Educational Resources

• If another veterinarian has seen your pet, it is very helpful if you send or bring a copy of your pet’s prior medical history. Please be aware that due to new state laws, the prior veterinary office may require your signature to release the documents.
• For the safety of all, we ask that every dog be leashed. Shorter leashes (4-6 feet) are preferred over retractable leashes. We also ask that each cat be contained in a pet carrier. If you do not have a pet carrier, please feel free to alert our front staff and we can provide one for your pet during your visit. Even though we make every effort to make our patients feel comfortable during visits, they may be a little uneasy about new people, new surroundings, and other pets. This is one of the reasons we ask you to restrain your pet.
• If your pet has a tendency toward nervousness or aggression, please advise our staff when you arrive. We will take extra measures to make the visit safe and comfortable for your pet.
  Bring a list of questions you would like to ask. This helps ensure that all of your concerns are addressed.
• If you have any other concerns, please let us know! We’re here to help.

Office Policies:

• Appointment Scheduling: To allow ample time for all patients and scheduled surgical procedures, we operate primarily by appointment. With that being said, we realize that illness has no time clock. If your pet has an unanticipated medical problem, we will make every effort to address the problem in a timely manner, while respecting the other pet owners that have established appointments. Emergency cases shall always receive top priority, which is why occasional appointment delay is inevitable. Please realize that we make a sincere attempt to see each client on time.
• Punctuality: Please be on time for your appointment. We like to spend time getting to know you and your pet, and tardiness not only affects the time we can spend with you but may also reduce the time available for the next patient. If you find that you are running late, please call ahead so that we can make adjustments to accommodate you. In some cases, we may ask you to reschedule the appointment. When you arrive at your visit, please inform staff if you have specific time constraints (i.e. picking up a child, another appointment, etc.) so that we can expedite your visit.
• Payment is due at the time service is rendered. We accept cash, checks (with a valid ID), bank debit/credit cards, Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, and Discover. If your pet is admitted to the hospital, you will possibly be asked to leave a deposit. Your doctor will discuss this when reviewing the cost estimate. The remaining balance is due at the time of discharge from the hospital. If you are dealing with a budget, please notify our front staff so we can provide services accordingly.

• Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
• American Veterinary Medical Association Pet Care Advice
• American Kennel Club
• Animal Poison Control
• Heartworm Society
• HomeAgain
• Pet Food Recalls
• Pet Health Network
• Pet Insurance Finder
• Pet Nutrition Alliance
• Veterinary Oral Health Council

According to the American Veterinary Dental College, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have dental disease by the age of 3. Dental disease can be very uncomfortable for pets and the longer it is left untreated, the more complicated and expensive it becomes to treat. Furthermore, improper care of your pet’s teeth can often be the cause of serious illness. If left untreated, dental problems can lead to larger systemic problems in your pet due to oral bacteria entering the bloodstream and damaging the kidneys, heart, and liver.

If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, please make an appointment immediately:

• Yellow or brown buildup (tartar) on the teeth
• Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Excessive drooling
• Changes in eating or chewing habits
• Pawing at the face
• Loose teeth
• Depression

Oral Exams: Proper dental care is one of the easiest ways to protect your pet’s health and keep them pain-free. During your pet’s oral exam, we will examine your pet’s mouth, teeth, and jaw. We may recommend x-rays to assess the health of your pet’s tooth roots, as well. Regular oral exams, help prevent irreversible dental disease, tooth loss, and possibly expensive oral surgery.

Teeth Cleanings: Your pet’s dental cleaning will begin with a physical examination, so we can evaluate your pet’s general health. After the physical exam, your pet will be given an anesthetic for safe and painless teeth cleaning since most dental disease starts below the gumline. The first part of dental cleaning requires the removal of tartar using a hand scaler. Next, an ultrasonic scaler is used to clean above the gum line while a curette cleans and smooths the teeth under the gum line in the crevice between the teeth and gums. Then your pet’s teeth are polished, and the gums are washed with an anti-bacterial solution to help delay tartar build-up.

Extractions and Advanced Procedures: Our veterinarians will only recommend tooth extractions if we believe it is necessary for your pet’s wellbeing. We usually recommend this when we identify that your pet has an infected or broken tooth that is likely causing them pain. In the case that we recommend a tooth extraction, we will discuss what this means for your pet and how to properly care for them while they’re healing.

How To Prevent Dental Disease Before It Begins: Regular wellness visits allow us to check your pet’s mouth and teeth and identify issues before they progress. Additionally, at-home dental care including regularly brushing your pet’s teeth and using teeth-cleaning treats can prevent plaque from building up. Lastly, avoid hard toys and bones that can potentially damage your pet’s teeth.

Parasites can pose a variety of health concerns for your pets and your family, but we can help you develop a prevention routine to keep everyone safe. At Formea Animal Hospital, we recommend keeping your pets on year-round prevention to stop pests before they become a problem.

Common parasites include fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms. During your pet’s annual exam, we will test your pet for parasites with a thorough physical exam, a fecal test, and a blood test. Even if your pet is on year-round prevention, annual tests are still extremely important to detect parasites even if you aren’t seeing any symptoms.

Our knowledgeable healthcare team will help you develop a prevention plan that fits your lifestyle. You can keep your pets safe with either monthly oral medication or topical treatments. We will discuss what method can most effectively address your family’s needs.

We focus on keeping your pet happy and healthy. Unfortunately, pets occasionally experience an illness or injury that requires urgent care. Our clinic is equipped to handle urgent care during hospital hours, schedule permitting. If your pet has an emergency outside of our hours, we encourage you to call one of the following hospitals to see if they have availability:

Hawthorne Animal Hospital
5 Cougar Drive, Glen Carbon, Illinois 62034
(618) 288-3971
Hospital Hours
Open 24hrs

Animal Emergency Center
2005 Mall Street, Collinsville, Illinois 62234
(618) 346-1843
Clinic Hours
Weeknights (Monday – Friday)- 6:00pm – 8:00am the following day
Weekends- Noon Saturday to 8:00am Monday
Holidays- Open 24 hours on all major holidays

We maintain a fully stocked pharmacy to fill your pet’s prescription needs quickly and conveniently.