FAQs
There is no question too big or too small for our veterinary team. Below are some answers to our most common questions.
We Proudly Serve Pets in Spring Hill, FL, and Beyond
At County Line Animal Hospital, we get a ton of interesting questions from pet parents. Below are some common FAQs that might help answer any questions or concerns. Please feel free to call us at 352-799-1025 for any other concerns you might have about your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What form of payment do you accept and will you finance?
Payment in full is expected at the time services are rendered. We accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express, most debit cards, and cash. To keep costs down, we cannot accept personal checks. Financing is only allowed for life-threatening emergency situations and must be approved by Dr. MacMahon. No other staff member has the authority to approve financing and is instructed to obtain a deposit to cover hospital time and expenses of treatment while waiting for financing approval. We recommend CareCredit Veterinary Financing. We will be glad to assist you with your application if necessary. We also recommend pet insurance and can provide you with brochures from several companies.
Why is my pet scratching and chewing itself?
There are several causes for your pet to scratch and chew at themselves, but the most common cause is allergies. Your pet can be allergic to as many different things as humans. While we often suffer from watery eyes, runny noses, and sneezing, your pets will often be itchy. The itchiness may be generalized or localized, seasonal or year-round, depending on what your pet is allergic to and how allergic your pet is.
Why has my cat stopped using the litter pan?
There are multiple reasons for a cat to suddenly stop using the litterbox, both medical and behavioral. The tricky part is determining the exact cause. Inappropriate urination is the more common complaint than stool outside the litter pan. You need to examine the color of the urine (clear, dark yellow or orange, pink or red) and the volume of urine the cat is leaving (large amount versus only a few drops at a time), and the frequency of urination (cat can hold it for hours or is urinating every few minutes). Is the cat straining to urinate in the litter pan as well as outside of the litter pan, or has it simply chosen another spot to urinate? Call us for an appointment and have us check your cat out.
Why does my cat seem fine but often vomit their food?
While hairballs are a common reason for a cat to vomit, it is not the only reason. The lining of a cat’s stomach can have many more inflammatory cells than most other mammals, making them about the world’s best vomiters. These inflammatory cells will often trigger when the cat ingests too much food at a time, swallows kibble whole, or eats food it is sensitive or allergic to. Make an appointment, and we can see if a change in diet is needed.
Can I give my pet aspirin or other human pain relievers?
Most pain medications for humans can be toxic to your pet, but in an emergency situation and for short-term use, buffered aspirin administered at a dosage of 5-10 mg/lb of body weight every 12 hours can be given to a dog. If your dog needs pain medications for more than a few days, please consult our veterinarians for alternate medications that are safer for your dog.
Cats should NEVER be given ANY human pain medication unless under the specific instructions of our veterinarians, as most pain medications are extremely toxic to cats. The dosage of the rare pain medications able to be used on cats must be exact to prevent any harmful side effects.
What are those disgusting little grains-of-rice-like worms in my pet's stool?
Those are tapeworm segments. The entire segmented worm is actually much longer. Please bring your pet in. We can discuss a treatment plan to help get rid of them.