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 419-625-2484 or 419-499-4949.

What are the Clinic hours?
Please click  Hours

Do I need to have an appointment?
Yes, patients are seen by appointment.  Emergencies occur and will be treated ASAP.  A head's up call would greatly improve our response time.

What forms of payment do you accept?
Cash, Check, Mastercard, Discover, Visa, and CareCredit

Can I make payments?
Payment is required at the time of service.

Can I call for an estimate?
In order to provide an accurate estimate, estimates can only be provided for pets that are current patients of NOAH Pet Clinic

What is CareCredit?
CareCredit is a healthcare credit card that makes care possible today - for purchases of all amounts. It is a credit card designed for your health and wellness needs. With many of our special financing options, you can avoid paying interest by making your minimum monthly payments and paying the full amount due by the end of the promotional period. Not all enrolled healthcare practices offer all special financing options, so please ask your practice to explain which ones are available for your purchase.  Please click to learn more CareCredit

Why must my pet have an annual exam?
Pets age much faster than people, this is why they do not live as long.  In order to help ensure your pet can live a long healthy life, annual exams are as important as providing food and water.  Examinations can uncover diseases that otherwise go undetected for years, all the while affecting your pet's health.  Veterinarians are required to have a current Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship in order to dispense medications legally.  Please see VCPR - AVMA for further details. How much does it cost to have my pet examined?
The costs of examination and service depends on the health and needs of your pet.

Do you board pets?
No, we do not currently board pets.  There are numerous boarding facilities in the Huron/Erie county area.

Do you have an emergency service?
After Hours Emergency Care:  If you have an emergency when we are closed, please contact MedVet Cleveland West at (216) 362-6000 or Animal Clinic Northview at (440) 327-8282.  Clients who live in Ottawa or Sandusky counties may wish to contact MedVet Toledo at (419) 473-0328.  These facilities are able to provide overnight critical care and monitoring. 

Is it a good idea to let my pet have at least one litter?
No, there is no evidence-based advantage to letting your pet have one litter. Delivery complications and cost of caring for the litter can be quite significant.  However there are plenty of advantages to having you pet spayed or castrated. These advantages include decreasing the chances of malignant breast tumors later in life, eliminating 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, usually makes training easier (not thinking with the hormones), and also decreases the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.

Can you recommend a breed of dog or cat for my family / can you recommend a breeder?
Northern Ohio Animal Healthcare generally does not recommend a specific breeder.  Although a small number of our clients may be breeders, we do not offer special consideration.  When choosing to decide to obtain a pet, we recommend you check with your local animal shelters/rescue groups first: Humane Society of Erie County, Erie County Dog Warden, Pet Finder.   If you are set on a specific breed that you cannot obtain through one of the aforementioned groups, please do your homework.  There are great differences in temperament, activity level, and basic grooming/maintenance needs among the breeds of dogs and cats.  Please discuss your lifestyle with our healthcare team to hopefully guide you towards a breed that is best suited for your family. 

Do you / will you make nutritional recommendations?
Pets with true disease are the ones that will benefit most from a nutritional consult (those needing prescription diets and/or supplements).  Pet food quality and nutrition have come a long way over the past 10-15 years.  AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials) has provided regulations to ensure that diets produced for animal consumption meet a minimum requirement.  Additionally, the big pet food companies (Purina, IAMS, Hills Science Diet, Royal Canin) have lead the industry in research to provide a variety of diets, ensuring the nutritional needs are met from pregnancy/lactation, to puppy/kitten, to adult, and finally senior pets.  Simply, the vast majority of the commercially available pet foods will meet the nutritional requirements of your pet, just stay away from the cheap store-brands (some can contribute to obesity and urinary disorders cats, and most contain a lot of filler, resulting in more poop for you to clean up).  True hunting/sporting dogs may require additional nutrition, but many of the pet food companies have diets specifically made for the needs of performance animals.  The topic of what diet to feed can be controversial and personal.  Our general recommendation is to find a diet with the AAFCO statement "dietary/feeding trials/tests substantiate that this diet provides complete and balanced nutrition".  Please keep in mind that a lot of new pet food companies have come out saying their food is better, this is largely marketing, taking advantage of the research performed by other companies.  Look for the AAFCO statement (usually found near the ingredient list), look at the ingredient list, look at the price, and ask yourself, do I want to pay for this?  Just as important....does my pet enjoy this food?

