Hospital Policy

At Townsend Veterinary Hospital, your pet’s health and safety are always our top priorities.

Emergency Care

True medical emergencies — such as pets injured by a car, experiencing difficulty breathing, or suffering from an obstructed urinary tract — will be seen immediately, with or without a previously scheduled appointment. Emergency fees apply to these visits, and these cases will always take priority to ensure prompt, life-saving care.

Commitment to Patients & Referring Veterinarians

We are dedicated to serving our established patients, valued clients, and referral veterinarians. We take pride in maintaining strong collaborative relationships with local veterinary clinics and will continue working closely with them to ensure comprehensive, coordinated care for your pet.

Comprehensive Care

From advanced bloodwork, ultrasounds, and other diagnostic testing to high-quality medications and skilled medical support, we are committed to providing the highest standard of veterinary medicine. Every decision we make centers on your pet’s health, comfort, and well-being.

Appointment Delays

We understand how valuable your time is and sincerely apologize if you experience a wait. Because we cannot predict when emergencies will arise — or how complex each case may be — delays occasionally occur. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to provide exceptional care to every patient we see.

Our goal is always to exceed your expectations while delivering compassionate, thorough, and timely veterinary care.

Payment Options at Townsend Veterinary Hospital

At Townsend Veterinary Hospital, our main concern is the health and well-being of your pet. We want you to have every opportunity to provide the care and treatment your pet needs, yet we understand that finances can sometime hinder this goal.

Since full payment is required at the time services are rendered, we accept cash, personal checks (We do not accept checks for a first visit), Visa/MasterCard credit or debit cards, and the Discover Card. Please take a moment to review the following considerations, which can help you meet the cost of your pet’s care:

1. Estimates: Please don’t ever hesitate to ask your doctor or a front desk assistant to create an estimate of charges for any treatment recommended for your pet. When laboratory tests and medications are factored in, even an annual wellness exam for a healthy pet can be more costly than you may expect. We want to help you make fully informed decisions regarding your pet’s health, and this includes financial as well as medical considerations. While our doctors are committed to providing optimum care for our patients, they may be able to offer acceptable alternative treatment plans if needed.
2. Pet insurance is becoming more popular and, while it doesn’t cover everything, it can be a huge help should your pet suffer an unexpected illness or accident. Brochures from a number of companies are available in our lobby. Every company is different, so it’s a good idea to visit www.PetInsuranceReview.com and compare policies to find the one best suited for you and your pet.
3. CareCredit (www.carecredit.com/vetmed) is a service that, if you are approved, will extend you a line of credit for medical expenses, and can be used at our hospital as well as at many other veterinary and human medical and dental offices. While you may open a CareCredit account at any time, this option is most attractive when you have a large bill to pay (over $200) because of CareCredit’s interest-free financing option, which can extend from 6 to 18 months depending on the size of your opening balance.
   1. You can fill out the application for CareCredit at home or our receptionists can help you fill out the application, which is typically approved within 20 minutes. We hope this method of extended credit provides you the opportunity to do therapy that may have otherwise been considered unaffordable.

We wish that finances didn’t need to be discussed at a time when the health of your pet is of primary importance. Our goal is to provide state-of-the-art diagnostics, patient care, and surgery, with exceptional client service. We want your pet to have the best!