FAQs

    There is no question too big or too small for our veterinary team. Below are some answers to our most common questions.

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    Old Dominion Animal Health Center Building

    We Proudly Serve the Pets of McLean, VA and Beyond

    At Old Dominion Animal Health Center, we get a ton of interesting questions from pet parents. Below are some FAQs that might help answer any questions or concerns. Please feel free to call us at (703) 356-5582 for any other concerns you might have about your pet.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are we accepting new patients?
    Yes! We are currently accepting new patients at ODAH Center.
    My cat is sick and needs to be seen today, do you offer same day appointments?
    ODAH Center holds a limited amount of Urgent Care/same day appointments each day. These appointments are perfect for the patients not experiencing an emergency but should be seen same day.
    What is considered an emergency?
    Incidents/Symptoms such as: severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn’t stop, ingestion of toxin, choking or difficulty breathing (labored, rapid or shallow breathing), facial swelling, collapse, bluish or gray gums, male cats straining to urinate, sudden lack of coordination, hit by car, and unproductive retching
    What do I do if my pet eats something and I’m unsure if it’s poisonous?
    Immediately call poison control for the fastest most up to date information and advice from veterinary toxicologists. These experts can work with our vets to ensure that appropriate treatments are taken.

    Animal Control Poison (ASPCA)
    1-888-426-4435

    Pet Poison
    1-800-213-6680

    National Animal Control Poison Center
    1-800-548-2423

    National Capitol Poison Center
    1-800-222-1222

    Do you offer a payment plan?

    No. Payment is due at the time of service.

    We do accept payment in the form of Care Credit. Care Credit is a credit card service specifically for medical use and can be a life saver when emergencies happen. Learn how to apply.

    Do we accept/work with pet insurance?
    No. Pet insurance works much differently than the human insurance we are used to dealing with ourselves. Most do not offer co-pays or deny coverage due to a wide variety of specifics within your plan. Payment is due at the time of service, and we will provide you with an itemized receipt and notes from the doctor for you to submit to your insurance.
    Do you recommend a certain pet insurance?
    Since there are so many different insurance brands and plans, we advise owners to shop around for pet insurance plans that specifically fit their pets’ lives and medical needs.
    Do I have to make an appointment for just vaccines?

    For canines: We offer Bordetella and the bivalent Canine Influenza vaccines as a walk-in service for our clients. Any other vaccine requires an appointment to be made.
    For felines: All vaccines require an appointment.

    What are your cancelation policies?

    For appointments: You must cancel 24 hours or more ahead of your appointment. If you cancel your appointment within 24 hours, there is a $105 appointment cancelation fee.

    For surgical procedures: You must cancel 72 hours or more in advance. Canceling within the 72-hour window will subject you to a surgical cancellation fee.

    For boarding during regular season: You must cancel within 48 hours of your reservation, or you will be subjected to a cancellation fee of 3 days of boarding.

    For boarding over a holiday: You must cancel at least 5 days ahead of time or you will be subjected to a cancellation fee of 3 days of boarding.

    Why do we charge per day and not per night like a hotel?

    Here at ODAH Center, we want to give owners the convenience and flexibility of dropping off and picking up from boarding anytime during our regular business hours. We do not have set drop off and pick up times like a hotel, your reservation is booked and available as soon as we open all day until we close at night. An added bonus is that we are staffed 24 hours and have a live-in nurse who attends to your pets around the clock so that no pet is left unchecked or unloved.

    What if my pet can’t get one of the required vaccines because of a medical reason? Can they still board?

    Yes! If one of your pets cannot receive a vaccine for a medical reason, they can still board in our hospitalized boarding. We will need to have documentation and/or a note from the doctor who has authorized the vaccine/s to not be given due to medical reasons.

    Can I return my pets unused medications?
    Unfortunately, no. VA law prohibits us from excepting medications for return or exchange once they have left the premises.
    What is the difference between grooming and bathing?

    Our baths accomplish the basics of cleaning your pet’s coat, minimal brushing, nail trim, and ear cleaning while our professional grooming appointments consist of all the pampering; a bath, nails, and ears as well as haircut, removal of mats, complete brush out, or de-shedding of undercoat.

    Baths do not need to be scheduled as we offer them as a walk-in, drop-off service up until Noon. We offer our bathing services Monday through Saturday. Pick-up time is based on a first come first serve bias, but you can pick up your pet any time before closing if your pickup time does not fit into your schedule.

    Professional grooming does require an appointment, so please call ahead of time as our grooming schedule can sometimes be booked up to 2 weeks in advance. Our grooming appointments are offered Monday through Friday. For your pets’ professional grooming appointment, you will drop them off in the morning and will be called as soon as their spa day is complete, or you can pick them up before we close to better suit your schedule.