The Answers to Your Questions
Below are some common FAQs that might help answer any questions or concerns. Please feel free to call us at 315-673-4858 for any other concerns you might have about your pet.
ASAP*
- Respiratory Distress (open mouth breathing in cats)
- Collapse
- Unable to stand or walk
- Straining to urinate/blood in urine male cat
- Active seizures
- Severe trauma (ie: hit by car)
- Profuse bleeding from wound/laceration
- Dog bite
- Persistent non-productive retching
- Severe pain
- Toxin ingestion
- Known foreign body ingestion
- Facial swelling/allergic reaction/hives
- Trouble during active labor/illness post birth
SAME DAY*
- Persistent/severe vomiting
- Aggressive coughing with distress
- Bloody diarrhea
- Sneezing with blood (or known foxtail exposure)
- Straining to defecate
- Blood in urine/straining to urinate
- Small wounds or lacerations
- Broken toenail, actively bleeding
- Severe squinting/painful eyes
WITHIN 24–48 HOURS
- Lethargic
- Vomiting (less than 3 episodes) still eating/drinking
- Diarrhea with no blood or vomiting
- Coughing but breathing normally/eating
- Broken toenail not bleeding/severe
- Limping
- Eye discharge/redness
- Hot spot
WITHIN 1 WEEK
- Itching/scratching
- New single seizure, not actively seizing
- Weight loss
- Hair loss
- Inappropriate urination/defecation
- Head shaking
- New bump – growing/bothering patient
- Scooting
NON-EMERGENCY
- Chronic conditions but patient otherwise stable
- Behavioral changes/anxiety
- Vaccination
- New small bump, not bothering dog
- Diet changes/questions
* = Urgent Care Visit (UCV)
This chart is intended to help determine how urgently your pet needs to see a veterinarian. Please be aware that this chart is not exhaustive or definitive, as each pet and set of circumstances is different. If you have questions about determining the severity of your pet’s medical needs, contact us or your nearest veterinary emergency facility immediately.
We are open Mon – Fri at 8 AM – 6 PM and we are closed on Saturdays & Sundays.
Lake Country Veterinary Care offers a wide range of veterinary services for our patients. Just a few of our wellness and preventive care services are listed on our Services page.
For more information on these or other services, please call 315-673-4858.
Yes, here at Lake Country, appointments are required, walk-ins will not be guaranteed service. To schedule an appointment, please calling or text our office at 315-673-4858.
We accept a variety of payment options, including Credit Card, CareCredit, Cash, and Check. If you would like more information about CareCredit , or to apply directly, please click on the following link.
We do not publish our spay and neuter prices. The price varies depending on your pet’s age and size, anesthetic needs, pre-anesthetic lab work, etc. Once we meet you and your pet, we are happy to provide a written detailed estimate.
Click here to learn more.
Your pet can sense your stress about his/her visit. We try to make the environment here feel as calm and relaxed as possible. You’ll find fuzzy blankets for cats, lots of treats, and gentle handling of your pet for exams. If you know ahead of time that your pet will be stressed, please call us to talk about it prior to the exam. There are medications available to administer to your pet at home prior to your visit to help him feel less nervous while he’s here.
We also recommend stopping by for “happy visits.” During these visits, you drop in with your pet to get some treats and pets, and then you’re on your way. Hopefully, these visits will help your pet know there’s nothing to fear at the vet’s office.
At this time, we are unable to offer payment plans. As a private small business, we are not able to finance payments in this manner. We understand that unforeseen medical bills can be costly, so we try to maintain competitive, affordable prices and also accept various payment methods, including CareCredit. Other services that can help reduce the cost of veterinary care include the use of insurance coverage. Frequently utilized insurance companies include but are not limited to; Trupanion, Embrace, HealthyPaws, Nationwide. Please reach out to these companies directly for more information. For more information about CareCredit, please see www.carecredit.com. You can use this link to compare coverage and pricing across multiple companies to find the best fit for your pet.
We at Lake Country follow the protocol as outlined by the American Heartworm Society. This allows us to provide the best standard of medicine to keep your pets healthy and safe year-round. The first heartworm test is performed at 6 months of age, which is the earliest detection window, and is subsequently tested each year (every 12 months). Please see the following website for more information: www.heartwormsociety.org
Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi which is transmitted via tick bites. Ticks in our area can transmit other diseases, including anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis. Common clinical signs associated with these diseases are; “leg shifting lameness,” lethargy, and on rare occasions increased thirst and urination. Pets can be subjected to these bacteria without clinical signs, which is why annual screening at their wellness exam is recommended to identify exposure and take appropriate action to try and prevent progressive illness. People are also at risk of contracting similar tick-borne diseases, therefore prevention is recommended for your pets as a public health initiative as well.
There are a number of reasons why a prescription may be declined and is dependent on the circumstances of each different case. Possible reasonings may be; there is no current veterinary-client-patient relationship established, the pet is overdue for blood work (4dx, disease-specific, monitoring, etc.), there are new clinical signs or circumstances for which the doctor needs to see the pet in order to develop the best therapeutic plan.
According to New York State Practitioner Law, a current VCPR must be maintained in order to legally diagnose medical conditions and subsequently prescribe medication. This is why a staff member may recommend scheduling an exam prior to offering any medical advice. We define a VCPR as a doctor having performed a physical exam within a year. NYS Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Technology: Practice Guidelines: Guideline 5 (nysed.gov)
You can reach us using any of the following methods:
- Call: 315-673-4858
- Text: 315-673-4858
- Email: contact@lcvetcare.com
We’re happy to help with any questions or concerns you may have about your pet.
Yes. Lake Country Veterinary Clinic welcomes patients from Marcellus and the surrounding communities of Syracuse, Skaneateles, Marietta, and Camillus. We are located at 2527 Cherry Valley Turnpike, Marcellus, NY 13108 and are accepting new patients. Call 315-673-4858 or contact us.
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We proudly bring lifelong wellness to the pets of Skaneateles, Marcellus, Tully, Lafayette, and beyond. Easily request an appointment for your pet using our online system!