Types of Appointments We Offer

At Compassion Veterinary Center, we offer several types of appointments to meet your pet’s individual needs. Whether your pet is here for routine preventative care, an illness, a scheduled procedure, or an urgent medical concern, our team is here to help.

Please review our appointment types below to determine which visit is appropriate for your pet. If you are unsure which appointment to schedule, please call our office at 540-710-7111 and press option 4 to speak with our front desk.

Happy & Healthy Wellness Appointments

Our Happy & Healthy Wellness appointments focus on keeping your pet healthy through routine examinations and preventative care.

These appointments may include:

• Annual wellness examinations

• Routine vaccinations

• Basic preventative testing

• Review of your pet’s overall health and preventative care needs

Annual wellness exams are required for all patients to have on file before we can prescribe medications. This allows our veterinarians to evaluate your pet’s current health and ensure that any prescribed medications are appropriate.

Additionally, all canine patients must have an up-to-date heartworm test on file to receive preventatives. Keeping your pet’s testing current is an important part of protecting them from preventable diseases.

We recommend scheduling your pet’s wellness appointment annually to keep vaccinations, preventative care, and required testing up to date.

Sick Pet Appointments

Sick Pet appointments are for medical concerns that are not part of a routine wellness visit. These are problem-focused examinations intended to evaluate a specific illness, symptom, or change in your pet’s health.

Examples include:

• Ear infections

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Unknown lumps or bumps

• Lethargy or unusual behavior

• Allergies or skin concerns

• Other new or concerning symptoms

• Behavioral Issues

During these appointments, our veterinary team will focus on evaluating the presenting concern and recommending appropriate diagnostics or treatment.

Please note that Sick Pet appointments do not count as annual wellness examinations. Because these visits focus on specific medical problems, a separate wellness appointment may still be needed to keep your pet’s annual exam up to date.

If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, please refer to our Emergency Appointments section below.

Pre-Surgical Appointments

A pre-surgical appointment is required before any surgical procedure. This visit allows us to discuss your pet’s upcoming procedure, answer your questions, and ensure we have completed the necessary preparations before surgery.

During this appointment, we will review:

• The planned surgical procedure and what to expect

• An estimate of the anticipated costs

• Any required pre-surgical bloodwork

• Vaccination requirements, if applicable

• Pre-surgical instructions and necessary paperwork

This is an opportunity to discuss the procedure with our team, review your pet’s needs, and ensure you understand the recommended plan and associated costs.

Once the pre-surgical appointment is complete, our technicians will schedule your pet’s surgery drop-off appointment and review any instructions you need to follow before surgery.

Surgery Drop-Off Appointments

Surgery drop-offs are scheduled after your pet’s pre-surgical appointment has been completed.

Our surgery drop-off window is between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM. This allows our technicians time to get patients settled in, complete the admission process, and prepare them for their scheduled procedures.

What to Expect at Drop-Off

When you arrive, our team will review the information and instructions discussed during your pre-surgical appointment, including:

• Pre-surgical paperwork: We will confirm that the necessary paperwork has been completed.

• Pre-surgical medications: We will confirm whether any medications were administered before surgery, if instructed.

• Food and water: We will ask when your pet last ate or drank. Unless your veterinarian provides different instructions, pets are generally instructed to have nothing to eat after midnight before surgery. Please follow the specific instructions provided for your pet.

• Pick-up arrangements: Our team will explain how we will contact you to schedule your pet’s pick-up time after surgery.

Once the intake process is complete, please stop by reception to take care of any required deposit.

Our team will keep your pet’s comfort and safety in mind throughout their stay and will provide you with pick-up instructions and any necessary aftercare information.

Technician Appointments

Technician appointments are available for pets who are up to date on their physical examinations but need routine services performed by a veterinary technician.

These appointments may include:

• Routine vaccinations

• Heartworm testing

• Nail trims

• Anal gland expression

• Other approved technician services

Technician appointments have a $25 appointment fee, compared with our regular $75 doctor appointment fee.

These visits are intended for routine services and preventative care updates, not for evaluating medical problems.

If your pet is experiencing symptoms such as itching, vomiting, diarrhea, limping, ear problems, or other health concerns, a doctor appointment is required. Our technicians cannot replace a veterinary examination when a medical problem needs to be evaluated.

Please ensure your pet’s physical examination is current before scheduling a technician appointment. If your pet is due for an annual exam, please schedule a wellness appointment instead.

Euthanasia Appointments

We understand that saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the most difficult decisions a family can face. At Compassion Veterinary Center, we take pride in helping make this experience as peaceful, compassionate, and comfortable as possible for both you and your pet.

Our team will treat you and your pet with kindness, patience, and respect throughout the process. We understand that every family and every pet is different, and we will do our best to support you during this difficult time.

We offer several aftercare options, including off-site cremation services. Our team will discuss the available options with you so you can make the decision that feels right for your family.

If you have questions about the process, aftercare options, or scheduling an appointment, please call our office. We are here to help guide you through this difficult time with compassion and understanding.

Emergency Appointments

Emergency appointments are intended for urgent and potentially life-threatening medical situations that require immediate attention.

Examples of emergencies include:

• Being hit by a car

• Seizures

• Difficulty breathing or respiratory distress

• Wounds resulting from a dog fight

• Other sudden, severe, or potentially life-threatening medical conditions

If possible, please call our office before arriving with an emergency. This allows our team to assess the situation, prepare for your pet’s arrival, and determine whether we have the staff and equipment necessary to provide appropriate care.

Emergency appointments are dependent on our availability and ability to safely treat your pet. If we are unable to provide the care your pet needs, we will refer you to another veterinary facility that may be better equipped to assist.

If your pet is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please do not delay seeking care while waiting for a response from our office. If we are unavailable or unable to accommodate your pet, please contact the nearest appropriate emergency veterinary hospital.

Questions About Which Appointment to Schedule?

We understand that it is not always easy to know which type of appointment your pet needs. Our front-desk team is happy to help determine the appropriate appointment type based on your pet’s needs.

Please call 540-710-7111 and press option 4 to speak with our front desk.

We look forward to caring for your pets at Compassion Veterinary Center!