Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additional questions that aren't covered here, please feel free to give us a call at Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic: (907) 252-4581. You may also email your questions to 'frontdesk@twincitiesvet.com'.

1. What are the Hospital hours?

Our hospital is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. On Saturdays we are open from 9:00am until 4:00 pm. The clinic is closed on Sunday. Please view our 'HOURS & LOCATION' page for more details on holiday closures.

2. Do I need to have an appointment?

 Yes, patients are seen by appointment except for emergencies, which are first come, first serve basis.

3. What forms of payment do you accept?

 We accept American Express, Cash, Check, CareCredit, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa.

4. Can I make payments?

 Payment is required at the time of service. Please view our 'FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE' page for more information and resource recommendations.

5. At what age can I have my pet spayed or neutered? 

Although spaying and neutering can technically be done any time after 2-3 months, our surgeons prefer to spay pets at approximately 6 months of age. At 6 months of age, pets are more physically developed and therefore pose less anesthetic risk. Most pets will not reach puberty by 6 months of age and therefore we see no significant benefit to "early" spay/neuter for most pets. Pets that are older and/or overweight make for a more challenging procedure and therefore may incur additional fees for extra time required to safely complete the surgery. The day of the procedure, 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. Depending on age and overall health, a pre-anesthetic blood screen may be recommended prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery. 

6.  What is the pre-anesthetic blood screening?

This is a blood test that is usually run here in the clinic prior to an anesthetic procedure. Blood tests help assess internal organ function help screen for liver blood 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.

7. How long do the sutures stay in after my pets surgery?

For most routine spay and neuter procedures, we use absorbable sutures that are tucked under the skin. These do not require removal and decrease incidence of licking or chewing at incisions. Procedures involving visible skin sutures require them to be removed in 10-14 days following the surgery. Typically, there is no charge for suture removal with routine surgeries. You will be provided with post-operative discharge instructions containing all of the directions to ensure your pet has a proper recovery.

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

No, despite numerous "wives tales" there are no proven health benefits or behavioral advantages to letting your pet have one litter; however, there are plenty of advantages to having your pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include: decreasing the chances of mammary cancer, 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 urine spraying and territorial marking, decreasing aggressive and territorial tendencies in males, and last but not least--spaying and neutering decreases the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens that are over-capacitating local shelters. 

9.  Can my pet be spayed if she is in heat?

Females in heat can be spayed, but surgeons prefer to spay animals when they are not in heat when possible. The reason for this is that the uterus becomes swollen and very vascular during estrus (heat), which makes surgery more challenging, a bit more time consuming, and slightly greater risk for intra- & post-operative bleeding. Typically pets who were recently in heat and/or have had previous litters tend to have larger, more developed reproductive tissues--which changes a routine procedure into a more complex surgical procedure. As a result, there are typically additional fees for the extra surgery time, anesthesia, and surgical materials for patients who were recently in heat or have had previous litters. If a female is in heat, it may be best to wait 2-3 months to schedule a spay, as this will decrease the chance of additional surgical fees.

10.  Are you a fear-free hospital?

We always strive to make our patients and clients feel as comfortable as possible. Our lobby is spacious and welcoming. We are happy to accommodate requests if your pet is aggressive or loud around other pets. For dogs, we encourage "Happy Visits", which are occasional drop-ins that you provide your pet by coming inside, getting treats and pets from our friendly staff, and leaving. This encourages your pet to build trust with our clinic and tells them that "not all vet visits are bad visits". For cats, they are not removed from their carrier until they are in the exam room and can be weighed at that time. We have clean, soft towels for the exam table to prevent their paws from getting cold or slipping on the smooth surface. We also spray the towel with a product called 'Feliway', which releases calming pheromones similar to what a kitten experiences from smelling its mother. Our staff is trained for animals of all behavior types and will make any necessary recommendations or actions to ensure the safety and comfortability of both you, your pet, and our staff.

11. Do you only see cats and dogs? Can you treat exotics, wildlife, or livestock/large animals?

We are exclusively a small animal practice that also sees domestic exotics (that are legal to own in the state of Alaska). At this time, we do not treat large animals or livestock and cannot treat wildlife. Any injured wildlife can be reported to the local Fish & Game department. If you are unsure if your pet qualifies to be seen as an exotic, please call for more information--(907) 262-4581.

12. What kind of products do you sell?

We exclusively sell a wide variety of Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet products, including canned food, dry food, and treats. Most other Hill's Pet Nutrition products can be ordered online and shipped directly to your home via our 'Hill's to Home' program. We also sell C.E.T. Enzyme chews for dental health, Pill Pockets in a variety of sizes and flavors, puppy and kitten supplements, joint health supplements, behavioral supplements, and more. Our pharmacy contains a wide variety of prescription-only health and wellness products. Our lobby has a wide variety of TUFF-LOCK Reflex cat and dog collars, leashes, and harnesses with a lifetime guarantee! There is also a convenient measuring tape so you can purchase the best accessory size to fit your pet.

13. Are you accepting new clients?

Yes, our books are open to the public based on our schedules availability. Please call us at (907) 262-4581 for more information or to get your pet established with us.

