Frequently Asked Questions

-What are the hospital hours?

Epping Road Veterinary Hospital is open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday-Friday.  We are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

-Do I need an appointment?

Yes. Patients are seen by appointment.  We would be happy to schedule a time that is convenient for you.  Please give our office a call at 603-707-4468.

-What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Cash, Check (under $200.00), Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and Care Credit.  

-Do you accept Payment Plans?

Our hospital policy is that payment is required at the time of service.  While we understand emergencies arise, we expect payment at the time of service for routine examinations and procedures.  If you have any questions about the cost of an upcoming appointment or procedure for your pet, please feel free to call our office in advance and we would be happy to produce an estimate of services for your pet.  In cases of emergencies, we encourage families to investigate Care Credit, a third-party payment credit card, as a method to help with unexpected expenses.We also offer Wellness Plans, which can be great options to spread out the cost of services over time.

-Do you accept Pet Health Insurance?

We are happy to submit a claim on your behalf to your pet insurance.  Most pet health insurance works in the form of reimbursement.  This means that payment would still be expected at the time of service, and then your insurance company will pay you back for what is covered.  

-Should I get Pet Health Insurance or a Wellness Plan?

Our Wellness Plans are a great complimentary care option with Pet Health Insurance!  Our Wellness Plans cover routine care, office visits, health screenings, vaccines, and more!  Please visit our Wellness Plans page to learn all about our tailored plans for more information.  Pet Health Insurance is a great way to have coverage for emergencies and unexpected visits that are not covered by our Wellness Plans!  By having both, you can rest assured that your pet is covered in almost any circumstance.  Please find out more about our Wellness Plans Here!

-What age do you recommend for a spay/neuter?

We recommend having your pet spayed/neutered around 6 months of age.  It is important to have this procedure performed before a female pet's first heat cycle to limit the risk of ovarian cancer later in life.  Pet's who are spayed/neutered at this age tend to experience less behavioral issues as well as fewer health concerns.  At ERVH, your pet is given an exam prior to surgery to help determine whether your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery. Also a pre-anesthetic blood screen is recommended prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery.

-What is pre-anesthetic blood screening?

This is a blood test that is done prior to surgery. It tests the organ functions, blood cell counts and clotting function of your pet. The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to assure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery.

-How long do the sutures stay in after my pet's surgery

Procedures involving sutures require them to be removed in 14 days following the surgery.

-Is it a good idea to let my pet have at least one litter?

No, there is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However, there are plenty of advantages to having you pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of mammary tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood, decreasing the incidence of prostate cancer later in life, helping prevent spraying and marking, and also decreases the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.

-Should I get my pet microchipped?

Absolutely!  Pets who have a microchip are 20 times more likely to be returned home if they are ever lost.  We offer HomeAgain microchipping in our hospital.

-Do you offer Boarding?

We do not offer boarding services.  Fortunately, there are two great options nearby!  We recommend contacting Play All Day in Exeter or the The Barking Dog.

-Do you offer house-calls?

Yes!  We believe in making veterinary care convenient for those pets who cannot make it to our facility.  We offer services in our client's home or office.  There is a travel fee associated with this service based on distance.  We would be happy to give you a quote for a house-call visit over the phone.  

-What is a "Fear-Free" visit?

We are happy to state that Epping Road Veterinary Hospital is a Fear-Free Practice!  This means that we are committed to reducing your pets fear, anxiety, and stress associated with office visits.  This includes having one of our exam rooms dedicated to feline visits, having stress-reducing pheromone diffusers in our hospital, practicing low-stress handling during appointments, and offering positive reinforcement during our exams with treats in all of our exam rooms.  In cases of severe stress or anxiety, we may recommend calming medication prior to vet visits.  This allows us to give a thorough veterinary examination without causing extreme stress and anxiety to pets when necessary.

-What food should I feed my pet?

While every pet is different, and we are happy to make an individualized recommendation during your appointment time, we generally recommend Purina Pro Plan, Hill's/Science Diet, and Royal Canin pet foods.  These are the only companies that offer pet feeding trials before being made available publicly.  Therefore, we can be sure most pets will thrive on these diets.  These companies have a proven record of commitment to pet nutrition as evidenced by their long term pet feeding trials before a product is made available publicly and employ full time veterinary nutritionists on staff.