Have a question? You’re not alone. Below, we cover many of the things pet parents ask us most.
We treat dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, pocket pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, ferrets, hedgehogs), and farm animals including horses, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, and alpacas. If you’re unsure whether we can help your specific species, call us.
We provide limited urgent care during business hours for conditions like vomiting, diarrhea, minor wounds, and suspected infections. For life-threatening emergencies outside our hours, such as hit-by-car, severe bleeding, or difficulty breathing, you’ll need a 24-hour emergency hospital. We can provide referrals and coordinate follow-up care.
You can apply online through CareCredit’s website, or our team can help guide you through the application process during your visit.
CareCredit covers exams, diagnostic testing, surgery, dental procedures, medications, emergency care, and most other veterinary services at participating practices.
Yes. CareCredit is accepted at thousands of human healthcare providers, including dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, and urgent care facilities, in addition to veterinary practices.
No. Pawlicy Advisor is completely free to use, and there are no fees for comparing plans or receiving personalized recommendations.
You pay your veterinarian directly at the time of service, then submit a claim to your insurance provider with invoices and medical records. The insurance company reimburses you based on your plan’s coverage percentage and deductible.
The earlier you enroll, the better. Most insurance plans exclude pre-existing conditions, so insuring your pet while they’re young and healthy provides the most comprehensive coverage and protects against future illness or injury costs.
Most adult dogs, cats, and farm animals benefit from annual wellness exams, while puppies, kittens require more frequent visits in their first year. Exotics, senior pets, and animals with chronic conditions typically need examinations every six months.
Yes. Young animals need more frequent appointments for growth monitoring, vaccination series, and early behavioral guidance, while adult animals transition to annual examinations focused on maintaining health and screening for age-related diseases.
Not necessarily. We design vaccination schedules based on your pet’s age, medical history, lifestyle, and disease risk, and some vaccines provide immunity for three years.
Animals instinctively hide signs of illness, which means by the time symptoms become obvious, disease may already be advanced. Wellness examinations detect internal problems early while they’re still manageable.
Yes. We offer comprehensive wellness examinations for rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles, horses, goats, sheep, pigs, and other species with species-specific health assessments and husbandry guidance.
All anesthesia carries inherent risk, but AAHA-accredited protocols, pre-surgical bloodwork, continuous monitoring, and species-appropriate anesthesia significantly reduce complications for most healthy pets.
We provide multimodal pain management including injectable and oral medications tailored to the procedure and species, keeping your pet comfortable during recovery.
You’ll receive specific pre-surgical instructions including fasting requirements, medication adjustments, and what to bring on the day of the procedure.
Most spay and neuter patients resume normal activity within 10-14 days, while orthopedic or complex surgeries may require weeks of restricted movement and gradual rehabilitation.
Yes. Our team is available by phone to address concerns, clarify discharge instructions, or determine whether symptoms warrant an earlier recheck appointment.
VetScalpel is an advanced CO₂ laser surgical system used for soft-tissue procedures in veterinary medicine. Unlike a traditional scalpel, the laser cuts and cauterizes tissue at the same time, helping reduce bleeding, swelling, and discomfort during recovery.
Every procedure and patient is different, but laser surgery can offer several advantages for certain soft-tissue procedures. The precision of the laser may help reduce tissue trauma, improve visibility during surgery, and support a smoother recovery for many pets.
Brachycephalic, or flat-faced, breeds commonly benefit from airway procedures performed with VetScalpel technology. This includes breeds like French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Shih Tzus.
Many pets experience less swelling and discomfort after laser-assisted procedures, which may contribute to a smoother and faster recovery compared to some traditional surgical techniques.
Our veterinary team will evaluate your pet’s condition, anatomy, and overall health to determine whether laser surgery is the best treatment option for their specific needs.
Frequency depends on your pet’s genetics, age, diet, and how quickly tartar accumulates. Some pets need annual cleanings while others develop severe disease within months, which is why we assess dental health at every wellness exam.
Absolutely. Pets continue eating despite significant oral pain, broken teeth, gum infections, and tooth root abscesses because survival instinct overrides discomfort, which is why dental disease often advances silently until it’s severe.
Anesthesia carries inherent risk, but AAHA-accredited monitoring protocols, pre-anesthetic bloodwork, and species-appropriate drugs significantly reduce complications, and attempting dental work on awake pets causes stress, pain, and incomplete treatment that allows disease to worsen.
Untreated dental disease progresses to chronic pain, tooth loss, jaw bone destruction, and bacterial infections that enter the bloodstream and damage the heart valves, kidneys, and liver, significantly shortening your pet’s lifespan and quality of life.
Yes. We perform dental evaluations, tooth trimming, and treatment for rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, and other exotic species, and our veterinarians address equine dental issues including sharp points, hooks, and malocclusion during farm calls.
We provide veterinary care for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, ferrets, hedgehogs, bearded dragons, geckos, snakes, iguanas, parrots, cockatiels, and other avian and reptile species.
Most exotic pets benefit from annual wellness examinations even when they appear healthy, because early disease detection significantly improves treatment outcomes for species that instinctively hide illness until it’s advanced.
Yes. Exotic species are experts at concealing pain, weight loss, and illness, and many conditions, like metabolic bone disease in reptiles or dental disease in rabbits, progress silently until they cause severe suffering or death.
Absolutely. We evaluate and treat exotic pets experiencing respiratory infections, gastrointestinal stasis, trauma, egg binding, metabolic disorders, and other urgent conditions using species-appropriate diagnostics and treatment protocols.
Yes. Proper nutrition, environmental temperature, UVB lighting, humidity, substrate, and enclosure design are critical to exotic pet health. We assess your husbandry setup and provide evidence-based recommendations to prevent deficiencies and environmental stress.
Yes. Acupuncture is one of the safest medical treatments available when administered by a properly trained veterinarian. Side effects are rare but may include temporary sleepiness for 24 hours or, in uncommon cases, a brief worsening of symptoms for up to 48 hours before improvement occurs.
Some animals show improvement immediately after their first session, but most chronic conditions require a minimum of 3 to 6 treatments scheduled 1-2 weeks apart before significant, lasting results develop.
Dr. Roberts performs a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine examination to establish a TCVM diagnosis, then inserts thin sterile needles into specific acupuncture points based on your pet’s condition. Sessions typically last 20-30 minutes.
Acupuncture works best as a complementary therapy integrated with conventional veterinary medicine, not as a replacement. In some cases, successful acupuncture treatment allows reduction of pain medications over time.
Dr. Roberts provides acupuncture for dogs, cats, and horses experiencing chronic pain, mobility limitations, neurological disorders, digestive issues, and other conditions that benefit from integrated Eastern and Western veterinary medicine.
We provide mobile equine services throughout Locust Grove, Orange County, Fredericksburg, Culpeper, and surrounding communities in central Virginia. Call to confirm whether we travel to your specific location.
Yes. We respond to equine emergencies including colic, severe lacerations, choke, eye injuries, and acute lameness outside of regular business hours. Call our main number and follow the prompts for emergency assistance.
Most horses benefit from annual wellness exams and vaccinations, with dental floating needed every 6-12 months depending on age and dental wear patterns. Performance horses, geriatric horses, and those with chronic conditions may need more frequent visits.
Have your horse caught and accessible in a safe area with good lighting, bring any medical records or current medications, and have a handler available who knows the horse’s behavior and history.
Yes. Dr. Roberts offers equine acupuncture for chronic pain, back soreness, performance issues, lameness, and neurological conditions as part of integrative treatment plans that combine Eastern and Western veterinary medicine.
