Chambersburg Animal Hospital
Chambersburg Animal Hospital Rabies Vaccination Policy
At Chambersburg Animal Hospital, the health and safety of your pet, our team, and the community are our top priority. In accordance with state law, the rabies vaccine must be administered to all pets and must be kept up to date to receive treatment or care at our facility.
Rabies Vaccination Requirements:
Rabies Vaccine Compliance: All pets must have an up-to-date rabies vaccination to receive any veterinary care or services at Chambersburg Animal Hospital. This includes routine visits and surgical procedures.
Rabies Certificate: To verify your pet’s rabies vaccination status, a current rabies certificate must be presented at the time of the appointment. This certificate serves as proof that your pet's rabies vaccination is valid and compliant with state law. If a rabies certificate cannot be produced, the pet will receive a rabies vaccination at Chambersburg Animal Hospital at the client’s cost.
Exemptions: There are some exceptions to this policy. Some pets with medical conditions may be exempt from receiving the rabies vaccine. In such cases, written documentation from a licensed veterinarian must be provided to verify the exemption. Pets in an emergency will be exempt at that time.
Rabies Vaccine Declination: If a client chooses to decline the rabies vaccination for their pet, services will be discontinued immediately. The client will be provided with a printed copy of their pet's medical records, and they will be asked to seek veterinary services elsewhere.
We understand that decisions about vaccinations can be difficult, but we are committed to following state law and ensuring the health and safety of all pets under our care and our team. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Late Fee and Rescheduling
There is a 15-minute grace period for appointments. After that, appointments may need to be rescheduled.
Failure to show up for your appointment, with failure to call and cancel, will result in a $65 no-show fee.
After a third no-show with failure to call and cancel, all clients will be required to pay in advance for all future services.
Failure to show up for your surgery appointment or call and cancel will result in a $100 fee.
All no-show fees must be paid before scheduling any future services. In extenuating circumstances, the fee may be waived at the discretion of hospital management.
Cancellations
Please call our office promptly if you can't make your appointment.
Appointments are in high demand; your cancellation helps ensure timely care for others.
Urgent Care Appointments
All clients must pay a deposit equal to the amount of a Prompt Care/ Urgent Care Office Visit ($78.00) to reserve the appointment.
Urgent care appointment fees are $78.00. Failure to show up for an urgent care appointment will result in a $78 no-show fee.
Pharmacy Policies
For your convenience, we have a veterinary pharmacy on-site. We can also provide written prescriptions for outside pharmacies when needed. You can also order supplies from our online pharmacy from the comfort of your own home.
Prescription Medication Authorization and Refill
Please allow at least 72 hours for all refill requests; some prescriptions may require additional special ordering and delivery time.
Medications such as Phenobarbital, Fluoxetine, Pimobendan, Spironolactone, Diazepam, Levetiracetam, Zonisamide, Prednisone/ Prednisolone, Midazolam, cannot be stopped abruptly. If you run out, call us immediately at 717-264-4712.
To authorize a prescription, your pet must be a current patient examined at Chambersburg Animal Hospital within the past year. A valid Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) is required, meaning veterinarians must examine your pet and understand their healthcare needs before prescribing medication. Without a valid VCPR, using veterinary prescription drugs differently from their labeled use is unethical and illegal under federal law. By partnering with us, we can ensure your pet's best health and welfare.
Drug Interactions and Reactions
To avoid interactions, inform us of all medications your pet takes, including over-the-counter medications and supplements.
Administer medications as prescribed. Not doing so can produce serious health complications for your pet.
Always let us know if your pet unexpectedly reacts to a medication. Any unexpected reactions may require an appointment; we cannot diagnose conditions over the phone.
Long-Term Medications
Some medications may need to be given long-term or for your pet's lifetime. To ensure the drug is effective and to minimize toxicity risks, your pet may require periodic testing, such as blood or urine tests, as determined by your veterinarian. These tests may be necessary before refills, especially for critical medications like insulin and thyroid drugs, where improper dosing can be life-threatening. Some local, state, and federal laws may require regular check-ups before refills. For example, pets on heartworm prevention must be tested regularly, as treating a heartworm-positive pet can lead to severe adverse reactions.
Prescription Diets
A pet that has a medical condition may require a prescription diet. These meals are based on science and the specific health needs of your pet.
Visit our online store to view our nutritional offerings. We can conveniently ship your purchase directly to your home. If you have any questions about your pet's dietary needs, please schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians. If you wish to refill your pet's prescription diet through the office, please allow a week's notice, as some foods are special order.
Arrival and Pet Restraining Policy
Even though we make every effort to make our patients feel comfortable during visits, they may be a little uneasy about new people, new surroundings, and new encounters with other pets. For these reasons and for your pet's safety, it is essential that you properly restrain your pet inside and outside our hospital.
Dogs: All dogs must be on a leash and properly controlled while on hospital grounds. There is a designated toilet area for dogs to the right of the parking lot; please use the provided bags to clean up for hygiene and disease prevention.
Cats: All cats must be in a suitable carrier (no boxes, please!) or on a harness and leash for safety.
Exotic Pets: These pets must also be properly restrained for safety.
If you need help carrying an animal into the hospital, please ask our health care team member for assistance upon arrival.
Important Contagious Disease Information
To help control infectious and parasitic diseases at our hospital, please follow these guidelines:
Designated Areas: Use the designated elimination area when walking your dog. Always pick up waste with the provided bags and give it to our front office for proper disposal. If your pet has diarrhea that can't be picked up, please notify a team member so we can disinfect the area.
Symptoms Notification: If your pet is coughing, has diarrhea, is vomiting, or is lethargic, please inform us before your arrival. A staff member will take you and your pet directly to an examination room to prevent the spread of disease.
Report Accidents: Let us know if bodily fluids are inside or outside the hospital so we can promptly clean and disinfect those areas.
Hygiene Practices: Always practice good hygiene, including washing your hands and minimizing contact with children, people, and other pets after exposure to potential diseases. Sinks are available in examination rooms, and hand sanitizers are located throughout the hospital to help reduce disease spread.
Treatment & Care
At Chambersburg Animal Hospital, we are committed to providing the highest standard of care, focusing on humane and compassionate treatment for our patients. Our primary goal is to alleviate the disease, pain, and suffering of all animals under our care.
When our clients bring their pets to us, they authorize the Chambersburg Animal Hospital staff to carry out necessary treatments, diagnostic and preventive procedures, surgical operations, and supportive care for their pet(s). Clients also consent to the administration of medications, including analgesics, sedatives, tranquilizers, and anesthetics, as deemed necessary by the attending veterinarian.
We will make every reasonable effort to communicate with our clients and fully explain all treatments and procedures. Furthermore, we are committed to obtaining consent from our clients before any treatment or surgery is performed on their pets.
Warranty & Liability
No assurance, guarantee, or warranty will been made as to the results of treatments, procedures, or surgery. Every surgical procedure, treatment, and anesthesia, even performed on a healthy animal, carries a certain risk and probability of complications. The staff of Chambersburg Animal Hospital will make every reasonable attempt to safely, compassionately, and proficiently care for our client's pet(s).
Chambersburg Animal Hospital or its staff will not be held responsible in any manner, whatever, or any circumstance, on account of the care, treatment, or safekeeping of a pet, or otherwise in connection in addition to that.
