Allegheny Equine Veterinary Service Practice Policies
We are honored that you have entrusted our doctors and staff with the safety and care of your pet for treatment. We offer a wide range of advanced services, equipment, and medicine in order to give your pet the best care possible. We understand your concerns and it is very important to us that we answer all of your questions prior to treatment or admission and during ongoing hospitalization. We are happy to explain any and all steps involved. In order for us to provide treatment, we must ensure that you understand and are able to comply with our hospital policies.
You certify that you are the owner or the duly authorized agent/guardian for the owner of the patient(herd) presented, have the authority to make decisions on care, and accept full financial responsibility.
A valid VCPR requires regular physical examinations (at least once a year) and open communication about your patient (or herd). A valid VCPR is required for certain services such as prescriptions. We reserve the right to sever this relationship to anyone with an outstanding account balance or where a breach of this relationship has occurred.
To allow ample time for all patients and scheduled surgical procedures, we operate primarily by appointment. We appreciate your understanding that emergencies will receive priority and may cause an appointment delay. Please realize that we make a sincere attempt to see each client on time.
New Client Appointments & Pre-Purchase Exams: These appointments will be required to prepay a non-refundable exam fee to reserve an appointment time. This fee will be applied to invoice if the appointment is kept. Previous veterinary medical records must be submitted prior to the appointment.
Surgery Appointments: Surgical procedure appointments will require a deposit of 75% of the treatment plan to reserve the appointment. This fee will be applied to the final invoice.
Cancellations: If an appointment is cancelled less than 24 hours prior, or the patient fails to attend the appointment, prepaid fees are automatically forfeited. As a courtesy, this fee may be transferred once to a future appointment scheduled within one week of the original.
For the safety of our staff and to comply with state law, proof of current rabies vaccination by a licensed veterinarian must be provided at the first appointment or hospital admission for dog and cat patients. if no proof is provided, a rabies vaccination may be administered at a cost to the owner.
We offer three options for prescription fulfillment for patients with a current VCPR:
- Onsite dispensing
- Online ordering and home delivery via our online pharmacy platform
- Written prescription (you may submit it to the local or online pharmacy of your choice)
Please allow 24 hours for prescription processing.
For your pet’s safety, to ensure clear communication of dosage and instructions, and to comply with West Virginia state pharmacy law we provide written prescriptions for fulfillment outside our hospital or online pharmacy platform. Email or telephone solicitations from pharmacies will not be approved.
Controlled substances require valid ID per WV law and are dispensed in state-defined quantities (initial scripts often limited to 7 days).
We routinely prepare a written treatment plan. We are happy to discuss treatment options and determine course of action. We will take thorough precautions to reduce the risk for your pet during treatment, diagnostics and hospitalization. However, in any case, unforeseen complications and even death can occur. Patients found to have fleas, ticks, lice, ear mites or other external parasites will be treated automatically at the owner’s cost. Please feel free to ask our veterinarians or staff about details about your animal’s specific risk and treatment plan.
Please understand that hospitalized patients are monitored from 7 AM to approximately 6 PM on weekdays and a minimum of twice daily on weekends and holidays (continuous overnight staff is not available). A fee of 75% of the treatment plan will be required to initiate treatment and hospital admission.
Payment is due in full at the time of service. Allegheny Equine / Allegheny Veterinary Service accepts cash, major credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express) and personal check (local only & with a valid driver’s license). A $40 fee will be assessed for any returned checks or disputed credit or debit card charges. Any balance held over 30 days is subject to a 3% finance charge. Client is responsible for paying all legal and professional fees associated with a collection.
Payment plans are available via third party financing companies, Cherry and Care Credit. Click the link to apply.
Many manufacturers will guarantee parasite preventatives such as monthly heartworm and flea/tick preventatives. If you purchased the product at our hospital, our staff will assist you in a resolution. If you purchased the product from a store, pharmacy or online source, you will need to contact the supplier or manufacturer.
Our hospital accepts several pet insurances. If you have any questions regarding whether your insurance is accepted, please inquire directly with our receptionist. For details regarding your coverage, please consult with your insurance provider. Your insurance carrier solely determines your coverage according to the terms of your policy, which is a contract between you and your carrier. The possession of insurance does not guarantee payment. Deductibles and co-payments are due and payable at the time services are provided. Please note that regardless of any insurance coverage, many pet insurances are reimbursement programs and payment in full at the time of service is ultimately your responsibility. It is the responsibility of the owner to submit all necessary reimbursement forms and claims applications to the insurance provider.
We recognize the importance of protecting the personal privacy of our clients and our patients. We do not collect or sell any information to any third-party vendors or internet businesses. At no time is any information given out about the client or the pet without the appropriate consent. Case information and photos may be compiled for the medical record, research and teaching purposes. Pictures may be posted on social media with permission of the owner. Please respect the privacy of our other clients and patients in hospital and refrain from taking pictures or videos of other patients on our premise.
The state of West Virginia considers a pet’s medical history to be private and confidential. Therefore, we are required to have written authorization to share any of your pet’s information on your behalf. Boarding kennels, groomers, or other hospitals may all require information such as vaccine status, health status or results of blood tests in order for your pet to be at their facility.