you treat?
A: I treat dogs and cats.
Q: What if my pet requires surgery, x-rays, or hospitalization?
A: I work at Mill Brook Animal clinic in Arlington part time. I can provide surgical services and x-rays for your pet at Mill Brook if necessary. If your pet requires a level of care that I am unable to provide in your home or at Mill Brook, I will refer you to a hospital that will better be able to meet your needs. I'll always keep your animal’s best interest at heart, and if it is apparent that they need a procedure or a level of care that is above what I am able to provide, I will let you know and help direct you to the most appropriate place.
Q: What are you able to do on a house call?
A: I am able to provide most of the same services that a general practitioner’s office would, with the exception of sedated procedures, x-rays, and surgery. This includes (but isn’t limited to) labwork, vaccinations, evaluations of any medical problem, behavioral evaluations, international and domestic health certificates, nutritional counseling, hospice care, and euthanasia.
Q: Where is your labwork done?
A: I am able to run heartworm tests and do basic cytology (to look for ear infections, etc) in my home office. I send most of the rest of my labwork to Idexx, an outside lab. I get most results back in 1-2 days.
Q: Do you carry all medications with you?
A: I carry most of the medications that your pet will need in the days following our appointment with me. For medications that are needed immediately that I don’t carry, I will write you a prescription to be filled at a local pharmacy or a local veterinary hospital. For any medications that will be used long term or that aren’t needed immediately, I do most of my dispensing through my online pharmacy, Vetstore. To access Vetstore, click on the “Useful Links” tab on my home page, then on the “Vetstore” icon.
Q: What are your vaccination policies?
A: I think each animal’s vaccinations needs should be carefully evaluated on an individual basis. Rabies vaccination is given as required by law. I recommend giving the core vaccines (feline distemper combination and canine distemper vaccination) every three years once the animal has received their initial vaccination series. For each non-core vaccination (feline leukemia, canine kennel cough, lyme, leptospirosis), I think we need to carefully weigh the risk of the animal acquiring the disease, the severity of the disease if acquired, and any potential negative side effects of the vaccine in deciding what additional vaccines are needed.
Q: What is your philosophy on alternative or non-traditional veterinary medicine?
A: The vast majority of my veterinary training is Western based or traditional veterinary medicine. Because that it my area of training, the majority of my treatment recommendations are traditional. However, I believe that many other treatment modalities (acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine, etc) can be very helpful. I am not an expert in any non-traditional modality, but am very open to the idea of incorporating non-traditional with traditional medicine.
Q: What is a home euthanasia like?
A: Making the decision to euthanize your pet is a very difficult and personal decision. When you have decided that your pet is no longer happy and that you would like to say good-bye, having your final moments in the peace of your own house can be a huge comfort. You can choose what part of the house or yard you would like the euthanasia to be performed. First, I give an injection of a sedative, and your pet will fall asleep within several minutes. During that time, you can hold them and say good-bye. Once the sedative has taken effect and you are ready, I will give the injection that will make them pass away. It is usually very peaceful and fairly quick. You can be with your pet the entire time, if you wish. After they have passed away, I will give you the time you need to say your final good-byes.
Q: What will happen to my pet’s body after a home euthanasia?
A: Some people have plans to bury their animal in a place of their choosing. Some towns have specific regulations for burial. If you do not want to bury your animal yourself, I will take your pet with me when I leave your home. I have a relationship with Angel View Pet Cemetery (Angel View Pet Cemetary) which provides burial and cremation services. Angel View takes great pride in giving your pet the respect they deserve and I feel comfortable placing my trust in them.