Welcome to our family! Our staff looks forward to providing your animal with the best quality service and care. To help familiarize you with our practice, we ask that you take a few minutes to read our clinic’s policies. If you have any questions or concerns regarding them, please feel free to speak with our practice manager.
Preventative Care
Exams. Regular, semiannual physical exams are important preventative care and recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association. We will do our best to remind you when visits are due and help you schedule them for a time that suits you.
Tests. When coming in for a visit, you should always bring a fresh fecal sample. We recommend running a fecal test every six months to detect intestinal parasites before they become a problem. Catching the infection before symptoms arise will allow us to treat early, maintain your pet’s comfort and keep your treatment costs down. For dogs, a yearly heartworm test is recommended and for senior animals, yearly blood work.
Vaccines. Getting your animal vaccinated will help to prevent unwanted illnesses. The vaccines we recommend will depend on your pet’s species and lifestyle. Most vaccines are given annually. At the initial administration, a series of boosters may be required. It’s essential that all boosters be administered in order for the vaccine to be fully effective. It’s also crucial that each booster be given on time. If you’re late in having a vaccine boosted, you may need to begin the series over again. We will do our best to remind you when your animal’s vaccines are due. For cats that do not require extra assistance, we offer a vaccine clinic twice per week where vaccines are discounted 40%. Ask a receptionist about scheduling an appointment during clinic hours.
Appointments
Our practice sees patients by appointment only, so please schedule in advance. If you are unable to keep your appointment, we request that you let us know at least 24 hours in advance . For scheduling an emergency appointment, see Emergencies.
Prescriptions
A patient must have an exam before we will prescribe any medication. For a prescription refill, please call at least 24 hours in advance. We can also special order any medication not in our hospital pharmacy. Please give us two weeks’ notice for any special order prescription refill.
Emergencies (and Drop-Off Appointments)
Occasionally, emergencies arise. We may need to interrupt or postpone your visit if an emergency comes in during or shortly before your scheduled appointment. If this should occur, we ask for your patience and understanding. We will do our best to keep you informed and get your animal seen in a timely fashion.
If you have an emergency, please do not hesitate to call us. We’ll do our very best to get you an appointment as soon as possible. If we have a completely full schedule, we can offer you a drop-off appointment, in which you leave your pet for the day and it’s seen in-between appointments or during the doctor’s lunch. While waiting for the doctor to be available, your pet will be kept in our hospital and attended to by our assistants (day hospital fee associated). If we can’t offer you a drop-off appointment or if we’re closed, please call an emergency clinic. The closest emergency clinic to us is Pet Emergency Specialty Center of Marin (PESCM) at 415-456-7372. After your visit to PESCM, your pet’s case and records will be transferred to us.
Dr. Kenneth Bacon, Dr. Lynne Lankes,
and The Staff of CMCEH