January 2023 Newsletter
General Housekeeping
Payment Policy
In an attempt to “keep up with the times” and streamline our check-out process - CAC will no longer be accepting cash or checks as payment. We do offer payment via credit/debit card, Care Credit, and Apple Pay. We appreciate your understanding in this transition!
Prescription Return Policy
In accordance with Virginia state law, Clarendon Animal Care is prohibited from allowing the return/refund of any prescription medication once it has left our facility. Additionally, all controlled substances are non-refundable once they have been prescribed. If you have old or unused medications, please visit the Arlington VA Government website for disposal locations.
Outside Prescription Request Policy
Is your pet on regular medication from an outside pharmacy? Remember to be prepared with refills, as these can take up to 5 business days on our end to process, in addition to the processing and shipping time from the online pharmacy. Additionally, there are some online pharmacies that are not equipped to handle our faxed requests so it may be necessary to pick up a written prescription directly from our office. Please review our prescription page for further information!
Pet's Photo on ezyVet
Please take a moment to upload your pet’s photo to the ezyVet portal so we have your favorite picture in your pet’s medical records. You can also navigate to the "MAKE AN APPOINTMENT / PET PORTAL" button on the homepage of the Clarendon Animal Care website.
Monthly Reminder
If you are no longer a CAC client, please contact us so we can deactivate your account and send records to your new hospital. You can also log into our Patient Portal to confirm and update information.
Vaccine Certificates
Reminder that you can access your pet’s vaccine status on the patient portal - unfortunately, the system does not allow a download of it but feel free to screenshot the vaccines or “right click” the page and print for reference; if you need a PDF or physical copy of the vaccine certificate, please contact the clinic!
Mine! Possessive Aggression & How to Combat it!
Many of us have seen our pets playing with their favorite toy, chewing on their best bone, or cuddling with the comfiest blanket and noticed they may not be up for sharing - with you, with other pets, or anyone in general.
When a pet is displaying these types of behaviors it is often referred to as “Resource Guarding” or “Possessive Aggression” - but there are ways to help fix this! Check out this article Does Your Dog Have a Problem Sharing With Others for tips and tricks on the do’s & don’ts of managing and preventing these behaviors!
My Pet is Having Surgery! What Do I Do?
As we enter the new year, you may find that your pet needs surgery or a procedure (from a neuter/spay to a dental cleaning to a mass removal) and questions on how best to prepare for this; check out our surgery & dentistry page for FAQ regarding surgery/procedures, as well as tips/tricks, and recommendations from the Vet and our My Pet is Having Surgery - How Can I Prepare blog post for additional information/answers!
If your pet is having a procedure done, we do recommend bringing their cone collar/donut/surgisuit to the appointment/procedure for the Vet to fit prior to discharge if your pet has one from previous use!
DVM Blog Post Highlight - Senior Pets Physical, Mental, and Behavioral Changes
In this week’s DVM Blog Post, Dr. Skorup highlights physical, mental, and behavioral changes that require more care and patience as our pets get older. Even though we wish they could stay young and with us forever, being proactive will help pets age gracefully and minimize problems; the best ways to help your pet do just that include:
Play brain games
Maintain a healthy weight
Keep up with hygiene
Be proactive about comfort and safety
Partner with your veterinarian
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Product Alert!
We will be phasing out carrying the oral heartworm preventative Triheart, as well as the every-three-month oral flea and tick preventative Bravecto, on our in-hospital shelves, though they will continue to be available through our hospital-associated online pharmacy. While these are highly effective and safe products, our product of choice for the majority of our patients is the monthly all-in-one product Simparica Trio, which provides the convenience of one product with coverage against heartworms, fleas, and ticks. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team if you have any questions about your pet's preventative medications!
Fear Free Tip of the Month
While a Fear Free visit is always CAC’s first priority, stress and anxiety from the vet (or other visits outside the home) can extend to the home once the pet returns and may even cause a negative reaction to the pet from other pets in the household.
Check out this article How to Manage a Fear Free Return Home on the Fear Free Happy Homes website for tips and tricks on “reintroducing” a pet to the household following a vet, grooming, or hospital visit!