FAQ's
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How do I get there?
Galena Veterinary Hospital is easily accessed off of Highway 395 at the South Meadows Parkway exit. We are located about 1/2 mile north of South Meadows Parkway and 1/2 mile south of the IGT complex on Double R Boulevard. The cross street is Sandhill Road. We are on the northwest corner of Double R Boulvard and Sandhill Road. Click Here For Directions!

How do I prepare my pet for surgery?

We ask that you do not give any food after 9:00 p.m. the night before your pet's surgery.

Free-choice water should remain available at all times.

Please have your pet at the hospital between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. the morning of surgery.

Please allow a few minutes before and after surgery to discuss the procedure your pet is having, and home care instructions.

Please call if you have any questions or concerns at (775) 853-4003.

Do you see emergencies?
Currently we are not seeing after-hours emergencies. If you have an emergency outside of our normal business hours, please call the Animal Emergency Center at (775) 851-3600. They are located on the southwest corner of Neil Rd and S. Virginia. They are open weekdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. and on weekends from Friday at 6:00 p.m. to Monday at 8:00 a.m. They are also open on all holidays. We see emergencies during our normal business hours as needed. If possible please call ahead so that we can be prepared for your arrival.

Can you bill me later?
Unfortunately, because we do not receive any other assistance from other parties, we require all bills to be paid at the time services are provided. For your convenience, we accept cash, checks, VISA, Mastercard and Discover.

Do you take walk-ins? Can I bring my pet in without an appointment?
We know that sometimes it is impossible to call ahead, but for routine services and non-emergencies we do operate by appointment. Everyone loves a smooth-running schedule, so please help us maintain ours by calling ahead. There may be an additional charge for walk-in emergencies if the schedule is full.

I just want a rabies shot for my dog, nothing else. Why do I have to have an exam?
Any vaccine is a medical treatment and works best when given to a healthy patient. If the patient is not healthy, then the vaccine may either not produce the proper immunity or it may trigger a worsening of the current illness. Because we are attempting to do the best thing for your pet, we will perform a physical exam each time vaccines are given.

What actually happens during a physical exam?
The physical exam is the foundation for any visit into the office with your pet. Your veterinary team's training and experience allows them to determine if there are any abnormalities that an untrained eye may have missed. Here are some of the things that we are looking for when we perform a physical exam.

Overall (from a distance exam)

  • Gait: Is there any limping or stiffness? Is the stride length and range of motion normal? Does the pet have normal coordination/neurological control? Is there any weakness?
  • Attitude: Is the pet bright, alert and responsive? Does he/she appear to be able to see and hear?
  • Is his/her weight appropriate or is the pet too thin or too fat?
  • Is his/her haircoat shiny and healthy looking?

Head

  • Is he/she holding their head normally, or is it held too low or tilted? Does he/she lift it willingly and move it side to side? Is it painful if you move the head?
  • Does he/she have any nasal discharge present? Is there evidence of bleeding from the nostrils?
  • Is there any eye discharge? Are the corneas smooth and clear? Is there squinting present? Tearing? Is the anterior chamber of the eye clear? Does the lens appear normal or cloudy? Is the conjunctival color normal or reddened? Is the conjunctiva inflammed? Are the scleras white, yellow, or even red? Do the eyelids close normally? Is there adequate eye lubrication? Are there any eyelid masses?

Mouth

  • Is there an odor? Is there plaque or tartar buildup? What color are the gums (White? Brown? Pink? Red? Bluish?) Are the gums inflammed? Is there pus from the gumline? Are there recessed gums or exposed roots? Bruising or bleeding of the gums? Gingival masses? Broken teeth? Lesions?

Ears

  • Is there any redness? Wax/dirt in the ears? Inflammation of canal? Itchiness? Odor?

Neck

  • Are the lymph nodes normal size and firmness?
  • Is there dependent edema?
  • Does the pet cough on tracheal palpation?

Front Legs

  • Is there any lameness (limping)?
  • Are the elbows close to body (not pointing outward)? Is there any evidence of bone proliferation due to arthritis?
  • Is there any grinding inside the joint on movement, or fluid in the joint
  • Is the gait and range of motion normal?
  • Are the nails normal length and wearing evenly?

