The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Frequently Asked Questions

The information contained on this page is general information. Should you have questions about your animal's specific case, you should consult your regular veterinarian.

When should I have my pet(s) / animal(s) vaccinated? Which vaccines should I get?
When should I get my pet spayed/neutered (castrated)?
How do I call to check up on my pet while he/she is in your care?
When should I request a referral to the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital?
What types of services are offered by the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital?
What should I expect to pay for diagnosis and treatment of my pet's condition?
What is the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital's payment policy?
What is the Sundown Surgery Fund?
What is the G.R.A.C.E. Fund?
How do I set up a tour of the hospital?
What should I do when I find injured wildlife?
What is The Wildlife Treatment Center?

When should I have my pet(s) / animal(s) vaccinated? Which vaccines should I get?

You should discuss the specific vaccination needs of your pet/animal with your regular veterinarian as there can be circumstances where vaccinations should be delayed or not performed at all.

For Large Animals

For horses: The bare minimum is Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Western Equine Encephalitis, and tetanus (so called EWT). This should be done in the spring and in endemic years, also in August for EEE. Currently, West Nile virus is recommended in spring and late summer. Rabies is a good one to consider also.
For younger horses that are traveling or have exposure to traveling horses, they also need influenza and rhinotracheitis and should also consider strangles. The influenza and rhinotracheitis need to be given several times a year.
For pregnant mares, we also recommend rhino at 5, 7 and 9 months of pregnancy, as the disease can cause abortion.
Foals can be vaccinated between 3 to 6 months of age. It depends on if the mare is vaccinated. For some vaccines in foals, they need boosters.

There are other vaccines, but the above are the most common. The rest are given upon request or because there is a problem in the area: examples being EPM or PHF.

For goats and sheep, the minimum for pets are Clostridium perfringens C/D and tetanus and rabies. More vaccines are available, but these depend on the location and local diseases.

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For Small Animals (cats, dogs, exotics)

You should present your puppy and/or kitten to your regular veterinarian between 6 and 8 weeks of age for its first examination, then every three weeks thereafter until 12 to 16 weeks of age. Annual “healthy pet” examinations are recommended after the initial puppy/kitten examinations are completed. Your regular veterinarian will set up your vaccination schedule at the time of the initial examination.

Vaccines against the following diseases should be considered core vaccines.

Core Vaccines for Cats

Feline panleukopenia (feline parvovirus infection)
Feline viral rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus -1 infection)
Feline calicivirus infection
Rabies

Vaccines against feline leukemia virus infection should be considered as an additional core vaccine for all cats that live outside full or part time, or those living full time inside but with exposure to outside cats. If recommended, it should target kittens less than 16 weeks of age, with a negative FeLV test result, and a realistic risk of exposure to the virus.

Core Vaccines for Dogs

Canine distemper
Canine parvovirus infection
Canine Adenovirus infection
Rabies

Vaccination against Leptospirosis and respiratory diseases (Parainfluenza and Bordetella) should be considered as an additional core vaccine based upon the canine's risk of exposure (ex. going outdoors and boarding or showing, etc.).

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For Exotic Animals

We recommend that all ferrets and many other non-domesticated mammals should be vaccinated against rabies (legal requirement) and distemper.
Other vaccines are recommended in a species-specific manner.
Primates are generally vaccinated against tetanus and rabies (and often measles, mumps, and rubella). Yearly tuberculosis testing is also required.
We recommend polyoma vaccinations for psittacines, especially those that come into contact with other birds or are in breeding situations.
For parrots we recommend polyomavirus vaccination but are currently not recommending West Nile vaccination.
We do not currently recommend any vaccinations for rodents or rabbits.

Even in those species that are not vaccinated (e.g. rodents, rabbits, reptiles etc), there are considerable health benefits in having yearly examinations, fecal checks and routine blood tests.

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When should I get my pet spayed/neutered (castrated)?

We prefer to spay and castrate dogs and cats sometime between 5 months and one year of age. Spaying before the first heat cycle reduces the likelihood of breast cancer in dogs. "Early age" spaying and castration as done by shelters and adoption agencies has generally worked out well for animals that have not been adopted yet. We believe that this has reduced the numbers of unwanted dogs and cats. In contrast, we prefer that all dogs and cats to have completed all of their immunizations prior to being hospitalized for surgery.

How do I reach one of your veterinarians BEFORE I bring my pet in for evaluation and/or treatment?

Clinicians at the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital cannot discuss cases that have not been evaluated at our facility. If you have specific questions you would like answered prior to presentation, please check with your regular veterinarian. The UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital does offer telephone consultation with other veterinarians.

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How do I call to check up on my pet while he/she is in your care?

You should call 706.542.3221 during normal business hours (M-F 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. - noon). After hours calls are handled through an emergency answering service located away from our facility. They are unable to direct calls other than for emergencies attempting to present to the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital. If you will be unable to call during normal business hours, please inform your student/doctor at presentation so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

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When should I request a referral to the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital?

You should discuss the specifics of your pet's condition with your regular veterinarian and allow them to help you decide when it is time to refer the patient to a specialist. Your regular veterinarian is the best candidate to determine this as they know what diagnostic and treatment options they can offer at their facilities and they would be most aware of the progression of your pet's condition.

