FAQs

As with any surgery, there is some risk involved especially if anesthesia is involved. Riverview Animal Hospital takes every precaution to keep your pet safe during all procedures.

For young and adult animals who are generally healthy, Riverview Animal Hospital recommends yearly exams. For more senior and sick animals then more frequent exams and blood work is recommended to stay on top of any illness.

Having healthy teeth, gums and mouth is a big step to keeping harmful bacteria and septic infections from setting in and making your animal companion very sick.

Proper portion control and correct food choices are highly important when keeping your pet healthy and active. Improper food and over-sized portions can lead to stomach ailments and obesity.

Pets are excellent at hiding their illnesses. This is especially true of our feline friends, our pocket pets and birds, and all animals that live outdoors. Pets become dehydrated much more quickly than humans due to their smaller size so ANY loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting or loose stool is a cause to worry. Very young and very old animals also have less resistance to climate extremes and to disease in general. Please do not hesitate to call Riverview Animal Hospital if you have any questions.

If you notice fleas, ticks or other parasites on your pet or within their feces there are several things that need to be addressed. Please separate the pet from young children in order to avoid illness on their part. Next, call Riverview Animal Hospital and arrange to bring your pet in for treatment. Fleas and ticks are best treated by medicated baths and regular preventative medicine. Worms are usually treated with medicine that we provide from our clinic.

Please call R.I.V.E.R. clinic in Chattanooga at 423-698-4612 to have your pet seen immediately. We work closely with their staff and will be kept apprised of your pet’s health by their staff

Riverview Animal Hospital does not recommend sterilization surgery until your pet is at least 16 weeks of age. This gives the animal time to mature and give optimal healing potential. A sterilization procedure can also be done on adult animals as well.

Heartworms are a deadly parasite that are transferred by mosquitoes to our pets. Prevention is the best way to treat heartworms. Riverview Animal Hospital carries a variety of preventative medicine within its clinic.

Payment is required in full at time of service. In order to bring the highest level of care to our patients we must request payments in full. We accept cash, credit card and Care Credit. Care Credit is a low-interest monthly financing option that many use in times of medical crisis. Riverview Animal Hospital is pleased to partner with Care Credit so that no animal will go without necessary health care.