Has PPC really been serving the Cedar Valley for over 70 years?
Yes! Our hospital, originally called “Veterinary Hospital,” was founded by Dr. Moeller in the 1940s. Located on Sycamore Street in Waterloo, he took care of animals both big and small. In the early 1950s, Drs. Winegarden and Guldner joined the practice and Dr. Moeller retired. The growing practice moved from Sycamore Street to 11th Street in 1960.
By 1975, the hospital added Dr. Reilly to meet the increasing need for veterinary care. The Iowa DOT began building Highway 218 in the 1980s and purchased the property that “Veterinary Hospital” was located on. In 1987, Drs. Winegarden, Guldner, and Reilly bought a new facility at 400 Jefferson Street downtown.
Dr. Bradley Kneeland joined the practice, which was renamed “Veterinary Associates,” in 1993. Pawsitive Pet Care was added as a second location at 3257 West 4th Street, near where the Ansborough Avenue Hyvee is now located. Drs. Winegarden and Guldner retired in the late 1990s.
The Iowa DOT was at it again in 1999, when they purchased the Jefferson Street location to build the Expo Plaza. Drs. Reilly and Kneeland moved to the West 4th Street location and began caring just for dogs, cats, and small exotics.
In May 2008, Pawsitive Pet Care moved to our current location at 1799 Ansborough Avenue. Dr. Reilly retired in 2009. We’ve continued to learn and grow over the years, adding services such as ultrasound, digital radiology, acupuncture, cold laser therapy, allergy management, and more!
What should I do in an emergency?
If you have an emergency during regular office hours, please come directly to the hospital. If possible, please call us at 319-234-7511 while on the way so we can best prepare for your pet’s emergency. We also see emergencies during extended times after-hours for established clients, whenever possible. After-hours calls will be sent through our answering service, and will get you in touch with the on-call veterinarian.
I want to give my pet the best care, but sometimes I cannot afford it. Are there any other choices?
Always. We never want you to feel pressured into proceeding with a treatment you cannot afford, and always want you to feel in control of your pet’s treatment. Our veterinarians take their responsibility to your pet very seriously- theirs is a unique position, with patients who cannot speak for themselves and must rely on the vet to be their advocate. While we will always recommend the “gold standard” course of treatment for your pet, we completely understand that this is not always the course with which you want or are able to proceed.
Non-emergency or routine care- We are always happy to provide you with a cost estimate before proceeding with any treatment. If the estimate is beyond what you are comfortable with, simply let us know and we will provide an alternative. Your veterinarian will work with you to prioritize the treatments and come up with a plan that works for you.
Emergencies- It is an unfortunate reality of pet ownership that emergency situations arise. Often there are few alternate courses of treatment available in life-or-death situations, and emergency care is typically very costly. This is where pet insurance or an emergency pet fund can be invaluable. If you do not have either, we do accept Care Credit and can help you apply for this emergency line of credit if necessary. We are not affiliated with Care Credit, however, like Mastercard or Visa we do accept it.
Read more about CareCredit here.
Why is vet care so expensive?
There are a few factors that go into this one, and we always want you to feel comfortable that you understand the fees you are charged for your pet’s care at Pawsitive Pet Care.
The first factor is our experience as humans with our own health care providers. Since most of us have health insurance, we may be unfamiliar with the actual fees our doctors charge for exams and medical treatments. We often pay flat copays for our own medical services, and may never even see the actual billing statement from our doctor. This can definitely cause some “sticker shock” when we see our pet’s medical bills. In fact, much of the medical equipment (x-rays, ultrasound, IV pumps, anesthesia monitors, etc.), pharmaceuticals (anesthesia, injections, medications, etc.), and supplies veterinarians use are exactly the same as our own human doctors use.
Another factor is the increased status pets have achieved within our families in recent years. It was not too long ago that most pets weren’t even allowed in the house, let alone allowed to sleep in our beds! Along with this strengthening of the human-animal bond came the demand for more advanced medical treatments and a higher expectation of service by pet owners from their veterinarians. Providing a higher standard of care and meeting pet owners’ service expectations have inevitably caused an increase in prices.
Our clients have expressed to us over and over again that they believe their pets are members of their family. Because of that, they expect the same level of medical care for their pets as they themselves receive, and we continually strive to meet or exceed our clients’ expectations.
I have a sick guinea pig/potbellied pig/invisible friend pig. Will you treat them?
Yes! In addition to dogs and cats, Drs. Kneeland sees small mammals, reptiles, and birds. They *do* have to be visible for us to examine, though!
Can I be present for my pets treatments or nail trims?
Absolutely. You are always welcome to observe your pet’s treatment. Many services are best performed in our Treatment Room because the equipment we need to use is located there or because the treatment (like ear cleaning) is messy and better done outside the exam room. Also, many pet owners are squeamish about needles or seeing their pet’s blood drawn and prefer not to be present during these treatments. However, we would be happy to perform these procedures with you present if you would prefer.