(407) 644-2676

1601 Lee Road,
Winter Park, FL 32789

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Emergency / Urgent Care

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Frequently Asked Questions


After-Hours or Weekend Emergencies

We accommodate emergency appointments during normal business hours. Please call our offices in advance if possible so we can prepare for your arrival and offer advice that may save your pets life. After regular business hours and on holidays, please contact:

The Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Central Florida
Casselberry, FL: (407) 644-4449
Orlando, FL (407) 438-4449
https://www.veconline.com/ 

Appointment Policy

To allow ample time for all patients and scheduled surgical procedures, we operate primarily by appointment. Emergency cases shall always receive top priority, which is why occasional appointment delay is inevitable. Please realize that we make a sincere attempt to see each client on time.

pet-owner-resources

Patient Arrival Policy

For your protection, and that of others, all dogs must be on a leash and properly controlled while in the waiting area or exam rooms.

All cats must be presented in an appropriate cat carrier.

Payment Policy

We require full payment at the time that services are rendered. For your convenience, we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Debit Cards, PayPal, Care Credit, Scratchpay and Cash. Our credit card merchant requires an original signature by the cardholder on all credit transactions. If your pet needs to be brought in by a friend or family member, please make sure that you have established a method of payment.

Just like with a human pharmacy, products that have left our facility cannot be returned. However, opened bags of dog and cat food may be returned or exchanged because they are guaranteed by the manufacturer.

Prescription Policy

Prescription Refills. Please give us as much notice as possible when refills are needed.

At Winter Park Veterinary Hospital, we understand that there may be times in which your pet’s medications may be obtained from alternative sources other than our hospital. Please talk with us first before purchasing your pet’s medications from another source. You will find our in-house pharmacy prices are very competitive with online pharmacies. In addition our hospital online shopping pharmacy offers the same quality and guarantee as if you purchased the medication at WPVH. Please be aware that your pet is required by law to be examined at least once in the past year to continue to refill medications.


 

Common Health Questions

We recommend spaying or neutering every pet, and we recommend spaying or neutering your pet around 6 months. This recommendation may vary based on each individual pet. Please schedule an appointment to discuss spaying or neutering your pet with one of our veterinarians. Due to their increased difficulty and complexity, spays and neuters after the age of 7 months will have additional costs.

Vaccines are an important part of your dog’s or cat’s health care.  Vaccines keep your pet healthy and prevent serious diseases.  Our veterinarians will make sure your pet avoids these serious diseases through a vaccination schedule based on your pet’s lifestyle, health and individual circumstances. As part of our commitment to you, as Your Vet For Life, we use ½ ml vaccines when available for dogs for a better experience as part of our gentle pet approach.

The first Rabies shot your pet receives is good for 1 year.  Subsequent canine Rabies vaccinations immunize your pet for 1- 3 years depending upon the vaccine your pet receives.  Dogs are required by Florida State Law to be vaccinated against Rabies. For cats, we use feline-exclusive rabies vaccines which are good for 1 year.

Heartworm disease is a serious disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes and, if left untreated can be fatal.  Heartworm prevention is administered once a month either by pill or by topical application.  Depending on the specific product you and your veterinarian choose for your pet, heartworm prevention medication can prevent other parasite infestations including internal parasites (worms) and external parasites (fleas and ticks).  In accordance with the guidelines of the American Heartworm Society, we recommend all dogs and cats be given year round (12 months) heartworm prevention regardless of lifestyle.

Your dog will need to be tested with a simple blood test for heartworm disease on an annual basis.  Dogs could get sick (vomiting, diarrhea, and/or death) if placed on heartworm prevention when they have heartworm disease.  Even if they have been on heartworm prevention year round there is always the possibility that the product may have failed for various reasons (your pet spit out the pill, did not absorb the pill appropriately, topical medicine was not applied properly, forgot to administer medication on time, etc.) and the earlier we can treat your pet for heartworm disease the better the prognosis.  Some companies will guarantee their product providing you use the heartworm prevention year round and are performing yearly heartworm tests.  When starting heartworm prevention it is important that you perform an initial heartworm test. 

Yes.  Heartworm disease is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito and all mosquitoes can get into houses.

No.  Heartworm disease is a blood-borne disease that is transmitted through mosquitoes.  A simple blood test will confirm whether or not your dog has heartworm disease.

It is important to prevent fleas.  We recommend all dogs and cats be given a year round, monthly flea preventive regardless of lifestyle.  Not only are they uncomfortable for your pet, fleas are also carriers of disease, such as tapeworms.  There are many medications for the treatment and prevention of fleas.  Some medications are in a combined form with the monthly heartworm medication.  Not only is this convenient, but it reduces the cost of two medications! 

