We care about your experience at our clinic and welcome all questions.

A: Ironhorse Veterinary Care is located in Ironhorse Centre, on the southeast corner of the intersection at 151st Street and Nall Avenue. Our clinic is around the corner from Paddy O’Quigley’s and Trendz.

A: Fear-Free is a movement of practicing veterinary medicine by reducing the amount of stress on the pets. There are many ways to accomplish this goal. At Ironhorse Veterinary Care, we utilize every single one of the core Fear-Free principles. Not all Fear-Free certified veterinarians choose to do that. We also are always thinking of ways to add more techniques. The Fear-Free philosophy is very important to us.

A: Practicing Fear-Free is what we believe in, and we do not charge extra for this service.

A: Each appointment varies. The length of the appointment depends on several factors, including the presenting problem, which services are requested, and whether the pet is showing any anxiety. However, since we dote on our patients and clients, our visits can sometimes take longer than a typical vet visit.

A: To prevent anxiety, when possible, we quickly transfer all pets from the lobby to a calm exam room upon arrival. This gives your pet time to become acclimated to its surroundings that include species-specific pheromones and relaxing music.

A: Ironhorse Veterinary Care has on-site digital capabilities allowing us to immediately show radiographs and cytology slides in the exam room.

A: We will work with pets that show aggression. To prevent stressing these animals further, we will often recommend sedation for staff safety and patient comfort.

A: Of course. Every pet can enjoy an exceptionally positive experience.

A: As pheromones are species-specific, they will have no effect on humans.

A: According to the toxicological data, no particular risk is expected following inhalation of the pheromones when used as recommended. However, as a precaution, we only use our species-specific pheromones in well-ventilated rooms. If you buy this product for personal use, we recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions.

A: We have a wide variety of treats including grain-free options. Please let us know if your pet has food sensitivities. We will try to accommodate that request.

A: Most dogs and cats are food-motivated, which is why it is important for you to withhold food prior to your visit. We are generous with our treats. (We will discuss this with you when you make your appointment.) However, some pets are stressed during any visit to a location that is unfamiliar to them and will not take treats. In these cases, we have multiple ways to reduce stress, including pheromones, calm music, delayed and gentle handling, toys, and positive attention.

A: Absolutely. Just make sure to bring a lot. We love to give out treats.

A: If a pet experiences stress at our clinic (refusing positive rewards, such as treats, and other methods to reduce stress are not working), our doctors will often reschedule the appointment. We do not like to overstress a pet, especially if the visit is regarding a non-emergent problem. We would prescribe anxiety medication for the pet owner to administer prior to the rescheduled appointment. If you believe that your pet experiences anxiety regardless of the situation, please tell us this before we schedule your first appointment.

A: We offer overnight care for our patients when medically necessary. However, since our focus is medical care and we want to maintain a calm environment for our patients, we do not offer general boarding or pet sitting services.

A: Our focus is expert medical, surgical, and dental veterinary services for dogs and cats. We want to give your pets the very best possible medical care. We are able to bathe and groom pets when required as part of their medical care. However, we do not offer general bathing or grooming services.

A: Ironhorse Veterinary Care does use this fascinating product. The Clipnosis Gentle Calming Clip® causes a calming behavior when clips are applied to a cat’s scruff. In fact, the result is almost identical to that seen in kittens when their mother picks them up by the skin of their neck. Clipnosis provides a safe and effective alternative to scruffing and harsh restraint methods.

A: Absolutely. We sell species-specific pheromone diffusers and we encourage our clients to use these for stressed pets, much like we do in our clinic. We also have multiple medications that can aid in reducing anxiety during stressful times at home (for example, Fourth of July, during travel, and before unfamiliar people visit your home).

A: We refer all after-hours emergencies to BluePearl, which is open 24/7 for pet emergencies.

A: Yes. We realize this is a difficult time for our clients and want to make it as comfortable as possible for everyone involved.

A: Ironhorse Veterinary Care accepts cash, check, debit and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, CareCredit). For customers with Companion Protect pet insurance, you only pay your copay and deductible for covered services at time of treatment.