Furr-equently Asked Questions
Are you taking new clients/patients? At this time, we are not accepting new clients. We appreciate your understanding and hope to be able to assist you in the future.
Do you see exotic or pocket pets? We are only able to service Canine and Feline patients at this time.
QUESTIONS ABOUT VISITS
"Do I need an appointment or can I just walk in?": We require appointments. Please call or email us to schedule your pet's visit.
"How often do I need to bring my pet into the vet?" At least once a year for a wellness check up and to maintain a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) If your pet is older or on routine medications, your pet will need to be seen every 6 months.
"What is a VCRP?" A VCPR stands for veterinarian-client-patient-relationship. It is a partnership between you and your pet's vet. It is based on mutual trust, respect, communication and understanding, allowing the veterinarian to diagnosis, prescribe, treat and provide ongoing care tailored to your pets needs.
"How is a VCPR maintained?" A VCPR is established only when your veterinarian examines your pet in person at least once every 12 months. If your veterinarian does not see your pet at least annually the VCPR is no longer active.
"Why is a VCPR required?" To ensure that veterinary medicine is being practiced in a safe and ethical manner. It is for your pet's safety and is also required by law in our state. Your veterinarian needs to be familiar with your animal's medical history and note any changes so they can provide your animal with safest and most effective medical care. The AVMA's Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics requires a VCPR for a veterinarian to prescribe medication or otherwise treat an animal.
"How long is a typical appointment?" The length of your appointment may vary based on the needs and temperament of your pet and any questions that you may have regarding your pet’s care. Most appointments are between 20-60 minutes. in addition to our caseload and any unforeseen circumstances that may occur when working with animals may effect time. If you have schedule restrictions please inform staff prior to your pet's appointment.
"What is the difference between a wellness visit and a sick visit?" Wellness visits focus on prevention, while sick visits address a specific problem. If your pet is unwell, a sick visit is necessary. If an illness is discovered during a scheduled wellness visit, it will become a sick visit. We aim to only vaccinate healthy pets, as vaccinating sick animals can lead to complications. The veterinarian will assess your pet’s health during the visit to determine if vaccines can be administered. If not, your pet will need to return once they are feeling better for their annual vaccines.
"Why are you recommending a drop off visit?" Drop-off appointments are available to accommodate pets on days with no open slots or when extended workups are needed. These appointments ensure your pet receives the same high-quality care as regular visits. You’ll bring your pet in the morning, and we’ll schedule a discharge time for later in the day or evening.
QUESTIONS ABOUT COST
"How much is this visit going to cost me?" Upon request, we will be happy to provide our clients with a cost estimate of services. We will not perform any services without your approval. You are welcome to ask us any questions and inform us of any financial considerations that you may have.
"Are there any pet insurance companies that you don't accept?" Pet insurance is on a reimbursement basis, meaning that owners pay the vet at the time of their visit and then they request a reimbursement from their insurance company afterward. As such, we work with all insurance companies.
"Why is veterinary care so expensive?" As pet owners ourselves, we understand that veterinary care can be expensive. Unlike human healthcare, veterinary medicine lacks the benefit of widespread insurance and government funding programs that help reduce costs, sometimes covering them entirely. The costs of veterinary care reflect the need for specialized equipment, medical supplies, medications, advanced imaging, urgent care, trained and licensed staff, facility maintenance, software, and ongoing training to ensure the highest standard of care. To assist with the unexpected costs of veterinary services, please visit www.churchville-vet.com/payment-options.html.
"Why do we have to pay at the time of service?" Similar to when you shop at a grocery store or pay for a professional service like a car repair or a hair cut we are providing services and consumable products for your pet that require payment at the time of service. Since there are no contracts or physical assets involved, it’s a standard expectation for payment to be made at the time of your pet's appointment.
"If my veterinarian doesn't clear up my pet's problem, can I get a refund?" Fees cover all services provided, including examinations, tests, diagnosis, treatment, and medications. Medical issues can be complex and may require repeat tests or treatments. Outcomes may not always meet expectations, and sometimes ongoing management is necessary. You are paying for our best efforts in diagnosis and treatment. Refunds are not available.
"How much will my pet's surgery cost?" Surgeries are specialized services that can't accurately be compared. Estimates can be provided once the veterinarian has assessed your pet's specific needs. We will be more than happy to email you an estimate and answer any questions that you may have.
"What is an OSHA compliance bio fee on my invoice?" As a medical facility, we are legally required to adhere to special disposal procedures for biohazardous waste. Disposal of these must be completed by a licensed company and they charge for their services. Facilities that incur medical waste (doctors, dentists, veterinary clinics etc.) must factor in this expense in some way. This is a similar concept to your car mechanic having to charge a tire disposal fee.
"If my pet damages it's bandage/splint will I be charged to have it fixed?" Bandages are used to protect a wound, incision or injury while it is healing. Due to the nature of animal behavior, fur and movements, it can be common for bandages to become damaged or fall off. If your pet's bandage needs to be reapplied for any reason, it is necessary to contact your veterinarian to have the bandage reapplied. An associated charge for this can be expected.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT CARE/VACCINES
"My pet has had this problem in the past. Could I get more medication?" There is no doubt that pet owner's know their pet best, however, only Licensed Doctors of Veterinary Medicine can legally and ethically diagnose, treat and prescribe medications for your pet and all medication requests must be approved by the veterinarian.
"Why do I have to bring in a fecal sample?" Fecal samples are recommended because they help give us information on the presence of intestinal parasites in your pet. Several parasites can be transmitted from pets to humans. For the health of you & your pet, we recommend doing fecal tests routinely. If you wish to decline a fecal test, simply inform our staff at the time of your visit.
