Frequently Asked Questions

As planners ourselves, we know it helps to know what to expect regarding costs for services. Here are answers to some of the common “shopping for care" questions we receive each day.

• • New patient exam fee $394.00
• • Active care follow-up appointments $169.00
• • Prolapsed gland of the third eyelid repair (“Cherry Eye”) - $2,200.00 - includes follow-up examinations for one month related to the surgery.
• • Cataract removal surgery (both eyes) $4,600-5,600.00 - includes pre-surgical retinal testing called an electroretinogram (ERG) and ocular ultrasound, replacement lenses, and 6 months of courtesy follow-up examinations.
• • Cataract removal surgery (one eye) $3,500-4,500.00- includes pre-surgical retinal testing, replacement lenses, and 6 months of courtesy follow-up examinations.
• • Eye removal surgery $2,200-$2,500.00 - includes all follow-up examinations.
• • Treatment for an indolent corneal ulcer $1,250.00 - includes all follow-up examinations.

No. You can call and make the appointment yourself. Referrals are not required.

The key to helping aggressive dogs is to remember that the driving factor behind their aggressive behavior is fear. Fear based aggression may happen when a pet feels they are not able protect their family members. Fear based aggression can also happen through fear of pain or when placed in new environments. Through a combination of fear free practices and excellent communication with family members during the visit, we can make an anticipated bad experience a great one.

Some success stories:

Timon, an 8 yo, male-neutered, Miniature Pointer mix breed, wore a muzzle at his first exam. After working with his family to understand that Timon had a hurt filled past and he loves treats, his visits after cataract removal surgery are now muzzle free nestled in his doctor’s lap who is seated on the exam room floor talking to his family.

Romula, a 3 yo, female-spayed, Cane Corso who took her job of protecting her family very seriously. After communicating and learning about her needs, she had her first muzzled exam performed away from her family. This was immensely helpful as Romula worked to understand her “job” with new individuals in the room. And, using tips from her family like her favorite places to be scratched, her dislike for having her feet touched, her dislike for other dogs (no waiting time in the exam room for Romula), her dislike for raised voices, Romula went on to enjoy her annual visits to our team. We became an extended her circle of people to protect.

A primary reason for aggressive behavior in cats is fear.

From the time in the carrier, to the time in the car, to the sights and smells of a veterinary clinic, cats have a lot of things to worry about before they even arrive in our exam room.

Practices like bringing cats to the exam immediately after they arrive, minimizing their time around other animals, minimizing overall time in the clinic, being in a quiet room with dimmed lights where the scents of FELIWAY® (a calming pheromone spray) abound, having a rug on the exam table and a soft towel to hide under, speaking quietly, and being handled kindly and gently can make a world of difference. Often the case with cats is simply “less is more”.

A Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist is a licensed veterinarian who has completed accredited training and examination in the diagnosis, medical treatment, and surgical treatment of ocular diseases in animals.

They have completed a 4-year accredited veterinary training program to earn their doctorate degree, completed one or more internship programs (1-year), followed by completion of an accredited 3-year residency program.

During their residency they evaluate and manage hundreds of challenging eye cases, receiving advanced training in ophthalmic surgery, complete an extensive study program, conduct a scientific, publishable research project and pass a multiple section, ACVO certification exam which evaluates both medical surgical skills.

As with human medicine, we are lucky to have specialists who are highly trained to take care of us when medical issues go beyond the expertise we would and should expect from general practice veterinarians. On these occasions, a veterinarian might want assistance or suggest referral to a specialists to better meet your pet’s needs.

We believe that pets deserve specialty care and access to experts who can best help them.

We accept payment through CareCredit (on-line application from an interest deferred lending service) and Trupanion Pet Insurance. We also work with many other insurance companies to accommodate each client’s needs.

At Apex Veterinary Ophthalmology, the answer is yes.

We are happy to provide help over the phone. We consult with our veterinary colleagues and review photos from cases several times a day. We are also happy to speak with existing or future clients to provide information and alleviate concerns for their pet.