Frequently Asked Questions

We are here to answer your questions. Please do not hesitate to call us for general information. However, we are here first and foremost to care for ill and injured pets, and may not always have the time it takes to answer your question immediately. Please be prepared to leave a message for someone to get back to you if necessary. Always call if you have a question related to a medical emergency rather than leaving a message.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Questions

This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Alway seek the advice of your physician, public health professional, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding COVID-19. Additional information is available online at websites for the CDC (www.cdc.gov), Georgia Department of Public Health (www.dph.georgia.gov), and the American Veterinary Medical Association (www.avma.org).

Q: My pet or service animal needs to go to the veterinarian - what should I do (from www.avma.org)?

A: If you are not ill with COVID-19 or another communicable disease (e.g., cold, flu), call your veterarian to make an appointment for your pet or service animal as you normally would.

If you are sick with COVID-19 of another communicable disease, you should stay at home, minimizing contact with other people, until you are well. Accordingly, if this is a non-urgent appointment that needs to be scheduled for your pet or service animal (e.g., annual wellness examination, routine vaccination, elective surgery), you should wait to schedule that appointment until your physician and your public health official believe you no longer present a risk of transmitting your infection to other people you may encounter during such a visit, including owners of pets or other animals and veterinary clinic staff. 

If you are sick with COVID-19, and you believe your pet or service animal is ill, please seek assistance from your veterinarian and public health official to determine how to best ensure your pet or service animal can be appropriately cared for while minimizing risks of transmitting COVID-19 to other people.

General Questions

Q. I just found a dog/cat, or they just found me, and I don't know what to do with it. Can I bring it to you?

A. The best course of action, if you are not able to provide for the animal yourself, is for you to contact your local animal control. If they are not open, your local law enforcement agency (sheriff) should know how to proceed. Unfortunately, we are not able to track animals by their rabies tag number, and are not set up to house healthy animals. We do have the capability of scanning for microchips, and would be happy to help in that capacity. If the animal is injured, we do allow for "Good Samaritan" turnovers. Once you surrender the animal to us, you are no longer entitled to any information regarding that pet.

Q. I just found/my pet just found a baby bird/rabbit/squirrel/opossum.....What do I do with it?

A. DO NOT TOUCH IT. If it is too late for that, gently place it in a safe place away from your pets, and phone the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. They have a wildlife department that can help you. The phone number is 706-542-3221. Alternatively, you can phone your local animal control.

Q. I accidentally dropped my medication, and before I could pick it up, my dog ate it. What should I do?

A. Many human medications can be dangerous to pets, including some that we take routinely (Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, etc.). The best course of action is to act immediately. Phone us and we will direct you from there.

Q. My pet's face is suddenly swollen, but otherwise my pet seems O.K. ...can I give anything at home?

A. This problem needs to be addressed by a veterinarian. Contact us immediately. Unfortunately, we cannot advise drug doses over the phone since we do not have a working relationship with you and your pet (i.e. we are not familiar to your pets drug sensitivities, etc.). All medications, even antihistamines, have the potential to have adverse reactions in individuals, and should be administered with care.