FAQs

Periodontal disease (disease of the structures around the tooth--the gums, bone, and connective tissue) is one of the most common problems that we deal with on a daily basis at Gentle Care Animal Hospital. Periodontal infections, tooth fractures, and oral masses can be sources of serious discomfort for your pet. Additionally, untreated periodontal infections can cause damage to major organs of the body including the heart, liver, and kidneys. Proper veterinary dental care can help prevent your pet from developing painful dental conditions and can extend their life expectancy as well.

Similar to human food intake, a diet that is low in fat and high in protein is essential to the life of your pet. Pets, like people, are unique and individual; they have different needs based on their size, breed, age, and health issues. But no matter what their individual needs are, it is important that pets maintain a healthy weight, eat a nutritious diet, and receive adequate exercise to promote living longer with fewer health issues.

When pets are overweight, it creates a tendency towards diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, and other chronic health conditions. Using our nutritional counseling services at Gentle Care Animal Hospital will help simplify just what your pet should be eating and how much.

For after-hours emergencies, please contact:
Clinic: Animal Emergency & Critical Care of Lynchburg
Address: 3432 Odd Fellows Rd.
Lynchburg, VA 24501
Phone: 434-846-1504

There are several factors that help determine the best age for spaying and neutering including your pet’s breed (larger breeds wait longer) and individual health status. Prior to any surgery at Gentle Care Animal Hospital, all pets undergo a physical exam and a pre-anesthetic blood screening to determine overall fitness for the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery.

Typical spaying and neutering for most pets not used for breeding purposes is usually recommended between 4 and 6 months of age. Spaying and neutering help with animal population control and prevent unwanted pets. Just as importantly, spaying and neutering can improve the overall health of your pet, and help in avoiding certain reproductive diseases, and some types of cancer.

Gentle Care Animal Hospital strives to offer compassionate, comprehensive veterinary care. In order to continue a high quality of service, payment is expected in full at the time of examination or procedure. We accept cash, and all major credit cards as well as Care Credit.

At Gentle Care Animal Hospital, we promote a proactive approach to pet wellness by identifying disease processes early in order to prevent chronic illnesses from becoming a problem. To ensure that we identify health issues early, we recommend an examination by your veterinarian every 12 months for all pets - young, old, and in-between. We recommend yearly visits for necessary vaccination boosters, routine blood work to detect parasites and cancer, and physical exams to monitor for any abnormality. Puppies and kittens require more frequent visits to ensure vaccinations and vaccine boosters are given at proper intervals. Older pets often require more frequent visits to monitor and treat various age-related conditions.

Heartworms are a serious life-threatening, parasitic threat to both indoor and outdoor pets. Transmitted by mosquitoes, heartworms are extremely common in a warm, moisture rich environment.

Heartworm larvae are carried to healthy animals by mosquitoes that have previously bitten infected animals. Unless your pet is taking a heartworm preventative, the microfilaria, larvae of the parasites, will mature into adult worms. Adult heartworms can cause serious damage to the animal’s blood vessels, lungs, and heart, and may ultimately cause death.

The best course of action is to have your pets tested regularly for the presence of heartworms and kept on a heartworm preventative regimen for the rest of their lives. Having your pet on a monthly preventative treatment is much less expensive than having to treat adult heartworms. There are several options available for the prevention of this potentially life-threatening disease. Our doctor will determine which preventative is right for your pet, based on their needs and lifestyle.