September 2022 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 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.
Farewell Summer - Hello Fall!
With the first day of Fall officially behind us, summer is over and it’s time to look at what changes and challenges that season change brings to our furry friends! One of the most important things to remember as we transition to fall is ticks and fleas are just as active through the fall in this area and we do recommend your pets stay on year-round preventatives!
Additionally, as the little ones head back to school in your household, your spouse begins their fall “Honey-Do” list, or you begin prepping your house for the incoming reign of bugs hiding out from the cold there may be an uptick in new things for your pets to take advantage of to chew or ingest!
In general, cats tend to go for shiny objects as well as string-type things, and dogs, well, they might go for just about anything!
Check out our Summers End article on our blog for a refresh on some of the common household items that can be toxic or harmful if your pet ingests them - if your pet does ever ingest anything we recommend reaching out to your Vet team to confirm the best next steps!
Dogs Playing with Dogs: What’s Normal?
While play is important to your pet’s socialization, it’s important to be able to assess your dog’s behavior to ensure they’re playing and not fighting/bullying their companion!
In appropriate dog play, all dogs are having fun and there is a “give and take” - one-sided interactions can often lead to inappropriate play or aggression.
So what is considered “normal” play? Dogs have 4 common games they play:
Jaw Sparring - Dogs will clash their open mouths against each other
Chase - One dog will run after another dog
Wrestling - Dogs will body slam each other and roll on the ground
Tug - Two or more dogs will grab a toy or other object and pull
It’s important to monitor the type of play your dog is partaking in and make sure that it is being mutually enjoyed and that both dogs are on the same page about what type of play they are doing; as dogs using different play styles can lead to misunderstandings and even fights.
Check out this article on the Fear Free website for more info on the types of play, how to tell if your pet (and their friend) is enjoying the play, and how to tell if your dog may be a “bully” during playtime.
DVM Blog Post Highlight - Understanding your Pet’s Labwork: Urinalysis
For this month’s DVM blog post Dr. Pike goes into the common type of urinalysis testing we run, what those tests are for, and what those results can mean!
A urinalysis gives us a lot of information about the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the urethra - but it also can tell us a lot about general health, including things that might not be obvious even to a very astute owner, until a disease has progressed beyond when it can easily be treated.
This is why we often recommend a urinalysis, especially in older patients, even when they seem to be doing very well at home!
Fear Free Tip of the Month
While most of us think of cats as just being mischievous little pets, their behaviors could actually be the results of boredom that can lead to anxiety - don’t get us wrong, sometimes they are just being mischievous!
However, it’s important to offer plenty of mental and environmental stimulation for your cat to help them fight the boredom and anxiety that may creep in.
Check out this article on the Fear Free website for suggestions and information on how to enrich your cat’s environment with plants and which plants are safe to use!