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Ottumwa Family Animal Care FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are your hours?

We are open Monday through Friday 7:30 AM-5:30 PM, Saturday 7:30AM-Noon and Sunday closed.

What form of payments do you accept?

We currently accept cash, credit/debit card, check, and CareCredit.

Do we offer payment plans?

We offer payment plans through CareCredit – they offer veterinary and pet financing to help keep your most cherished family members in top shape.

What kind of pets do you treat?

We currently see dogs, cats, chickens, lizards, no venomous snakes under 20 pounds, rabbits, guinea pigs, and pocket pets.

Do I need an appointment?
Yes, appointment is recommended.
How do I make an appointment?

You can book an appointment through our online system or by calling the clinic at 641-682-2291.

Do you offer boarding and daycare?

Yes!

What are the recommended vaccines for dogs?

We recommended Rabies, Da2ppL (Distemper, Parvo & Lepto), Bordetella (Kennel cough), and Lyme vaccine.

What vaccines are recommended vaccines for cats?

Rabies, FVRCP (Distemper), and Leukemia.

Why should I spay or neuter my pet

There are a number of benefits to spaying/neutering. Some of these include decreasing overpopulation, limiting aggression, pyometra, roaming protecting, and cancer prevention.

What age should I spay/neuter my pet?

4-6 months.

Should I give my dog and cat flea medication year around?
Yes, fleas are common in our area!
How can I order food, medication and preventitives for my pet?

You can call us at 641-682-2291 or order from our online pharmacy!

Standard Dog/Cat Wellness

What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease and/or Urethral Obstruction

Urinary tract disease is common in male cats and can be potentially life-threatening. Signs of the disease can be apparent such as struggling to urinate with low or no stream, blood in urine, inappropriate urination, vocal urinations, or can be vaguer such as vomiting, inappetence, and hiding/behavioral changes. If you spot some of these symptoms, your pet should be evaluated immediately – if we are not open, we recommend going to the ER.

The disease can be a result of bacterial infection, crystals/stones, behavioral, or idiopathic cystitis. Crystals/Stones can often be prevented by adding water to their diet.

What is dietary indiscretion/foreign bodies?

To avoid dietary indiscretion, we recommend avoiding fatty foods, bones, and spicy foods. If your pet is prone to shredding or swallowing toys/foreign objects, this should be trained away to avoid further complications. Signs of ingested foreign bodies can be vomiting, retching, lethargy, painful/tense abdomen, and small/no stools noted.

If these signs are spotted, they should be evaluated immediately and may require diagnostic imaging (radiographs, ultrasound, or both).

Depending on the type of foreign body and if caught early, it may be vomited up (do not attempt at home without consulting with a vet).

If that doesn’t work, endoscopy or surgery may be necessary.

How contagious are intestinal parasites?

Intestinal parasites, like roundworms and hookworms, are threats to pets and are even transmissible to humans. Many infected pets don’t show any signs of illness at all.

Fortunately, we can recommend tests to tell if your pet has parasites. We can also examine your pet for evidence of fleas, ticks, or other parasites. Our expert staff can recommend medications to help control fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites. Preventing parasites in your pets also helps protect children and other family members, so let’s work together to protect your pets and family.

What to do the night before a visit to the vet?

Make sure your pet is well-rested. If you’re going in for an operation, please follow feeding instructions from your veterinarian to avoid complications. Please have ready all necessary travel materials such as collars, cages, and leashes.

What to do the morning of?

Get a head start before your appointment time. You never know when traffic might hit. Make sure your pet is comfortable if you’re driving or have the proper transporting equipment for your method of travel.

Behavioral / Fear Free

What does “Compassionate Restraint” entail?

Compassionate restraint is a method of patient handling that employs a low-stress technique. The purpose of compassionate restraint is to keep our patient’s fear, anxiety, and stress at a low baseline level. If your pet demonstrates signs of stress during handling, our team will discontinue whichever activity is causing that stress, and reevaluate their technique to one that supports your pet’s behavioral needs. The goal is for our patients to leave happy and not become fearful, anxious, or stressed during future visits to the vet.

What are some steps I can take to reduce my pet’s fear, anxiety, or stress when at the vet?

Your pet can sense your stress about his/her visit. We try to make the environment here feel as calm and relaxed as possible. You’ll find soothing music in the exam rooms, fuzzy blankets for cats, lots of treats, and gentle handling of your pet for exams. If you know ahead of time that your pet will be stressed, please call us to talk about it prior to the exam. There are medications available to administer to your pet at home prior to your visit to help him feel less nervous while he’s here.

We also recommend stopping by for “happy visits.” During these visits, you drop in with your pet to get some treats and pets, and then you’re on your way. Hopefully, these visits will help your pet know there’s nothing to fear at the vet’s office.

Should I do anything special the morning of my appointment?

If fasting has been recommended for your visit, do not offer any food or water past midnight the previous night. Make sure to pack your kiddo’s favorite treats and bring along a toy, blanket, or bedding that makes them happy. We generally recommend feeding half of a normal breakfast because we plan on giving your kiddo LOTS of treats during their visit!

What are some tips for transporting my pet to the cat in a low-stress manner?

Place your kittie’s carrier in a common space in your home at least three (3) days prior to your visit and begin leaving treats in or just in front of the carrier to promote healthy activity around the carrier. If you have a multi-cat household, bring some bedding that has all the cat’s scent on it, and leave this inside the carrier or your car during the visit. After the visit, you can rub your kittie with this bedding to reintegrate them with their communal scent, which will make returning home a more relaxing event.

What should I do when I arrive at the vet?
When you arrive, stop before you come in and give your kiddo a treat, do so again once you are in our lobby, and after checking in with our reception team, one more treat when you have a seat to wait for your appointment to start. We are allowing 1-2 clients in the building with each patient, and we ask that you wear a mask over your mouth and nose for the duration of your visit.