Policies

Appointments:

You need to make an appointment. We like harmony and joy in our clinic and too many pets turning up at once makes for chaos.

This does not apply to emergencies. You just come on in with that car struck dog and get seen to right away, but please try and call us on the way so we are ready and waiting. If you are a patient with a scheduled appointment and we bump you temporarily in favor of an emergency, we ask that you be patient (and remain peacefully thankful that it wasn’t your dog that was hit) until we can see you.

For scheduled appointments, please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment time so we can check you in. If it is your and/or your pet's first visit to our clinic, please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out additional paperwork. All forms are available online to fill out ahead of time.

Arrival:

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. All cats must be in an appropriate cat carrier or on a leash. Please, no exceptions; sometimes our waiting room is a melting pot of creatures and we want you all to stay safe and happy.

Cosmetic Procedures/Declawing Cats:

We will not conduct cosmetic procedures here. No tail docks or ear crops—we support the right to wag! We will not declaw your cat. There are alternatives to declawing which we will happily talk to you about. Visit our links page for some alternatives to declawing.

Discounts:

We do not offer discounts for breeders. There is a pet population problem, people! We do offer discounts to those pet owners who get their pets from an animal shelter.

Drop Offs:

You can schedule a "drop off" instead of an appointment. Bring your pet in at a time that works best for you and leave him/her with us. Usually works best when you "drop off" sometime in the morning so our doctors can examine the patient as time and surgical commitments allow during the day. Following your pet’s examination, the doctor will call you to discuss tests and treatments, if necessary, and advise when you can come and collect your pet.

Euthanasia:

This is never a happy time for anyone. Euthanasia is not a "service" we offer, nor it would be on our Services page. Our take on euthanasia is a "policy," because it is a strongly held belief we have that we exist to cater to the best interests of the patient. We will only accept our own patients and only if we believe it is in their best interest. We do not perform "convenience" euthanasias at LABAH.

Exotics:

Imagine you were a Hyacinth Macaw. Would you rather be…

• whooping it up through the forests of Brazil (where you’re from), feasting on nuts and berries? OR
• stuffed into a 2ft cage in a suburban living room eating parrot pellets and watching Oprah while standing in a mound of your own makings?

Just as we thought. Brazilian nuts.

So, we will not treat, and thus encourage the ownership of, exotics. Birds need to fly. Monkeys need to swing. We do treat wildlife. Texas wildlife. Car-struck deer and bent tail possums—stuff like that. We don’t even charge for that; we just ask that you donate to one of the wildlife charities you will find on our links page. But please, people, no exotics.

Payment Options:

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, cash, checks, and the Citi Health Card. Payment is due at the time services are rendered.

Prescription Diets:

We only sell prescription diets to our clients, unless prior arrangement is made through your veterinarian. Please note that we can not guarantee any product will be in stock unless you have placed an order for it. Please speak to a receptionist regarding lead time for your desired product.

Prescription Refills:

Please call in your refill request at least 2-3 days ahead of time. Compounded and some other medications may require more time. If your pet needs bloodwork performed prior to a refill, make sure to do so within the time frame as directed by the doctor.