February 2023 Newsletter

General Housekeeping

Payment Policy

In an attempt to “keep up with the times” and streamline our check-out process – CAC will no longer be accepting cash or checks as payment. We do offer payment via credit/debit card, Care Credit, and Apple Pay. We appreciate your understanding in this transition!

Prescription Return Policy

In accordance with Virginia state law, Clarendon Animal Care is prohibited from allowing the return/refund of any prescription medication once it has left our facility. Additionally, all controlled substances are non-refundable once they have been prescribed. If you have old or unused medications, please visit the Arlington VA Government(goes to new website)(opens in a new tab) website for disposal locations.

Outside Prescription Request Policy

Is your pet on regular medication from an outside pharmacy? Remember to be prepared with refills, as these can take up to 5 business days on our end to process, in addition to the processing and shipping time from the online pharmacy. Additionally, there are some online pharmacies that are not equipped to handle our faxed requests so it may be necessary to pick up a written prescription directly from our office. Please review our (goes to new website)prescription page for further information!

Pet’s Photo on ezyVet

Please take a moment to upload your pet’s photo to the ezyVet portal(goes to new website)(opens in a new tab) so we have your favorite picture in your pet’s medical records. You can also navigate to the “MAKE AN APPOINTMENT / PET PORTAL” button on the homepage of the Clarendon Animal Care website.

Monthly Reminder

If you are no longer a CAC client, please contact us so we can deactivate your account and send records to your new hospital. You can also log into our Patient Portal(goes to new website)(opens in a new tab) to confirm and update information.

Vaccine Certificates

Reminder that you can access your pet’s vaccine status on the patient portal(goes to new website)(opens in a new tab)– unfortunately, the system does not allow a download of it but feel free to screenshot the vaccines or “right click” the page and print for reference; if you need a PDF or physical copy of the vaccine certificate, please contact the clinic!

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue…Here Are Some Ways to Know Your Pet Loves You!

The season of love is in full bloom but as we all know – our pets show us love year-round! Cognitive studies have been done that show both cats and dogs have the ability to form secure attachments toward humans that last a lifetime. But why don’t they tell us something we don’t know!

Just like humans, your pet may have special ways they express their love for you but there are some universal signs that your furry friend is smitten with you! From eye contact and blinking to cuddles and vocalizations, your pet says I love you in so many ways – check out this article(goes to new website) for an in-depth look at signs you can look for, what they mean, and how you can communicate your love back to your pet!

The Purr-fect Love Expression

You’re probably pretty familiar (and obsessed) with your cat’s purr and know that it generally signals their happiness or that they want more pets; however, a cat’s purr has so many additional benefits besides communicating “I love you”!

You can take a look at(goes to new website)this article(goes to new website)(opens in a new tab) for more info on how and why cats purr and what they’re trying to tell us when they do.

But the main takeaway is that the frequency and sound and feelings of the average purr have a positive impact on endorphins in humans and lowers levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, and even have a calming effect on cats themselves! Meaning, your cat not only loves you but can have a positive physical, emotional, and mental effect on you!

DVM Blog Post Highlight – Common Household Toxins Part 1

In this week’s DVM Blog Post, you can check out this article(goes to new website) written by Dr. George, an intern who spent some time at CAC visiting from the local emergency center, Southpaws!

While most of us know the common household items our pets can’t have such as chocolate, alcohol, medications… there are also some additional dangers in the home to be aware of! These include:

• Pennies

  • contain zinc, which has the potential to damage red blood cells and can lead to anemia

• Disc Batteries

  • When ingested, these batteries can conduct electricity within the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to necrosis and possible perforation of the gastrointestinal tract

• Marijuana

  • ingestion of any marijuana product has the potential for causing hypersalivation, leaking urine, incoordination, abnormal mentation, and potential seizures

• Lillies

  • the potential to cause acute kidney injury in our feline patients

• Household Cleaners

  • can cause damage to the tissue of the eyes, mouth, gastrointestinal tract, or even the respiratory system

If your pet does ingest, chew, or get a hold of something they shouldn’t, we do recommend contacting the ASPCA poison control hotline(goes to new website)(opens in a new tab) – which provides consults 24 hours/7 days a week. This service will allow you to better guide whether what your pet has been exposed to is an emergency or not. This will also allow your veterinarian to better dictate the treatment for your pet.

Fear Free Tip of the Month

As a CAC client, you’ve probably heard of the “FAS” (Fear, Anxiety, Stress) scale – but what does it really mean and what are the signs? You can check out these articles on both dogs(goes to new website)(opens in a new tab) and cats(goes to new website)(opens in a new tab) for a breakdown of the FAS scale and signs to look for to help better advocate and care for your pet at home and in the clinic to ensure they’re having as stress-free of a time as possible!