Many of the pets that visit us on a regular basis need professional teeth cleaning.  When bacteria irritate the gum line, the gums become inflamed in the early stages of dental disease causing gingivitis.  Left untreated, this leads to periodontal disease which causes the loss of the bone and gingival support structure of the tooth and subsequent tooth loss.  In addition, the bacteria are consistently released into the blood stream allowing for systemic infections, which can cause damage to internal organs, such as the kidneys, liver and heart.  A dental exam is a part of any physical exam at Winter Park Veterinary Hospital. Through routine physical exams, our veterinarians will guide you on when and how often your individual pet will need a teeth cleaning.

Yes.  Proper dental care at home is highly recommended to help maintain the oral health of your dog and cat.  Home dental care for companion animals should start early, even before the adult teeth erupt.  It is best if owners brush their dogs and cats teeth frequently.  Although tooth brushing is the best method of preventing plaque, calculus, and bacterial build-up, there are many options for dental home care. Other oral home care options such as dental formulated foods, water additives, and dental treats can be considered and discussed with our veterinarians. 

In preparation for the procedure, your pet will receive:

  • Pre-anesthetic exam
  • Pre-medication to ease anxiety and to smooth induction of anesthesia
  • Placement of an intravenous catheter to deliver medications and fluids that support blood pressure and organ function during anesthesia
  • In addition to the above it gives your pet a chance to acclimate to the hospital environment to make the situation less stressful.

If your pet is on a special diet or on any medications, you should bring these with you to the hospital. 

Please do not feed your pet after 12:00am the evening before a scheduled procedure.  There is no restriction on drinking water that evening, but the water bowl should be removed first thing in the morning (6:00 a.m.) of the procedure.  Plan to arrive at the office at the appointed time and allow 15-30 minutes for check-in procedures.

At Winter Park Veterinary Hospital, we take all anesthetic cases very seriously.  We utilize the safest, multi-modal approach that is individually created for each dog or cat.  It includes injectable medications for sedation and pain management as well as gas anesthetic agents.  The combination of pre-anesthetic assessment of your pet (including blood work), use of modern anesthetic agents, and the latest anesthetic monitoring equipment means that anesthesia is generally considered to be a very low risk for your pet. 

When we place your dog or cat safely under general anesthesia, a breathing tube is inserted into the trachea (windpipe) to administer oxygen mixed with the anesthetic gas.  As with people, an intravenous catheter is placed into your pet’s leg to infuse with fluids during the procedure. Once the procedure is completed and the anesthetic is turned off, oxygen is continued to be delivered to your pet until your pet wakes up and the tube is removed.

We closely monitor your pet during the procedure and the recovery process using advanced monitoring equipment.  Parameters often monitored include oxygen concentration in the blood stream (pulse oximetry), electrocardiogram (EKG), core body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure and carbon dioxide level.  These monitored findings allow us to perform safe anesthesia.

Your pet is always accompanied by a trained veterinary technician while they awaken from anesthesia. This allows us to calm your pet and let them wake up smoothly in the arms of a caring professional.

A multi-modal approach refers to the layered administration of small amounts of different medications to achieve the desired levels of anesthesia and pain management.  We administer lower doses of each individual anesthetic which generally equates to fewer side effects, complete pain relief and faster post-operative recovery.

We believe in performing surgery with advanced pain management techniques because we want to maximize the comfort of your pet during and after his or her procedure.  Comfort control improves your dog or cat’s recovery and speeds the healing process.  We administer pain medication before beginning the procedure, during and post-operatively as needed by your pet.

Anesthesia in otherwise healthy, older pets is considered safe. It is important to have recommended pre-operative testing performed prior to anesthesia to check major organ function and allow us to tailor the anesthesia to any pre-existing medical conditions. 

Prior to anesthesia, patients with kidney disease should be fully evaluated with blood tests, urinalysis, and possible ultrasound. Cardiology patients should also be evaluated including blood tests, chest x-rays, and echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Our veterinarians will determine based on each individual situation if it is safe for your pet to undergo anesthesia.

You will receive a call from your veterinarian or one of our veterinary assistants when your pet is in recovery from the procedure.  If there are any abnormalities on pre-anesthetic exam or blood work, you will receive a call prior to the procedure in case we need to change plans.  Remember that no news is good news, and you will be contacted immediately should the need arise. Your pet’s veterinarian will be available at discharge to discuss the procedure and discharge instructions with you in detail, as well as answer any questions.

Pets undergoing outpatient procedures will be ready to go by close of business the same day unless noted otherwise during the post-operative phone update.

It can sometimes be difficult to tell.  If you are not sure but suspect your dog or cat may be hurting, or is just not acting right, call us to have us examine your pet.  Some signs of pain are more obvious, such as limping, but some signs are more subtle and can include:  not eating, a change in behavior or normal habits, being more tired and having less energy.  Of course, these symptoms can also be caused by many problems, so early observation and action is important.