I heard corn in my pet's food is bad, is that true?  
This can be a much longer answer than with the previous question.  To be short, not that likely.  Despite claims from some of the newer pet food companies, grains are not evil.  Only a small percentage of true food allergic dogs are allergic to grains, more specifically corn.  The vast majority of food allergies are due to the larger/more complex proteins found in the meat source.  Pets can be allergic to certain dyes/preservatives, but a true food trial would be necessary to accurately detect these (a discussion best had in person).  Dogs are omnivores, they require meats, veggies, and grains.  Whereas cats are obligate carnivores, they only require meat.  In an ideal world, cats should be fed grain-free diets, with meat and fat as the energy source.  However, grains are a cheaper source of energy and easy to store, and if fed properly, do not result in obesity.  Many of our cats live well beyond their expected normal years, and unfortunately end up developing kidney disease, in which a high protein/meat diet would be contraindicated.

What can I do about the feral cats in my neighborhood?
The best way to avoid a feral cat problem is to never start feeding feral cats.  You also need to ensure that your garbage is kept in a secure garbage container with an animal-proof lid to avoid inadvertently feeding feral cats.  Additionally, avoid feeding birds and small mammals (provide proper bird feeders so that bird seed does not end up on the ground, attracting mice and voles), as this may attract cats.  Feeding cats will cause them to become more dependent on people and provide them with the nourishment they need to reproduce.  Make sure you enclose the areas under the porch or deck to keep the cats from having an area to live.  It may seem cruel, but if you cannot afford to have the cats trapped and altered, by not providing a means for them to survive, they will move on to find a more resource-filled environment.  Trapping cats and dumping them off in the country does not solve the problem, as new cats will move into the neighborhood to fill in the void left by their absence.  Having spayed/neutered cats in the neighborhood will hopefully dissuade new cats from coming into your neighborhood.

Do you hospitalize?
Pets that are ill can be hospitalized to obtain the treatment that they need to become healthy.  However, some situations or illnesses may require referral to a hospital with round-the-clock care and monitoring.  Your pet's healthcare team will discuss a recommendation for referral of hospitalization.

What if my pet's illness cannot be determined or treated?
The physiology of dogs and cats is as complex as it is in people, but the added inability for pets to communicate can make a definitive diagnosis much more difficult to determine.  Should your pet's healthcare team exhaust all diagnostic and treatment options available at our clinic, a referral to a specialist will be recommended.

Do you have an ultrasound?
We are pleased to announce that we offer ultrasound via a traveling ultrasonography.  Images that are obtained are sent to a board certified radiologist or an internist, as deemed most appriopriate for you pet.  Ultrasound examinations vary from limited to urinary tract, to full abdominal ultrasound and ECHO - ultrasound of the heart. 

What do I do if I am not able to provide the care my pet needs/my pet is suffering?
Your pet's healthcare team will try to work with you to provide a viable option.  Some animal rescue groups may be able to take-over ownership of your pet to provide the care he/she needs.  Ultimately, if any animal is suffering, our doctors will have an honest discussion with you concerning your pet's illness and prognosis. 

Is it wrong to euthanize my pet?
This can be a very sensitive subject and if you are considering euthanasia, do not feel ashamed to inquire about it.  The decision to euthanize your pet will be discussed with your doctor.  Hospice type care is available.  Although this is a difficult decision, you should never feel guilty for ending the suffering of a loved one.  This decision is often a last true act of kindness. 

What do I do with a pet that has passed?
We currently use Groff Pet Loss Services  for cremation of our deceased pets.  They offer private cremations with return of ashes or communal cremation, without return of ashes.  You may take your pet home for private burial, please check with your local laws and regulations to ensure it is not illegal to bury your pet at home.