See below for many of our most frequently asked questions. If there is something not answered below, don’t hesitate to ask!

Clinic Policies

RABIES POLICY

It is required that ALL animals seen or cared for in any way at Derry Animal Hospital have legitimate
proof of updated rabies vaccination at the time of service.
If not, the animal, will be vaccinated for rabies during the visit at the owners expense if deemed medically
appropriate by the veterinarian duty.
You also have the right to reschedule the appointment and provide proof at that time. This may result in
loss of your appointment deposit if the appointment is cancelled or rescheduled (see deposit policy below)

SCHEDULING DEPOSIT POLICY

A deposit is collected at the time of scheduling an appointment for your pet. The deposit secures your pets upcoming appointment at our facility. This will show as a credit on your account. Please note that deposits are refundable or transferable as long as we have a full business day’s notice by 5:00 PM to move or cancel the appointment. However, we need a full weeks notice for surgical or dental appointments.

If we do not receive a full business day’s notice by 5:00PM before moving or canceling an appointment, all or some of the deposit will be lost and a new deposit will be required to reschedule the appointment.

To move or cancel your appointment without risk of losing your deposit…

….If you book for a Monday, we need to know by 5pm the Friday BEFORE the appointment

…if you book for a Tuesday (surgery/ procedure), we need to know by 5pm the Tuesday BEFORE the appointment

….if you book for a Thursday, we need to know by 5pm the TUESDAY before the appointment (we are closed Wednesday)

…..if you book for a Friday, we need to know by 5pm the Thursday before the appointment…..

Please note…we do attempt to be as flexible as possible and work with clients to prevent deposit loss, but ultimately we have prepared the staff and hospital and set aside a specific time to provide services to your pet…if you do not show up, our hospital cannot function! We know real life happens! If you are unable to make your appointment for any reason and do not notify us within the appropriate window to retain your deposit, we can certainly rebook with a new deposit. We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

MODIFIED CURBSIDE SERVICE

Modified curbside service protocol:

  • Arrive at your scheduled appointment time and please remain in your car, or outside, with your pet.
  • Send us a text at 717-255-8173 to let us know you and your pet are here!
  • A team member will come outside and speak with you or escort you into the building to review the information & pet health questionnaire relevant to the appointment.
  • Small dogs and all cats should be secured in carriers. Dogs not in carriers must be on a secure leash and removed from the vehicle.
  • **If your pet is known to be aggressive or a bite risk during veterinary care, please come prepared with a basket muzzle and be prepared to fit this on your pet before passing them to the team member. If you do not have a muzzle for your pet, we do have them for use as well as for sale for pets that may require more frequent visits or muzzling for any reason.
  • Once inside, Dr. Crescenzi will examine your pet and perform any other testing or medical services agreed upon for your pet.
  • While your pet is being examined/ worked with, please head into the lobby and patiently wait to be escorted into a consultation room. Dr. Crescenzi or another team member will meet you there to discuss the results of the appointment and make any recommendations or discuss prescriptions.
  • Any necessary follow-up appointments will be scheduled and you will be financially discharged in the lobby.
  • A team member will return your pet and any medications or paperwork/certificates/etc to you

How do I schedule an appointment for my pet?

We would love to see you and your pet! Contact our office via phone or email or text or stop by to schedule. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule with a time that works for you.

When are you open?

We are open 10 AM to 8 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. See the calendars on our OFFICE HOURS PAGE for open dates.

What if my pet has an emergency?

We do our best to accommodate your pets medical needs, but if you shouldn’t wait until our next available appointment time, or you don’t hear back from us right way, please use an ER for urgent or life threatening issues. We are happy to provide follow up care!

Please see our Emergency Contacts Page for local resources available after hours. We prefer PETS in Lancaster as our primary partner for animal emergency needs in the Harrisburg area.

DO YOU HAVE A WELLNESS OR MONTHLY PLAN?

We prefer PetsBest Insurance, but we do work to provide your records needed for claims for any other insurances.

We recommend owners consider Wagmo.io for great savings! Owners can also visit the Pet Insurance Marketplace at PawlicyAdvisor.com.

WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?