14. Can you send my prescription to an online pharmacy?

At this time, we are not able to work with online pharmacies; however, we are happy to send your prescription or refill request to a local pharmacy of your choice, such as Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, Safeway in Kenai/Soldotna, Fred Meyer in Soldotna, Walmart in Kenai, Walgreens in Soldotna, etc. To order your pets prescription medication online, you may request a physical copy of the written prescription from us which you will then need to submit via email to the online pharmacy of your choice.

15. Do you accept Peninsula Spay & Neuter Fund coupons?

Yes, we do. Please familiarize yourself with the program requirements and visit their website at https://www.peninsulaspayneuterfund.org/. Coupons must be presented in person during the procedure check-in and must be within the expiration date.

16. Is Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic privately owned?

Yes, we are privately owned and independently operated. We are not owned by any corporation. We have been servicing the Kenai Peninsula since 1981 and are proud to be the largest hospital in the "twin cities" area.

17. Do you offer boarding and grooming services?

No, we currently do not offer boarding and grooming services (except for nail trims and anal gland expressions, which we gladly offer as an add-on to your exam or can be scheduled separately as a veterinary technician appointment). Our previous building, located next door to us, may be rented to a separate business who offers these services.

18. Do I need to be present for my pets exam?

Yes, if you have an appointment you must be present with your pet at all times. Surgeries and day procedures require a check-in appointment; your pet must be picked up during the allotted pick-up times. All other appointments require the pet owner to be physically present. You must be 16 years of age or older to bring a pet in for an appointment; the client account must be created by an adult 18 years of age or older. Children and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult guardian at all times. We do not recommend sending a friend to bring your pet in for their appointment as they may not have the information/details needed for the veterinarian to perform as thorough an exam as possible; whoever knows the pet best is who should bring the pet in. If you are leaving your pets in care of a pet-sitter or boarding facility, please call us in advance to provide their contact information and your payment information to ensure your pet can be treated in the event something happens while you are gone.

19. Can you mail my pets medication to me?

Yes, we can mail medications and cremation ashes to you for an additional charge. Please call (907) 262-4581 for current rates or more information.

Surgical FAQs

What You Need to Know Before Your Pet's Upcoming Surgery

Many people have questions about various aspects of their pet's surgery, and we hope this information will help.  It also explains the decisions you will need to make before your pet's upcoming surgery.

Is the anesthetic safe?

Today's modern anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past.  Here at Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic, we do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics, to ensure that a fever or other illness won't be a problem.  We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet. 

Preanesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risk of anesthesia.  Every older pet should have blood testing before surgery to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic.  Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing.  If there is a problem, it is much better to find it before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications.  Animals that have minor dysfunction will handle the anesthetic better if they receive IV fluids during surgery.  If serious problems are detected, surgery can be postponed until the problem is corrected.

We offer various levels of in-house blood testing before surgery.  Our staff can review these options with you when you bring your pet in.  Our doctors will recommend the most appropriate testing based on the age and health of your pet.  In pet over 5 years of age Doctors typically prefer the more comprehensive screen, because it gives them the most information to ensure the safety of your pet.  For geriatric or ill pets, additional blood tests, electrocardiograms, or x-rays may be required before surgery as well.

It is important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia.  You will need to withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery.  Water can be left down for the pet until the morning of surgery.

Will my pet have stitches?

For many surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin.  These will dissolve on their own, and do not need to be removed later.  Some surgeries, especially tumor removals, do require skin stitches.  With either type of suture, you will need to keep an eye on the incision for swelling or discharge.  Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, but this is an occasional problem you will also need to watch for.  If there are skin sutures, these will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery.  You will also need to limit your pet's activity level for a time and no baths are allowed for the first 10 days after surgery.

Will my pet be in pain?

Anything that causes pain in people can be expected to cause pain in animals.  Pets may not show the same symptoms of pain as people do; they usually don't whine or cry, but you can be sure they feel it.  Pain medications needed will depend on the surgery performed.  Major procedures require more pain relief than things like minor lacerations.

For some patients, we may recommend an oral anti-inflammatory the day after surgery and several days after to lessen the risk of discomfort and swelling.  We typically use newer prescrition medications, which are less likely to cause stomach upset and provide much better pain relief compared to OTC (over the counter) medications such as aspirin.  Dogs do not tolerate many human medications such as tylenol (acetominophen) and advil (ibuprofen), so always consult a veterinarian before using OTC medications in your pet. 

Because cats do not tolerate standard pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol, we are limited in what we can give them.  Recent advances in pain medications have allowed for better pain control in cats than ever before.  We administer a pain injection prior to surgery, then  after surgery pain medication is given on a case by case basis.  Any animal that appears painful will receive additional pain medication.

What other decisions do I need to make?

While your pet is under anesthesia, it is the ideal time to perform other minor procedures, such as dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip.  If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please call ahead of time.  This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision maker for the pet's care.

When you bring your pet in for surgery, we will need to 5 to 10 minutes of time to fill out paperwork and make decisions on the blood testing and other options available.  When you pick up your pet after surgery you can also plan to spend about 10 minutes to go over your pet's home care needs.

We typically will call you the night before your scheduled surgery appointment, to confirm the time you will be dropping your pet off and to answer any questions you might have.  In the meantime, please don't hesitate to call us with any questions about your pet's health or surgery.