Question 1

How do I schedule a surgical procedure such as a spay or neuter?

Accepted Answer

We perform surgical procedures Monday-Friday.  Once your pet has an exam with one of our veterinarians, you can schedule your pet's surgical procedure with any of our staff members. If you are already an established client, just call our front desk to schedule a date.  To find out more about what to expect read HERE.

Question 2

Do you offer grooming services?

Accepted Answer

Grooming is offered by Colleen Matthews. You can call the main line and select 3 to speak to our Grooming Specialist.  Grooming is available Monday through Friday with available drop off times at 8am, 10am and 12pm.  Colleen is currently taking new and existing clients. Click HERE for more information about Colleen’s services.

Question 3

Are you a Fear Free practice?

Accepted Answer

We are not a Fear Free Certified Practice but our staff has been through Fear Free training.  We also practice many Fear Free techniques such as towel wraps for cats, air diffusers, and many yummy treats.  We do not engage in excessive physical restraint of our patients and if the prior techniques do not work, we will offer medications to help ease your pets fear, stress and anxiety. With these medications your pet may be subdued but will be able to function such as eating, drinking, walking. These medication protocols help relieve the fear to help us complete a thorough examination without further stressing or hurting your pet as well as protecting our staff.

Question 4

Is your hospital AAHA accredited and what does it mean?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we are an AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited hospital.  An AAHA accreditation signifies that your veterinary practice has met or exceeded stringent quality standards that encompass all aspects of veterinary medicine, from pain management to medical record-keeping, and has committed to a path of continuous improvement. Click HERE to watch a video about what makes an AAHA hospital.

Question 5

Do you offer online booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can go to our ‘Schedule Online’ links on this website and make an appointment for your pet at any time! You can also download our Chckvet app and access online booking as well. Click here for more information and how to download Chckvet. But as always, you can also always call our main number 410-580-9119 to schedule an appointment or get assistance with online booking.

Question 6

Can I access my pets records online?

Accepted Answer

Yes, With our Chckvet App you can see your pets vaccine record and reminders.
Click HERE for more information and how to download Chckvet.

Question 7

Why does my pet need pre-anesthetic blood work and what does it check?

Accepted Answer

Preanesthetic blood work can detect underlying diseases that might not be apparent during a routine physical exam, such as anemia, infections, or organ dysfunction. These conditions can affect how a pet responds to anesthesia and surgery, potentially leading to complications.  We require blood work to be performed within 30 days of an anesthetic procedure.

Question 8

What food should I be feeding my pet?

Accepted Answer

A food that has grains that you can find at a pet store. In short - a name brand balanced diet that your pet likes and it likes your pet! We strongly recommend NOT feeding Grain-Free diets because they have been linked to a life threatening heart condition. That being said, sometimes our pets have special needs which we will discuss with you during your annual visits!

Question 9

Why do you check my pet's weight every time we come in for a visit?

Accepted Answer

We check your pets weight at every visit to catch the trends of either weight loss, weight gain or staying the same. They can’t tell us when something is wrong, so we are sure to monitor everything we can to catch a problem!  Small amounts either way can be a sign of something possibly going on and we would like to tune in sooner rather than later.

Question 10

What services can a patient receive at PAH’s Vaccine Clinic?

Accepted Answer

Vaccine Clinic runs every Wednesday from 5pm-7pm, as a first come, first serve clinic.  As long as your pet has had an annual exam within the past year by a veterinarian you can bring your pet to Vaccine Clinic. You can get any vaccine booster, anal sac expression, blood work etc.  Click HERE for further information.

Question 11

What vaccines do we recommend?

Accepted Answer

We have based our recommendations off of AAHA guidelines.

We recommend Distemper-Parvo, Leptospirosis, Rabies, and Lyme vaccines for all our canine friends.  Additional vaccines we may recommend based on your pets lifestyle and boarding/grooming needs may be Bivalent Canine Influenza and Bordetella.

We recommend Feline Distemper & Rabies for our feline friends as our core vaccines. We may also recommend Feline Leukemia for outdoor cats.

Question 12

Do we treat more than cats and dogs?

Accepted Answer

No, we only treat cats and dogs here at Pikesville Animal Hospital.

Question 13

Do I need to give heartworm/flea/tick preventative in the winter?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we recommend administering an all-in-one heartworm/flea/tick preventative year round.  Year-round heartworm prevention is recommended to protect pets from heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, even during winter months when mosquito activity may be lower. Mosquitoes can still survive indoors, and their activity can fluctuate throughout the winter, making consistent prevention administration essential. The same is true with fleas and ticks especially with our unpredictable Maryland winters.

Question 14

Can I order medication online?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can order any of the medications and prescription diets recommended from any of our veterinarians HERE through our online pharmacy.

Question 15

What makes PAH different from other animal hospitals?

Accepted Answer

From vaccinations to laparoscopic surgery, and acupuncture to ultrasound services, we keep pets happy and healthy with state of the art equipment and a team of caring, dedicated professionals.

Question 16

Why is veterinary care so expensive?

Accepted Answer

We know veterinary care appears to be expensive. Our doctors are highly educated (having completed a minimum of 3 years college undergrad and 4 years of veterinary school) and must obtain 20 hours of continuing education every year. Our facility is not just a doctor’s office for patient visits; it also contains all of the equipment we use to diagnose and treat diseases including a complete in house laboratory, x-ray and ultrasound suites and a pharmacy. Also within our facility are dentistry and oral surgery quarters, a surgical suite, and a hospital in-patient facility. Our supplies and equipment cost the same as those of our human counterparts, and unfortunately most pets aren’t covered by health insurance. The field of veterinary medicine is expanding tremendously such that veterinarians can now offer incredibly sophisticated procedures, treatments and medication of the highest order.

Have a question?