Thorax

  • Do the lungs sound normal? (no wheezes or crackles, air movement normal and on both sides, no muffled heart sounds, lungs inflate to normal degree, pet is taking normal breaths)
  • Are the heart sounds normal? (correct rate range for species, breed, and level of activity or excitement, no murmurs or arrhythmias)

Abdomen

  • Is the animal under or overweight? By how much?
  • Are there any areas of pain in the abdomen?
  • Are there any palpable masses or fluid in abdomen?
  • Listen for excessive gas or fluid noises in digestive system
  • Assess size and shape of abdominal organs (accuracy varies with size of animal and weight of the animal)
  • Assess abdominal wall for any masses or herniations

Overall (from a distance exam)

  • Is the hair coat normal thickness and distribution? Is it shiny and free of dandruff? Are there bald spots? Mats? Broken hairs?
  • Is the skin color normal? Does the skin have an odor? Are there scabs or wounds? Swellings? Masses? Is the skin itchy?

Rear

  • Is the rectal temperature in the normal range? (99.5-102.5 F)
  • Is there evidence of rectal bleeding? Are there any anal swellings or abnormal discharge from anal glands?
  • Is there evidence of diarrhea on the tail fur?
  • Is the animal neutered? If not, are both testicles normal size, shape, and firmness? Are there any masses?

Rear Legs

  • Assess muscle mass and tone
  • Are there any areas of inflammation?
  • Assess range of motion, especially at hips
  • Is there any pain in the lumbar spine or hips?
  • Are the lymph nodes normal size and shape?
  • Is the weight bearing surface of both feet normal? (not walking on one side of foot, etc.)
  • Is the nail growth and length normal?

Do you offer grooming or boarding?
At this time, we do not offer either grooming or boarding.

What are your hours?
We are open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. We are also open every other Saturday from 9:00 am to noon. See what Saturdays we are open!

Since my male dog was neutered, his appetite seems to have increased. Is this normal?
Neutering should not cause an increase in appetite. It however does lower the dog's metabolism and the dog can gain weight easily without a modification to the diet. If your dog does truly have an increased appetite, then he/she may need medical care.

How can I tell if my dog has an ear infection?
Some signs that may mean your dog has an ear infection are shaking the head, scratching the ears, a foul odor coming from one or both ears or there is an excessive amount of debris and/or inflammation in the canals.

Is a vaccination reaction normal in dogs?
Vaccine reactions can be minor to severe. Severe reactions are extremely rare. Signs of a vaccine reaction include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, severe lethargy and seizures. More common are minor reactions like fever and mild lethargy. These problems should not last longer than 24 hours.

Why does my indoor pet need vaccinations?
Some vaccines are for protection against airborne transmission of viruses that can travel into the house. Plus, because rabies is a human health risk, it is mandated by law that dogs receive proper vaccination against rabies.

How do I cure my dog's bad breath?
Bad breath is caused by bacteria within the mouth, usually within the plaque on your dog's teeth. The number of bacteria increases dramatically if there is a large amount of tarter on your dog's teeth or if they have gingivitis. In order to cure the bad breath, your dog's teeth need to be cleaned, either professionally by our office or by brushing their teeth daily. Click here to read more about the importance of dental care.

My dog is always scooting around the floor on his rear. What could be his problem?
The most common reason in this area is impacted anal glands. Dogs and cats have two extra glands that are similar to what skunks have. Occasionally these glands get filled up too much. The pressure leads the dog to scoot to try and alleviate the pressure. The problem can be easily alleviated by expressing the anal gland contents out. The doctor and technicians at Galena Veterinary Hospital can do this for you. Other reasons include allergies, or intestinal parasites.

I found a lump on my dog. Is this a cause for concern?
Any abnormal lump could potentially be of great concern, though some are benign and are of little concern. If you notice a lump, please call the office for an examination to determine what the lump is.

I am a new client, is there any way I can prepare for my first visit?

Welcome! To prepare for your first visit with us and expedite your appointment you can visit the forms section on our website and fill out and print the New Client/Patient Registration Form to bring in with you. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to allow us time to get you into our system. If you do not wish to fill out the New Client/Patient Registration Form before coming in please arrive at least 15 minutes early for your appointment to allow time to fill out the form and us to enter you into our system. You can also expedite your appointment by calling your previous veterinarian and obtaining a copy of your pet's medical records (or call us and give permission to contact your previous veterinarian and get them for you). Please make sure to include vaccine history when asking for the records. If your pet is a puppy or kitten and has not been seen by any previous veterinarian please bring any vaccine history you have. When coming into our hospital on the day of your appointment please bring your pet in on a leash or in a carrier, if you do not have a leash feel free to borrow one of ours while you are here. If your pet is small enough you may hold them in your lap.

Traveling with your pet? Start here....

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/pet_travel/pet_travel.shtml