"Are vaccine boosters really necessary?" Yes, Booster vaccines are required in order to complete the vaccine series, as recommended by the manufacture, to help ensure that proper immunity and protection develops in your pet. Without the recommended booster dose, your pet may not be effectively protected or considered fully vaccinated.
"Why do vets use muzzles?" A muzzle being placed on a dog ensures the safety of not only your pet but it also protects our dedicated staff. Not all dogs need a muzzle. In many instances, wearing a muzzle can also offer some pets comfort and help reduce tension. While there are various reasons a pet may need a muzzle, none of them mean that you have a "bad" dog or you are a "bad" owner.
"Do you perform titer tests for my pet's instead of vaccination?" We recommend annual vaccination in most all cases. Please visit for more information on vaccine titer testing https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/utilization-and-interpretation-of-serologic-titers/
"Can I decline Rabies?" In accordance with NYS law, rabies vaccination is required for all pets 4 months of age and older. We ensure that necessary vaccinations are administered to keep your pet protected, our community safe and to ensure that we are incompliance with State regulations. For more information on rabies please visit www.churchville-vet.com/rabies-information.html
"Why does my pet need medical monitoring?" Pets on certain medications require routine blood tests because some medications can affect internal organs. These tests help us monitor any changes in the pet’s health, allowing us to take action if necessary. Regular blood work ensures we can track the pet's overall health while they are undergoing treatment.
"Why do I have to bring my pet in for a recheck?" To determine if the infection or condition is being treated properly or has been successfully resolved, we may need to recheck your pet. Many conditions appear to improve while your pet is on medication, but then several weeks later the illness may return or it can become worse than the initial problem. A re-check examination allows us to determine if the condition improved or not and if we need to adjust the treatment plan so we can help your pet to feel its best.
"Why do you have to bring my pet into "the back?" Our treatment area offers our staff an open and safe workspace to properly care for your pet(s). In the event we need to bring you pet into the back, our treatment area is fully equip with more staff, medications, tools, monitoring/diagnostic equipment, safety resources and of course all of the toys, treats and blankets for our pets comfort. If you ever have questions, please do not hesitate to ask us. We would be happy to explain what procedure we are going to do and how we will be doing it.
"Is it safe for my pet to undergo anesthesia?" While all surgeries carry some risk, modern anesthetic equipment protocols and medications make them very safe. We perform a thorough physical exam and pre-op bloodwork to ensure your pet is fit for anesthesia. Pre-anesthetic blood testing helps identify hidden issues that could affect safety. If serious problems are found, surgery can be postponed until they are resolved.
"My pet feels better but I have meds left, do I still need to keep giving it?" Yes. You should always give ALL of your pets medication as prescribed. Your pet may look and feel better, which is ideal, but they may not be 100% over with the illness. If medication is not given as prescribed and finished, the illness may return and it could be worse than initally.
QUESTIONS ABOUT FLEAS/TICKS/HEARTWORM
"I live in town; my dog doesn’t need tick & flea prevention, right?" Even in town, pets can encounter fleas and ticks year-round due to wildlife and outdoor activities. Fleas can infest indoor areas, even during winter, and ticks are active all year. It’s crucial to use flea and tick prevention for your pets throughout the entire year.
"I only give 6 months of heartworm prevention. Why do I have to give it all year long?" The American Heartworm Society’s recommendations are for year-round treatment with a heartworm preventative. Heartworm prevention works by killing the small heartworm larvae that may have been introduced into your pet’s system while an infected mosquito was feeding. The medication will kill any larva that has been developing in the bloodstream, within 30 days before giving the medication. Mosquitos can arrive early in the spring and stay late into the fall. They can be around for up to 9 months of the year, so the preventative should be given longer than 6 months. The heartworm preventative also kills intestinal parasites. Year-round protection against these worms is very beneficial to the health of your pet as well as reduces the risk of children becoming infected with these worms.
"Why do I have to have a heartworm test every year if my dog has been on heartworm prevention for 12 months?" Annual blood tests are essential for detecting heartworm disease early. Missing a dose or having your dog vomit the medication without your knowledge can put your pet at risk. While heartworm prevention is highly effective, it's not foolproof, and there are no early symptoms of the disease. By the time symptoms appear, the disease is often advanced, making treatment more complex and costly. Additionally, the heartworm test screens for other diseases, providing a comprehensive annual checkup.
"Do I need to put flea/tick prevention on my cats if they aren’t outside much or at all?" Yes - ALL pets can be exposed and are at risk for picking up fleas & ticks. Even if they don’t go outside, fleas & ticks can be brought into your home by humans & other pets and they can even enter through doors and windows. Indoor pets are alwawys susceptible to flea and tick infestations.
QUESTIONS ABOUT RESULTS/COMMUNICATIONS
"When will I hear back with my pet's results?" We strive to contact you promptly after receiving and reviewing test results from the laboratory. While we aim for quick communication, occasional delays may occur. Feel free to reach out via email at [email protected] or phone at 585-293-2270 for updates or any questions.
"How often do you check your emails and messages?" Our clinic email and voicemail gets checked several times a day during normal business hours. Our email and phone messages are not checked outside of normal business hours. For urgent matters or urgent appointment requests, we ask that you call the office. If your pet needs medical care outside our business hours you may visit our emergency information tab.
"Can I speak directly to the vet" In some cases, the veterinarian may return calls to address questions, concerns, or discuss test results. If the veterinarian isn’t available when you call, our staff can assist you, or the vet will return your call at his earliest opportunity, prioritizing based on the urgency. If you need a more in-depth conversation with the doctor, we can arrange a consultation either in-person, over the phone, or via video.
Have more questions? Feel free to contact us!
