FAQs

Routine Exams:

• Puppies and Kittens: Typically, your vet will recommend exams every 3-4 weeks until they’re about 16 weeks old, to ensure they're developing properly and to complete vaccinations.

• Adult Pets (1–7 years): For most healthy adult pets, an annual exam is typically sufficient. This includes a full physical exam, dental checkup, and vaccination updates. Annual exams help catch any health issues early, even those that aren’t immediately visible.

• Senior Pets (7+ years): As pets age, their risk for conditions like arthritis, kidney disease, and heart disease increases. It’s generally recommended to have an exam every 6 months for senior pets. This allows for more frequent monitoring of their health and better management of age-related issues.

Blood Work:

• Adult Pets (1–7 years): Blood work isn’t always necessary every year unless there are concerns about your pet’s health or if your vet suggests it due to breed predispositions. However, annual blood tests can help monitor internal organ function and catch early signs of disease.

• Senior Pets (7+ years): For older pets, blood work is usually recommended as part of their bi-annual checkup. This can include liver and kidney function tests, a complete blood count (CBC), thyroid levels, and more. Regular blood work helps detect diseases like kidney disease, diabetes, or thyroid issues before they become more serious.

Other Considerations:

• Special Conditions or Breeds: Some breeds are more prone to specific conditions (like heart disease, hip dysplasia, or cancer), so they might need more frequent exams or specialized tests.

• Lifestyle Factors: Pets that are more active, are exposed to different environments (like outdoor or working pets), or have had previous health issues may need more frequent monitoring.

Bring Your Pet in As Soon As Possible If:

• The change is sudden or severe (e.g., aggression, confusion, hiding, lethargy, or excessive vocalizing).
• Your pet seems to be in pain, is limping, or avoiding movement.
• There are changes in appetite, thirst, urination, or bowel habits.
• You notice signs of disorientation, pacing, or staring at walls.
• Your pet is experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, or sneezing that persists more than 24 hours.

You Can Monitor Briefly If:

• The change is mild and there’s no sign of illness or pain.
• Your pet seems otherwise normal (eating, drinking, playing) and the behavior resolves in a day or two.
• You suspect a possible environmental or emotional trigger (new people, pets, loud sounds, routine changes).

Why It Matters:

Pets can’t tell us when something hurts or feels off, so behavioral changes are often how they communicate discomfort, pain, or illness. Issues like infections, dental pain, arthritis, neurological problems, or anxiety can all show up as shifts in mood, energy, or behavior.

After-Hours Care for Your Pet

If your pet experiences an emergency after our regular hours, we recommend contacting Copeland Veterinary Hospital at (931) 528-1111. They provide excellent emergency and critical care services when we are closed and can triage your pet over the phone.

If your pet's issue is non-emergent, feel free to come in as soon as we open for thorough evaluation and care.

Your pet’s health and well-being are our top priority, and we want to ensure you have access to the best care available, no matter the time of day or night.

After-Hours Care for Your Pet

At Riverside Veterinary Hospital, we strive to make high-quality veterinary care accessible and manageable for every pet owner. To support this, we offer the following payment and financing options:

• Payment at Time of Service:
Payment is expected at the time services are rendered. We accept cash,checks, all major credit cards, and debit cards.
• CareCredit®:
We proudly accept CareCredit, a healthcare financing option that allows you to pay for your pet’s care with convenient monthly payments. CareCredit offers interest-free financing for qualifying clients and can be used for both routine care and unexpected emergencies.
• Pet Insurance Support:
While we do not bill insurance providers directly, we’re happy to provide detailed invoices and medical records to help you file claims with your pet insurance company.