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What types of services are offered by the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital?

For a detailed answer, please see either the Large Animal Hospital page or the Small Animal Hospital page.

The UGA Small Animal Teaching Hospital offers diagnosis and treatment in the following areas: Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, Exotics, Orthopedics, General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Behavior and Theriogenology.

The UGA Large Animal Teaching Hospital offers diagnosis and treatment in the following areas: Internal Medicine (including cardiology and neurology), General Surgery (including orthopedics and soft tissue surgeries), Field Services, Behavior and Theriogenology.

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What should I expect to pay for diagnosis and treatment of my pet's condition?

Due to the varying nature of medical and surgical conditions, cost estimates are not available on this Web site. You can have your regular veterinarian call our referral coordinators for a generalized cost estimate.

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What is the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital's payment policy?

Please understand our financial requirements. The Hospital is largely self-supported. Please let us know if you have budgetary limits before we start diagnosis and treatment.

Payment Plans: Payment for all services is expected in full at the time of discharge. The University of Georgia does not offer payment plans. However we do accept all major credit cards as well as CareCredit (http://www.carecredit.com). If you know that finances will be an issue, please contact our accounting department at 706.542.5546 before your appointment time.

Estimates & Deposits: You will receive a preliminary estimate of the cost of your pet's veterinary care as soon as the initial evaluation of the animal's problems is completed. If your pet is hospitalized, you will need to be prepared to leave half of the high end of the estimate as a deposit. For example, if your estimate is $1000-2000, you would be asked to leave a $1000 deposit (this is a change in policy, effective March 24, 2008). Please keep in mind that estimates can change if complications occur. Please be vigilant about asking how changes will affect the cost of treatment.

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What is the Sundown Surgery Fund?

The Sundown Surgery Fund is named in memory of Sunny Sundown, a black and white stray tomcat who lived with a caring adopted family for four years before he died of cancer. The fund was established at the College of Veterinary Medicine to provide an alternative to euthanasia for cats and dogs in life-or-death situations.

The mission of this fund is to spare the owner of a much-loved pet the heartbreaking decision of putting the cat or dog to sleep because he or she is unable to pay for the surgical and medical services needed to save the pet's life.

Clients are eligible to receive help from the fund if they have a demonstrated need for financial aid along with a strong human-animal bond with their pet. Preference is given to pets which have a good prognosis for recovery and whose treatment will provide a valuable learning experience for students.

To begin the process of determining your qualification for assistance from this fund, you would need to request a referral from your regular veterinarian. Once that has been done, one of our referral coordinators will assist you in contacting our accounting department.

If you are interested in learning more about making a donation to this fund or any other program established at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, visit the College of Veterinary Medicine's Office of Development Web site.

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What is the G.R.A.C.E. Fund?

The G.R.A.C.E. fund is designed to help clients of the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital who have demonstrated the need for financial help to cover the cost of any medical procedure for their dog. The fund is set up to help dogs who are ill, injured, or require routine care which their owners cannot afford. Assistance will be given each fiscal year as long as funds are available.

This fund will cover preventative care as well as treatment for diseases like cancer, hip dysplasia, eye and skin diseases, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, and a host of other ailments dogs can suffer from as long as funds are available.

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How do I set up a tour of the hospital?

Tours are conducted on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Tours last one hour and depart at noon. Reservations are required at least one week prior to the tour date. Please call Teresa McClure (706.542.5727) to make a reservation. The tours are most appropriate for people of high school age and above. If you have a younger group of children you would like to introduce to Veterinary Medicine, we do have an Open House in mid-April of each year that offers attractions geared to all ages. For further information concerning Open House, please call 706.542.5384.

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What should I do when I find injured wildlife?

If you find an orphaned animal that is not hurt, it is best to leave it where you found it. Its parents are usually nearby waiting for you to leave so they can care for their offspring.

If you find an injured bird or animal, it's often a good idea to wear gloves and cover it with a towel before picking it up. Transport it by placing it in a covered, ventilated cardboard box. BE SURE TO CALL 706.542.3221 BEFORE BRINGING ANY ANIMAL TO THE HOSPITAL. You may also contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at 770.761.3044.

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What is The Wildlife Treatment Center?

The Wildlife Treatment Center was established at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine to provide care for wounded wild animals and birds in hope of healing them and returning them to the wild.

Birds, turtles, squirrels and other injured wild creatures receive medical care from our zoological medical specialists, along with ophthalmologists, radiologist, and surgeons, as well as students (as funds are available). When they have been treated and healed, these creatures are released to licensed rehabilitators or into their natural environment following strict guidelines set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Center accepts a variety of injured wildlife, except poisonous reptiles or animals which may be infected with rabies and are likely to bite people such as raccoons, foxes, coyotes or skunks. The Center does accept spotted fawns, but cannot take full-grown deer since they may be dangerous for the staff to handle.

Although the Center cannot accept uninjured, orphaned young, the Department of Natural Resources (770-557-3035) can provide information about rescuing healthy animals.

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This page was last updated March 21, 2008.