For our existing clients; we appreciate your confidence in our services. Remember we have outstanding boarding facilities to accommodate your kenneling needs. You can download a blank boarding form and fax it to our offices to secure a reservation. After faxing the form be sure to call us to confirm your reservation.
New Client Information Sheet Boarding Form
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where are you located?
Meyerland Animal Clinic is located near the southwest corner of the loop 610, at 4995 W. Bellfort. If coming from the north, exit 610 at the South Post Oak exit, turn right on West Bellfort, and the clinic is about ¼ mile down, on the left.
If coming from the south, come up South Post Oak to West Bellfort, and turn left on West Bellfort.
If coming from the west, or southwest, come up Highway 59 to the West Bellfort exit, and travel east until you are past Willowbend, then the clinic will be on your right, after the library.
If coming from the east, exit 610 at the S. Post Oak exit (it is a left exit!) and then take the W. Bellfort exit. Turn right on West Bellfort, and the clinic is about ¼ mile down, on the left.
2. What is the exam charge?
Our comprehensive medical exam charge starts at $52.25, when you have an appointment. If your pet is in need of urgent care, requires x-rays, or it is an emergency, there will be an additional charge.
3. What are your hours?
We are open from 7:15am to 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. We are open from 7:15am until 7pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Saturday we are open from 7:30am until noon.
4. Who will I see?
You can choose to make your appointment with whichever doctor that you prefer. We encourage all of our clients to try to continue to see your original doctor for all of your rechecks and exams, so that you can develop a close and knowledgeable relationship for your pet. If you cannot recheck with your same doctor because of scheduling difficulties, any of our other highly qualified doctors can examine your pet and make recommendations for you.
5. Do you see exotic pets?
Yes, several of our doctors are trained to see exotic pets, including rabbits, birds, reptiles, rodents and snakes. Please be sure to tell the receptionist that you have an exotic pet when you are making your appointment, so that you can be scheduled with the appropriate doctor.
6. Do you treat wildlife or injured wild animals?
It is against the law for us to treat animals that are not considered domesticated pets. We will refer all care of these animals to a registered wildlife rehabilitator. However, in some cases, we will accept these injured animals and stabilize them until that transfer can be made.
7. What should I expect during my first appointment?
Expect to be pleasantly surprised! A veterinary assistant or technician (like a nurse for animals will escort you into a room and take a short history to gather information about your pet. He/she will then take some basic physical measurements such as a temperature, heart rate and breathing rate, before bringing in the doctor. Your pet will receive a comprehensive medical exam and the doctor will obtain a more complete history of your pet’s problems. Your doctor will take whatever time is needed to properly diagnose and treat your pet, always letting you know approximate costs of whatever tests are indicated. Please feel free to request an estimate. We encourage you to be sure to ask all of the questions that you may have, so that you feel satisfied with your visit.
8. Is there going to be an office visit every time I come in?
If your pet is being rechecked for the same problem within several weeks of your initial visit, you will be charged a recheck exam fee, not the full office call charge.
9. How can I catch my cat in order to bring her in?
This can be a difficult task for some cats! We suggest always using a pet carrier, or a pillowcase to protect your cat for the car ride and to protect yourself. You may need to entice your cat into the carrier with food. We also recommend letting your cat get used to the carrier by leaving it out several days in advance of your appointment, so the cat won’t be scared of it. Many cats are more accommodating of being put into a pillowcase, and they can breath through the fabric quite easily. Just be sure to tie it at the end!
10. Do you give vaccines every year?
We follow the vaccine protocols recommended by most of the major veterinary universities. Puppies and kittens start out with a series of vaccines in order to build their immunity, then they will receive repeat vaccinations a year later. After that point, we start reducing the frequency of most of the vaccines, to a three year schedule. We will always send reminders of what is due each year, because every year your pet needs a full physical exam. Remember, that your pet ages about 4 years to every one of your years, so we need to examine them on a regular basis to keep them healthy!
11. Can I visit a hospitalized pet?
We encourage visitation by owners at any time during our office hours. You are welcome to stay as long as you like with your pet, because we know it is in the best interest of your pet’s health and happiness.
12. Do you scan dogs and cats for a microchip if I find a stray?
Yes, we scan all animals that don’t have an owner when brought into the clinic, in the hopes of finding their owner. We have a universal scanner that will read all types of microchips.
13. Do I need a heartworm test every year in order to buy heartworm preventive?
We do require a heartworm test every year in order to sell you heartworm preventive for your dog. Because of the very high prevalence of the disease in this Gulf Coast area, we want to know every year that your pet’s test is negative. If your dog does come up positive on a test, then at least we will have caught the disease early in its course, before too much heart and lung damage has occurred.
We do not require cats to be tested, because there is no treatment for heartworm disease in cats. We can treat the symptoms, which are quite serious and life-threatening, but we cannot kill the worms themselves. We strongly urge all of our feline owners to keep their cats, even their indoor cats, on heartworm preventive, because the rate of infection is the same between indoor and outdoor cats.
14. Are pinworms contagious to my kids?
Contrary to popular thinking, dogs and cats do not carry pinworms at all! Any infection your child had contracted must be from another source, usually another human.The only other animal to carry pinworms is the horse.
15. Can my kids catch tapeworms from my pet?
Yes, it is possible, although not very common, for humans to contract tapeworm infection from the fleas of dogs and cats. This is why we recommend year-round flea control in this area (dogs and cats—and humans--get tapeworms by ingesting an infected flea). We have excellent oral or topical medicines that will effectively prevent flea infestations.
16. Can my cat (or dog) catch my cold?
Generally, the viruses that cause respiratory infection in humans are not the same viruses than can affect cats or dogs, and vice versa.
17.Can my dog catch heartworms from the stray dog I just found?
Heartworms are not directly contagious from dog to dog, or cat to cat. The worm has a life cycle where it must be ingested by a mosquito before it can develop further, and then that mosquito must bite a dog or cat to transfer the larval stage of the heartworm. Direct transmission is not possible.
18. Can I give my dog or cat aspirin or Tylenol or ibuprofen?
We do not recommend any of these drugs to be given unless under the direct advice of one of our veterinarians. Aspirin can be deadly to cats if given at the wrong dosage, and Tylenol will be deadly at any dosage in cats. Aspirin in dogs can cause severe gastrointestinal ulceration and ibuprofen will cause acute kidney failure. Please consult with one of our veterinary staff for further information and advice.
19. What do I need to bring when I board my pet?
You need to bring any medications that your pet is taking. We will set up a special cage card for your pet so that our staff can give the medicines as you direct. One of the major benefits of boarding in our clinic is that we scrupulously follow your medical directions to be sure everything is done just as desired. If any medical problems arise when your pet is boarding, the staff immediately alerts the doctor for care.
You don’t need to bring food unless your pet is on a special diet. We normally feed prescription EN from Purina, which is a special diet that helps to prevent gastrointestinal upset. We provide bedding, blankets, towels and food bowls. We allow you to bring one special toy if you like, and any treats that you would like us to feed.
Exercise is given at least twice daily, and usually much more than that, in our large outdoor, grassed yard. Every animal goes out individually, unless you have several dogs boarding together and you want them exercised together.
The loving care and attention to cleanliness are given at no extra charge!