Pine Tree Veterinary Hospital

220 Western Avenue
Augusta, ME 04330

(207)622-6181

www.pinetreevet.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions/answers that we are frequently asked. If you have additional questions that aren't covered here, please feel free to give us a call at (207) 622-6181.

  1. Do I need to have an appointment?
    Yes, patients are seen by appointment.
  2. What forms of payment do you accept?
    Cash, Care Credit, and all major credit cards are accepted.  We no longer accept personal checks.  Care credit may only be used for purchases greater than $200.
  3. Can I make payments?
    Payment is required at the time of service.
  4. At what age can I have my pet spayed or neutered?
    Spaying or neutering can be done at approximately 5-6 months of age. Your pet is given an exam prior to surgery to help determine whether your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery. Also a pre-anesthetic blood screen is recommended prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery.
  5. What is the pre-anesthetic blood screening?
    This is a blood test that is run here in the clinic prior to surgery. It tests organ function and blood counts. The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to help assure safety during surgery by identifying underlying disease conditions ahead of time.  This may result in an altered plan for anesthesia, or perhaps delaying the procedure until the abnormalities are properly addressed.
  6. How long do the sutures stay in after my pet's surgery?
    Procedures involving sutures require them to be removed in 10-14 days following the surgery.
  7. Is it a good idea to let my pet have at least one litter?
    No, there is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However there are plenty of advantages to having you pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood, decreasing the incidence of prostate cancer later in life, helping prevent spraying and marking, and also decreases the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.
  8. Do you board pets?
    We no longer board pets except as needed for medical and surgical procedures.