Helpful Guidance for Your Pet’s Care: Frequently Asked Questions
Caring for your beloved companion may cause questions to arise. Our FAQ page is designed to offer guidance on the most common questions we receive from pet parents like you. Check out our FAQ below and if you still have any questions, please call us at (248) 693-1677 to speak with our team!
General FAQs
We work hard to make our clinic an environment that minimizes stress by moving your pet to an exam room as quickly as possible, implementing pheromones and calming music and using pre-visit pharmaceuticals when indicated.
Frequent cleaning with appropriate products before, after and even during visits if needed. Our team ensures vigilant monitoring of all aspects of the clinic to maintain high standards of cleanliness and sterility.
Yes, you will need to schedule an appointment for your pet to be seen by our team. You can call us at (248) 693-1677, email us at info@brinkervet.com, or use our portal to schedule online.
We do our best to service our clients with emergencies. If your pet is experiencing an emergency, please give us a call right away so we can help arrange care. If it is after hours, our voicemail and website both list several local 24 hour emergency options.
We treat cats and dogs of all breeds and sizes.
Once we have evaluated your pet, we’ll present our care recommendations and work with you to tailor a plan that meets both your pet’s needs and your own.
Please check out our Google reviews to hear from happy pet parents who have visited our hospital.
Billing and Payments
We accept cash, credit cards, and checks as forms of payment.
No, we do not accept CareCredit or Scratchpay.
Clients pay at the time services are provided and can then submit an insurance claim to be reimbursed for their pet’s care.
No, we do not offer payment plans.
Appointments and Procedures
It's always helpful to bring a fecal sample to your appointment so our team can perform a fecal exam to create a more complete picture of your pet’s underlying health.
Refills can be called in, requested online, or through email. Although most refills can be ready in several hours, please allow 24 hours for refills.
Most of our exams are 30 minutes in length, but wellness exams can usually be done in around 20 minutes.
Rabies is required for all patients. Distemper/Parvo, Leptosporosis, Lyme and Bordetella are recommended for all dogs and RCP for all cats, but your vet can discuss your pet's life-style and determine the best vaccination protocol for them.
When preparing for surgery, food should be withheld from 8pm the night before your pet's procedure. Water is ok until you drop your pet off for their surgery. Please speak with our staff regarding any regular medications and what should be given prior to surgery.
We tailor our anesthesia protocols and medications specially for your pet’s needs. We have numerous safety protocols and strive to make each procedure as smooth as possible. All of our procedures are performed with a Licensed Veterinary Technician closely monitoring many parameters including EKG, blood pressure, capnography and pulse-ox throughout. IV catheter and IV fluids are also implemented to help with smooth anesthesia and recovery.
Common Pet Health Questions
Most pets should be seen at least once yearly for a wellness exam. Older cats and dogs would benefit from being seen every 6 months as conditions can change quickly as our pets age.
We see many different issues but itchy skin, ear infections, urinary tract infections, limping, back pain are among the most common.
Though it is recommended that most pets would benefit from being spayed or neutered, the timing of these procedures can vary greatly between animals. Your veterinarian will take the time to discuss the best recommendation for your pet.
Puppies should receive a DHPP every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, starting around 8 weeks. 2 Leptospirosis and Lyme vaccines are recommended 3-4 weeks apart (usually at 12 and 16 weeks). Bordetella can normally be given anytime after 11 weeks. Rabies is usually given at 16 weeks for both cats and dogs. Kittens generally receive an RCP vaccine every 3-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks of age, starting around 8 weeks. The FeLV vaccine is recommended at 12 and 16 weeks for most kittens. After their puppy series of vaccines, most vaccines (Bordetella, Lepto, Lyme) are given annually while Rabies is given after 3 years and DHPP, after an annual booster, is given every 3 years as well. As we use a specific feline Rabies vaccine, it is recommended to be boosted every year. The RCP vaccine gets an annual booster and then is given every 3 years. After the kitten series, if your cat remains indoors, the FeLV vaccine may be discontinued or given annually if they spend time outside. However, all vaccine recommendations are tailored specifically to each pet and based on their lifestyle and associated risks.
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention are very important to give monthly, year-round. An annual heartworm test and fecal test are also recommended to ensure the health of your pet.
Most monthly heartworm preventions also carry intestinal parasite dewormers and cover the recommendation for monthly deworming.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has wonderful resources at wsava.org to help you select the best pet food for your animal. In general, we recommend a feed-trial tested, age appropriate food.
You should be able to see your dog's waist from above and feel their ribs with just a little gentle pressure. If you notice weight gain you should carefully monitor your pet's food intake and try to increase exercise. If you notice significant weight gain, please schedule a veterinary visit with our team to discuss possible underlying causes of weight gain and help with maintaining a healthy weight with your pet.
Every pet is different but make sure your pet is out and active every day with at least 2-3 longer walks in a week.
Bad breath and tartar or staining can be indicative of dental disease. If you notice any of these signs, please schedule a visit with us to discuss your pet's dental health.
Daily brushing is the best way to keep your pet's mouth healthy. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC.org) has a wonderful list of products that have been tested and proven to improve your pet's dental health. Look for the VOHC seal on any dental product for your pet.
Some pets need yearly professional cleanings where other pets can go years without cleaning. The best thing to do is to discuss your pet's dental health with your veterinarian for a personalized recommendation.
Every breed is different in the requirements for their coat's care. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to bring them up with your veterinarian.
If your pet is vomiting, withhold food for the next 8-12 hours and call your veterinarian if the vomiting continues. If diarrhea is noted you can start to feed a bland, low fat diet such as cooked white rice and white meat chicken or boiled hamburger. If diarrhea continues, please call your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Call your veterinarian or, especially if it is a human product, call the ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.
No human medications should be given to your pet without express recommendation from your veterinarian. Medications such as Ibuprofen and Aleve are toxic to pets and even Tylenol can be toxic at certain doses in dogs and can be fatal in cats.
Microchipping is always recommended. Though a tag with your information is very important, collars and tags can be lost or broken. If your pet is ever lost, a microchip is the best way for someone to reunite your and your pet.
Pet insurance should be considered, but most require payment at the veterinary clinic and then you submit for reimbursement. It's important to check policies carefully to make sure they meet your needs. Pawlicy advisor is a great website to help find the best insurance for you and your pet.
Any signs of respiratory distress should be treated as an absolute emergency. Please call us immediately if you notice any signs of respiratory concern. If we are not open, the information for several 24 hour clinics are listed here and on our voicemail. If your pet vomits more than once in a 12 hour period, has diarrhea for more than 24 hours, is lethargic, coughing or limping, please give us a call to schedule an appointment.