FAQs

We like harmony and joy in our clinic and too many pets turning up at once makes for chaos. Once you schedule an appointment, that time is reserved exclusively for you and your pet. Please take a moment to review our missed appointment policy.

This does not apply to emergencies. You just come on in with your pet and we'll be with you right away, but please try and call us on the way so we are ready and waiting. If you are a patient with a scheduled appointment and we bump you temporarily in favor of an emergency, we ask that you be patient (and remain peacefully thankful that it's not your pet) until we can see you.

We require at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel your appointment. For all missed or cancelled appointments with less than 24 hours notice, you will be charged a Missed Appointment Fee of $60.

For all missed or cancelled surgeries with less than 48 hours notice, you will be charged a Missed Surgery Fee of $100.

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 in an appropriate cat carrier or on a leash. Please, no exceptions; sometimes our waiting room is a melting pot of creatures and we want you all to stay safe and happy.

For scheduled appointments, please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment time so we can check you in. If it is your and/or your pet's first visit to our clinic, please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out additional paperwork. All forms are available online to fill out ahead of time.

We do offer discounted exams to those pet owners who adopt animals from 501c3 organizations.

We do not offer discounts for breeders. 

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, cash, checks, Care Credit, and Scratch Pay Payment is due at the time services are rendered. 

We only sell prescription diets to our clients. Please note that we can not guarantee any product will be in stock unless you have placed an order for it. Our prescription diets can also be sold through our online pharmacy.

All refills will take at a minimum 24 hours to be prepared. Please call in your refill request at least 2-3 days ahead of time. Compounded and some other medications may require more time. If your pet needs blood work performed prior to a refill, make sure to do so within the time frame as directed by the doctor. 

We will not treat, and thus encourage the ownership of, exotics. Birds need to fly. Monkeys need to swing. We do treat wildlife. Texas wildlife. Car-struck deer and bent tail possums—stuff like that. We don’t even charge for that; we just ask that you donate to one of the wildlife charities in our area.

We will not conduct cosmetic procedures. No tail docks or ear crops—we support the right to wag! We will not declaw your cat. There are alternatives to declawing which we will happily talk to you about.

Euthanasia is not a "service" we offer. Our take on euthanasia is a "policy," because it is a strongly held belief we have that we exist to cater to the best interests of the patient. We will only accept our own patients and only if we believe it is in their best interest. We do not perform "convenience" euthanasia under any circumstances.

Lake Austin Blvd Animal Hospital recommends yearly visits for most pets and older pets coming in more frequently – at least every 6 months. Yearly exams include physical examinations by our veterinarians plus annual or booster vaccinations, parasite screening & prevention, and various lab tests performed.

For puppies and kittens, we need to see them on a more frequent schedule during their first year of life. For pets over age 7, we recommend exams and blood work every 6 months to help us detect diseases and issues before they become a problem.

Many people think that it is normal for a dog to have bad breath, but that is not the case. Bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth that create byproducts that contain sulfur. Regular home cleanings accompanied by scheduled professional cleanings will help to prevent bad breath and the bacteria that cause it.

Besides just bad breath, dental disease:

• Releases bacteria into the bloodstream
• Increases risk for heart, liver and kidney disease
• Can cause severe pain and problems for your pet

Pets need regular dental cleanings to increase quality and length of life and:

• Allows us to chart dental disease over time
• Means less time under anesthesia
• Reduces the need for more advanced and expensive treatment in the future such as teeth extractions and oral surgery

Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs. Recent studies show that 85% of cats and 92% of dogs over age 3 have periodontal disease.

A thorough dental cleaning can only be accomplished while the pet is under general anesthesia. The anesthesia we use is safe for all animals and your pet is constantly monitored during the dental procedure. Prior to anesthesia, blood tests are performed to help uncover any hidden illnesses.

A professional cleaning (called a dental prophylaxis) removes plaque and tartar from the teeth. Your pet's entire mouth health (teeth, tongue, gums, and lips) will be examined and assessed.

Pets cannot tell us how they feel and are able to hide their pain from us (especially cats). Changes in behavior such as appetite change, lethargy, energy level, aggressiveness, inappropriate elimination, and vocalization (barking/meowing) can be symptoms of behavior or health issues. Contact our vet hospital for an exam appointment right away.

Isolate your pet from other animals and small children to prevent the spread of the parasite to them. Bring your pet to our vet clinic for thorough testing for parasites. They can usually be easily treated, but parasite preventative measures are best for both your pet and your wallet. Ask about our available safe and effective parasite prevention products.

Lake Austin Blvd Animal Hospital recommends waiting until your pet is at least 6 months of age before seeking a spay or neuter procedure. Contact us to discuss specific details based on species, breed, and size. Spaying / neutering has health and behavioral benefits for your pet and of course, helps prevent over-population.

One infected mosquito is all it takes to infect your dog with the baby form (larval stage) of the heartworm parasite.

Heartworms are a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets. Twelve-inch-long worms (looks like spaghetti) live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected pets, causing lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and can be fatal if untreated.

How does my pet get heartworms? Heartworms living in an infected dog, cat, or wildlife produce baby worms that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it picks up these worms and when it bites another animal, the worms enter through the bite wound. Heartworms can grow and live for 5 - 7 years in dogs and 3 years in cats.

What can I do to protect my pet? Heartworm disease is preventable! Dogs should be tested annually and before starting prevention. Prevention is the safest and most cost-effective option, but treatment is available for dogs (although costly and lengthy). Cats should be tested before starting prevention and re-tested as the veterinarian deems appropriate. There is NO treatment in cats, so prevention is critical and the only means of protection.

Lake Austin Blvd Animal Hospital has safe, effective products available that cater to your pet's lifestyle and your budget. Heartworm prevention should be provided 12 months of the year.

There is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However, there are plenty of advantages to having your pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood, decreasing the incidence of prostate disease later in life, helping prevent spraying and marking, and also decreasing the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.