  • Cash
  • Credit Card
    • VISA, Mastercard, Discover, AmEx , pre-paid debit/credit cards
  • Check
    • For established clients only
  • Care Credit
  • ScratchPay

DO YOU HAVE PAYMENT PLANS?

Unfortunately we do not offer payment plans at this time.

Payment is due at the time of service.

You may request a financial estimate before services are rendered and you will be expected to settle the balance in full at the conclusion of the visit.

We work regularly with Care Credit + Scratchpay, who are great financial companies that help spread the costs of medical care, making larger expenses more affordable.

HOW DO I GET A PRESCRIPTION OR FOOD REFILL?

Please contact us at least 2-3 business days BEFORE you need the next prescription or food refill.

To submit a request you can leave us a message through email at [email protected], text us at 717.255.8173 or you can call the hospital at 717.564.4470.

Please include the following with your request:

  • You and your pet’s names
  • The medication or food you need refilled
  • Best phone or email for us to let you know it’s ready

When your order is ready you will be notified. You can pick up any time during business hours.

Does my indoor pet need vaccines?

The very long story short….YES.

Dr. Crescenzi is dedicated to working with pet owners to develop the best preventive care schedule based on pets needs, age, and lifestyle.

It is true indoor and outdoor pets may have different risk factors that influence the vaccination schedule and preventive care they need.

Rabies is a vaccine that is required by law for all domestic animals. Starting at the age of 2, dogs and cats can have a rabies vaccine that lasts 3 years. *Recently, they found that certain particles (adjuvants) in vaccines (Rabies, in particular) may be putting cats at increased risk for vaccine-associated sarcoma- a potentially deadly form of cancer. Once this was discovered, scientists developed a much safer method to make vaccines without the adjuvants. These vaccines are still fully effective. At Derry Animal Hospital we carry several “non-adjuvanted” vaccines to improve the safety and minimize any negative side effects of vaccination. Ask us for more details!

As a general rule an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and it is much easier to and less expensive to prevent certain illnesses than it is to attempt to treat or manage them.

Talk to the team about your pet’s vaccine and preventive care today.

My dog/cat has fleas.  What should I do?

If you think your pet has fleas, it is important to treat as fast as possible to prevent further spread in your home environment as well as tapeworm infestations that pets get from ingesting the fleas that are bothering them.

Bathe your pet (from the neck back, not the face) -if you can safely- to remove live fleas. Thoroughly clean and vacuum the environment if indoors. Remember to launder fabric items in hot water if able. Dilute bleach should also be used if it won’t ruin your items.

Apply your veterinary prescribed flea and tick prevention if appropriate. We typically do not recommend OTC flea and tick products unless you discuss them with the doctor first. We want to be sure you are getting the best product to fit your needs and budget.

If you need preventatives or feel yours are ineffective, Contact Us to schedule an appointment or possibly pick up more if you are approved by the doctor without a new exam (for existing patients recently seen by vet).

If your pet seems to be itching, shaking, rubbing, developing scabs, dark flea dander, or seems to have signs of infection like abnormal discharge or odor on the skin or ears, please Contact Us to schedule an appointment to see the vet as soon as possible.

Talk to any staff member about our parasite preventatives today.

Do you euthanize pets?

If the doctor agrees that it is a humane and ethical decision to euthanize an animal, we do perform this service.

Saying goodbye to a pet is never easy, even when you know it may be the most humane option we have to offer.

Dr. Crescenzi has worked for several years with a hospice and euthanasia service as well as in an emergency environment where loss of life is an unfortunate reality for many pets with critical medical conditions. During this time she has gained experience with handling not only the medical side of the euthanasia process in the most humane way possible, but also in helping families and owners during that difficult time of loss and emotional struggle.

Every single pet is treated as a dignified individual. It is our paramount goal to make the passing of each animal as pain and fear free as possible and to look at humane euthanasia as the last nice thing we can do for our beloved companions.

We assure you that your pet is in good hands, even in the toughest of times. You are welcome to have as much or as little involvement as you would like in the euthanasia and aftercare process.

It is our pleasure to discuss this further with you.

Are you accepting new clients?

Absolutely! We would love to get to know you and your pets! Just Contact Us and we will get you an appointment with the veterinarian. Our expanded hours should help to better accommodate your schedule.