Appointment Policy

Please call ahead to set up an appointment for your pet. We know your time is valuable. Your visits are scheduled according to the severity of the problem, your schedule, the doctor's schedule and other variables, to make sure you are seen in a timely manner. If you think you may be late for your appointment, please call the office, as we may need to reschedule.

There may be times, especially in the morning, when we are seeing many pets at one time. In addition to our regularly scheduled appointments and routine vaccines, we may also be tending to critical cases and re-checks from the emergency clinic.

Every pet we see is important to us, whether it be an established, long-time client or a new visitor to our clinic. We take pride in knowing that we will be here for pets in need, and we offer you alternatives to waiting on those very busy days. We will not only get you on your way to that business meeting or dropping your kids off at school, but will help put your mind at ease, knowing that your family pet will get the best medical care available.

Please call our office and speak with one of our trained staff members who will be more than happy to explain our policy on caring for your critically ill pet when you are needed elsewhere. To keep you involved and updated throughout the day, you may call and speak directly to the technician in charge of your pet, who will be able to give you up-to-the-minute news on progress, results, and answer any questions you may have.

Calling ahead when you need a prescription refill will also cut your waiting time considerably. We recommend giving a 24 hour advanced notice when requesting a refill.  Each and every refill MUST be cleared with one of our doctors before being filled. The channels of the pharmacy here at Governor are thorough and complete, following the strict standards of  federal and state laws, so your cooperation is appreciated. You may also sign in to your PetPortal and order your pets medications from our online store.  If you haven't set up your PetPortal yet, click on the PetPortal Icon on our Home page, and get started today!

Payment Policy

We require full payment at the time that services are rendered. For your convenience, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, cash and personal checks.

We also provide information about Care Credit, an affordable alternative to credit cards.  CareCredit payment Plans make it easy for you to provide the care your pets need and deserve.  With CareCredit, you always have at least three months to pay off any amount with no interest.  You simply submit an application online or by phone, and get approval on the spot.  www.carecredit.com  1-800-300-3046  X4519  You can read more about Care Credit and access a direct link from our "Care Credit Financing" page.

Many pet owners, at one point or another, are faced with unexpected veterinary bills. Although the cost of veterinary care is actually very reasonable in comparison with the much higher cost of human health care, an unexpected medical emergency can present a major financial dilemma for an unprepared pet owner. In addition to preparing for routine pet-care costs, you may want to create a special "pet savings account" and contribute money to it on a regular basis. If, despite your planning, your pet incurs major veterinary expenses that could possibly create a hardship, consider care credit.

Patient Arrival Policy

If you think you may be late for your appointment, Please call the office, as we may need to reschedule.

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             All cats must be presented in an appropriate cat carrier or on a leash/harness. 

For your protection and that of others,
all dogs must be on a leash and properly controlled
while in the waiting area or exam rooms. 
This policy will be strictly enforced 

Please respect other people and pets while in the reception area, and keep you dog on a leash, safely by your side.

Medication Refill Requests

For those of you who call ahead to request refills on medications, food, products and all of your pet's needs,
a BIG THANK YOU!!!

By state law, ALL prescription medications must first be evaluated and approved by our doctors before a refill can be given. There are many guidelines that must be followed. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated!

If you have a Pet Portals account, you may log in and request a prescription refill 24/7!

We wanted to thank you for choosing Governor Animal Clinic for the care of your pet. We would like to make sure your recent visit was all that you expected it to be. If you have any questions at all, or remarks concerning your appointment, please do not hesitate to call us at 858-453-6312. You may also email us at gacoffice@att.net. We welcome your comments.

You may have already received an invitation via email to sign up for your Pet Portal. This is a great tool you can use to check your pet’s vaccinations, request refills and appointments, and ask questions. There is also a customer satisfaction survey available through the Pet Portal if you prefer to complete that and express your opinion. If you did not receive an email from us regarding the Pet Portal, or if you did not leave an email address on your New Client form and would like to now, please visit our website at www.governoranimalclinic.com. There is a link there to direct you to the Pet Portal if you scroll down the home page.

While on the subject of medication, here's a few little tips for medicating your cat..........

Giving a cat medication is never fun, but sometimes administering it in a liquid form can be the lesser of several evils. Here’s how:

* Most liquid medications come with an eyedropper attached to the lid. If the medication does not come with an eyedropper, using an individually purchased eyedropper or oral syringe will also work.

* Draw up the prescribed amount of medication in the eyedropper or oral syringe.

* Firmly grasp your cat’s head using your non-dominant hand. Grasp the top of the head, just on top of the ears with the thumb on one side of the face and the fingers on the other. Avoid holding the lower jaw and do not hold it so tight that it is uncomfortable. Otherwise, your cat can’t swallow. You may need someone to help hold the front legs and chest of the cat to hold him still. Some people find that wrapping a cat in a towel or blanket is a good restraint technique.

* Once the cat’s head is held in place, raise the nose to point toward the ceiling. The mouth should then open.

* Place the tip of the eyedropper or syringe in the mouth just behind the long canine teeth in the area where there are either no teeth or small, flat teeth.

* Advance the eyedropper until it is just past the tooth line (jaw bone). * Slowly administer the medication and be careful not to give it faster than your cat can swallow.

* Be prepared for some spitting of the medications. If this occurs, do not re-administer another dose unless you feel the entire dose of the medication did not get in.

* The quicker you perform this procedure, the more cooperative your cat will be.

* Always remember to praise your cat and maybe offer a treat after receiving medication.

* To give tablets, minimal restraint is best, and the tablet must get into the laryngopharynx quickly so that it neither dissolves nor is tasted or smelled.

* After putting the tablet in place, hold the mouth closed until the cat licks her nose or otherwise indicates that she has swallowed. If the cat still does not swallow, a sudden puff of air on the nose may prompt her to swallow.

* A light coat of butter on the pill (or capsule) will help mask the taste of the pill and facilitate swallowing. The pill or capsule should be followed by a water bolus or moist food to assure that the pill has not become entrapped in the esophagus where it can dissolve and cause irritation or worse, medication-induced esophagitis. Irritation of the esophagus is painful and leads to a pill-pain association which will make medicating your cat extremely difficult in the future.