How safe is my pet’s procedure?
At Oak Tree Animal Clinic, we only recommend those surgical procedures that are in the best interest of your pet. Each individual procedure varies from pet to pet and condition to condition. Typically, a physical examination, review of the patient’s medical history, and blood work are recommended for each pet that may have to be subjected to sedation or anesthesia. We will use this information to screen your pet for potential issues before beginning any procedure to help ensure the safety of your pet.
Although there will always be a minimal amount of risk associated with anesthetizing your pet, we take every precaution available to ensure that any risks are minimized. We also monitor pets during surgery and recovery.
How often should my pet have an exam and blood work?
At Oak Tree Animal Clinic, we believe that the best way to prolong the relationship you share with your pet is to identify disease processes early and prevent the progression of chronic illness, before it becomes a problem. To keep tabs on your pet’s overall health, it is important to maintain annual exams and blood work. We recommend an examination by your veterinarian every 12 months for healthy pets under the age of 7, and every 6 months for healthy senior patients. Those pets with chronic disease or mobility issues may require examination on a more frequent basis. We also recommend annual blood work profiles to provide a continuous record for our veterinarians to identify trends and specific areas to focus on in an effort to prolong the duration and quality of life of our patients.
Why does my pet need a dental procedure?
Periodontal disease (disease of the structures around the tooth--the gums, bone, and connective tissue) is one of the most common problems that we deal with on a daily basis at Oak Tree Animal Clinic. Periodontal infections, tooth fractures, and oral masses can be sources of serious discomfort for your pet and can cause your pet to lose teeth prematurely. Additionally, untreated periodontal infections can cause damage to major organs of the body including the heart, liver, and kidneys. Proper veterinary dental care can help prevent your pet from developing painful dental conditions, avoid loss of teeth, and can extend their life expectancy as well.
What if my pet has an after-hours problem?
Unfortunately, when accidents happen to our pets, they don’t always occur during office hours. If you find yourself in an emergency situation with your pet such as a car accident, trauma, or poisoning after office hours, please call either:
Animal Emergency Center
3767 Summer Ave.
Memphis, TN 38122
Phone: (901) 323-4563
Or
Memphis Veterinary Specialists
555 Trinity Creek Cove
Cordova, TN 38018
Phone: 901-624-9002
What are heartworms, and how can I prevent my pet from getting them?
Heartworms are a serious, year-round parasitic threat to your pet’s health. After an infection occurs, treatment is not only very expensive, but can also be life threatening.
Heartworms are common in Mississippi, and can infect both our canine and feline companions. Heartworms are spread when a mosquito bites an infected animal and then transfers the juvenile worms when it bites a healthy animal. Unless your pet is taking a heartworm preventative, these immature worms can grow into adults that can cause serious damage to your pet’s blood vessels, lungs and heart, and may even cause death.
There are several options available for prevention of this potentially life threatening disease. Preventatives can keep your dog or cat healthy and are much less expensive than having to treat adult heartworms. Our veterinarians will determine which preventative is right for your pet, based on needs and lifestyle.
What financing options do you offer?
Cash, checks, credit cards, Care Credit, Scratchpay Oak Tree Animal Clinic strives to offer compassionate, comprehensive veterinary care to Lewisburg, Mississippi and the surrounding communities. In order to continue a high quality of service, payment is expected in full at the time of examination or procedure. We accept cash, checks, debit and credit card payments, as well as Scratchpay.
Sometimes an unexpected emergency occurs with our pets that is not within our immediate budget. If you would like the option of financing unanticipated expenses in order to provide the best care for your pet, we are partnered with Care Credit. For more information and to find out if you qualify, please visit https://www.carecredit.com/