Answers to common questions after your pet returns home following surgery:

Decreased appetite can occur after surgery. There are several things you can try:

  • Offer favorite foods
  • Warm the food slightly above room temperature to increase the odor and taste

If your pet’s appetite is not normal the day after surgery, or if your pet is not drinking water, vomiting, or seems lethargic, please call our office for further instruction.

If the bandage becomes soiled, damp, chewed, or chewed off, please do not re-bandage at home. Duct tape and other items can trap moisture within the cast or bandage causing inflammation of the skin and tissues. In some cases, bandages inappropriately applied at home can even cut off the circulation to a limb!  Call us immediately if you have concerns about your pet’s bandage. Please also call us if you notice swelling of the exposed toes on the bandaged limb, which can be seen by spreading apart of the toe nails. Confine your pet to a single room or similar small area until you can call us and we can advise you to whether the bandage needs to be replaced. After a cast or splint is first removed, it may take 1-2 weeks for your pet to become accustomed to using the leg without the splint.

Difficulty having bowel movements can be expected after illness, anesthesia, or surgery. It may take a few days for the gastrointestinal system to return to normal function. Fortunately, it is not vital for your pet to pass a stool on a regular daily basis. Please call if your pet has not passed a stool within 48 hours of discharge from the hospital or appears to be straining to defecate.

Although vocalizing can indicate discomfort, it can also be associated with other feelings following surgery. Often, pets vocalize due to the excitement or agitation that they feel on leaving the hospital and returning to their familiar home environment. Some pets will also vocalize or whine as the last remaining sedative or anesthetic medications are removed from their systems, or in response to the prescribed pain medication. If crying or whining is mild and intermittent, you may simply monitor the situation. If vocalization persists, please call us for advice. In some cases, a sedative may be prescribed or pain medication may be adjusted.

Diarrhea may be seen after hospitalization. This can be caused by a change in diet but is more commonly caused by the stress of being away from home. Certain medications prescribed to your pet may also cause diarrhea. If the diarrhea is bloody, lasts longer than 12-24 hours, or if your pet becomes lethargic or vomits, please contact us immediately.  You can purchase a nutritionally complete bland food from us available in cans or kibble or we can guide you in preparing a home cooked bland diet. We do NOT recommend using any over-the-counter medication to treat the diarrhea. Please call us if there are any questions or problems.

We rely on you to keep the E-collar on your pet. While they may not enjoy it initially, they will enjoy even less having to come back to our office for a recheck visit to repair an incision that has been chewed open or treat an infection at the surgery site. They will need to wear the collar for an even longer period if this happens! Most pets become accustomed to the collar within one or two days and they can eat, sleep, and drink with it on. We are counting on you: please keep the E-collar on your pet.

If for any reason you suspect that your pet has re-injured the surgical site, confine your pet and call us immediately for advice.

If you have given your pet all the pain medication prescribed and you feel your pet still has discomfort, please call and we will be happy to discuss refilling the pain medication.

Despite the medications we have prescribed, some pets will still show signs of pain at home, such as restlessness or an inability to sleep, poor appetite, lameness or tenderness at the site of surgery.  Please confine your pet to limit their activity. Then call us immediately so we can dispense or prescribe additional medication or therapies as necessary to keep your pet comfortable.

This is commonly seen after surgery. It may indicate soreness but may also be due to anxiety or in reaction to the prescribed pain medication.  Please call and we can help determine whether additional pain medication is advised or if the dose needs to be adjusted.  We will be happy to recheck your pet for your peace of mind.

In any healing surgical area, fluid produced during the healing process may accumulate and form a seroma (fluid pocket). Fortunately, this is not painful and does not impair the healing process. Eventually, the body will reabsorb the fluid so if the seroma is small, we typically will leave it alone. If it is large, we may remove the fluid with a needle and syringe or even place a drain.  If you notice a seroma developing, please call. We may wish to recheck the area to ensure there is no infection.

This is a very common response to physiologic stress after surgery, injury, or any other health abnormality. The amount of shaking or trembling may be dramatic, but it does not always imply severe pain, cold, or distress. It may involve the entire body, or just the area of surgery.  If there are signs of pain such as restlessness, lack of appetite, or crying out, or you are concerned about what your pet is exhibiting, please call.

Some pets may urinate less after surgery or may seem to be unable to control urination. This is usually temporary and may be a side effect of medication, anesthesia drugs, or difficulty assuming “the position” to urinate. Please call if your pet has not produced urine for more than 12 hours. Many pets initially drink less after returning home, so expect less urination at first.

An episode or two of vomiting is occasionally seen after surgery or anesthesia. If the vomiting continues, blood is noted in the vomitus, or if your pet is not holding down any food or water, call to schedule a recheck of your pet by a veterinarian

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