Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions/answers that we are frequently asked. If you have additional questions that aren't covered here, please feel free to give us a call at (913) 831-2034.

 What are the Hospital hours?

Our hospital is open Monday thru Friday from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. On Saturdays we are open from 7:30 am until 3:00 pm. The hospital is closed on Sunday.

 Do I need to have an appointment?

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. When it is your turn, you will always receive the same quality of care.

 Do you allow urgent or same day appointments?

If you are having an emergency, please call our office (913) 831-2034 and speak with one of our staff to see if you should come in or go straight to the Emergency Hospital as each case is unique.
For same day appointments and urgent needs, though we do fill up quickly on our appointments, we do sometimes have space to see same day appointments. If you have an urgent need, please call our office so we can best serve your needs. For your convenience, if we have room, you can arrange for a drop-off appointment. A 'drop-off' means you could bring your pet in to be seen with prior approval by calling us for a drop-off appointment. You would then leave him/her with us for the day. Usually we will ask you to drop-off sometime between 7:30am and 9:00am in the morning so our doctor can examine the patient in between appointments. Once the doctor is done, they will give you a call to go over the diagnosis and to give you discharge instructions. Please understand some restrictions apply and we only have so many openings for drop-offs. First come first served, so call early.

 What is your cancellation policy?

We are a small practice and when people come in late or don't show up for their appointments it affects the schedule for everyone. Please be sure to contact us if you will not be able to make your scheduled appointment in order for us to make the best use of that appointment time and help us keep our costs down. Thank you for this consideration.

 What forms of payment do you accept?

We gladly accept cash, checks (made out to Rainbow Pet Hospital), Visa, MasterCard, Care Credit, Discover/Novus, and American Express.

 Can I make payments?

To keep costs down for everyone, Rainbow Pet Hospital does not offer payment plans. Payment is required at the time of service. We gladly accept cash, checks (made out to Rainbow Pet Hospital), Visa, MasterCard, Care Credit  Discover/Novus, and American Express.

Rainbow Pet Hospital accepts Care Credit and you can check on line for information HERE.

 How should I prepare for my pet's annual appointment?

An examination is a standard procedure that we conduct when you bring your pet in, whether for annual vaccines and heartworm test, or there is something you need us to check about the health and well-being of your pet. We ask you to keep watch and make notes about your pet’s health and behavior, and talk to us about anything you notice that is out of the ordinary or ask any questions that you may have. Our nose to tail, head to toes examination of your pet can help ensure optimal health, but it takes both the pet owner and our team working together to make this happen. We also do, at no extra charge, a fecal test when you come in for the yearly vaccinations. (Different than the heartworm blood test) This test is for intestinal parasites that can be harmful to humans and pets alike. So we need you to bring in a small amount of their stool. The amount needed is only the size of the end of your thumb in a plastic bag or container.

If you have a Smartphone or a Video Camera, you can take a video or a picture of what you are seeing (abnormal behavior, limp, etc.) and show it to the Doctor when you get here as this can sometimes help the Doctor with a diagnoses. It is a great tool, and we encourage you to use it if you have one. 

 What is the process for having my pet spayed or neutered?

Females are spayed at 6 months of age, and males are neutered at 7 months of age. We feel that removing reproductive organs before puberty affects their growth, maturation, and healthy development. Puberty and sexual maturation are imperative for bone, brain and organ development. The same is true for both dogs and cats. All Furkids are given a full comprehensive examination and a pre-anesthetic blood screen before any surgery to help the Doctor determine whether your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery. We also work with you and your Furkids to help manage any pain issues both during and after surgery. Their length of stay at the hospital is dependent on the procedure that is done. Please call us with any questions you have or for an appointment.

 What is the pre-anesthetic blood screening?

This is a blood test that is run prior to surgery. It tests the organ functions, blood counts and clotting function of your pet. The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to assure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery.

 How long do the sutures stay in after my pet's surgery?

Procedures involving non-absorbable sutures usually require them to be removed typically about 10 days following the surgery. The Dr. then does an examination at this time and makes a determination of how well the site has healed and if they are ready to come out. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE SUTURES AT HOME! This needs to be done by a professional with the proper equipment to ensure safety and less risk of infection. There is no extra charge for this procedure.

How often does my pet need to have their teeth cleaned? Is there anything I should be doing at home?

We always examine your Furkids teeth as part of their annual exam to determine the best schedule for your Furkids. Just like people, individual Furkids develop tartar and oral disease at different rates. Many dogs can go for one to three years without a dental cleaning. Some smaller breeds may need a professional cleaning every year. However, by brushing your pet’s teeth and doing a few things that we can discuss with you at your next visit, you can minimize how often your pet will need its teeth professionally cleaned.  The same is true for both dogs and cats. 

 How often do you recommend performing blood work on Furkids?

In addition to having an annual physical exam for your Furkids, we may also recommend performing yearly blood work testing. This yearly examination checks your Furkids kidneys, liver, blood sugar and blood protein levels. Even if your Furkid is healthy now, we can find things that are starting to change, sometimes long before symptoms show up and the damage is already done. It is very easy to administer these blood tests at the same time we perform the yearly heartworm test. For the senior Furkids we may recommend some additional laboratory tests.

 Is it a good idea to let my Furkids have at least one litter?

The simple answer is no, there isn't an advantage to letting your pet have a litter. However there are plenty of advantages to having your pet spayed or neutered at an appropriate age of 6 months for females and 7 months for males. 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 cancer later in life, helping prevent spraying and marking, and also decreases the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.

 Do you board Furkids?

Yes, we do boarding for our clients. We have boarding space for both dogs and cats. All boarders need current Rabies and FVRCP (feline) or DHPPB-L (Canine) vaccines.

 What are your kennels like?

Our kennels are all indoor. The dogs are walked 3 times daily while they are boarding. The cat boarders are housed in a separate area away from the dogs. We feed exclusively Hill's Science Diet foods in our kennel. If your pet needs a Prescription medication, diet or specialty food, we ask you to bring enough for your stay.