FAQs

We can make house calls for established clients, but only for euthanasias or under extreme circumstances when a pet cannot be moved safely or humanely.

During regular business hours, please call our clinic at (540) 338-7081 to allow us to make preparations for your arrival.

After hours emergencies can be handled by 24/7 emergency facilities: Click HERE to view our emergency center recommendations.

See Our full list of services here

We are located 4.2 miles south of Purcellville on Route 690. There is a sign out front that says Tally Oaks Veterinary Wellness Center. The clinic is located in the big grey metal barn. Please feel free to park anywhere in front of the barn, or if you prefer, you can find a shady spot under a tree in the yard.

Physical address is: 19302 Silcott Springs Road Purcellville VA 20132. One word of caution, if using Map Quest or another directions app and you are coming from east of Leesburg. One of the suggested routes is to use Route 704; but this takes you over some dirt roads that can be rough. My advice would be to take the Route 7 West option instead.

Monday - Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday and Sunday: Closed 
 

Call our office during regular business hours at (540) 338-7081.

After hours you can leave a message on our answering machine and we will get back to you the following business day.

We provide care for dogs and cats. 

It depends on the breed but normally 4-6 months of age is reasonable, except for large and giant breed dogs which should be done after they stop growing.

You need to wait at least 12 weeks after she has puppies. She will not become pregnant again in this time. Dogs that are still lactating (creating milk) will be declined for surgery and you will need to reschedule.

Spaying and neutering are surgical procedures performed by veterinarians that render dogs incapable of breeding by removing their reproductive organs. When a female dog is spayed, the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus are removed or, just the ovaries can be removed.

Shelter euthanasia is the number one killer of companion animals. Spaying and neutering is the only way to reduce or eliminate that. It’s also better for your pet’s health. Dogs can get all of the same types of reproductive cancers that humans can get. Female dogs can also get a serious uterine infection called pyometra.

The answer to this question depends on your dog’s breed. In general, it’s better to spay your dog before her first heat. It greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors. Once they’ve had several heats, intact female dogs have a one out of four chance of developing mammary tumors.

The usual time for visible heat signs in a dog is 2-4 weeks. Even if the dog has no vaginal bleeding, it can be in heat. Dogs usually ovulate after the vaginal bleeding stage and that is when they can actually conceive puppies. Non-spayed female dogs will go into ‘heat’ or estrus usually twice a year. The age at which they start their cycles and the duration of the cycle varies greatly between the breed and individual dog. The small breeds can show signs of heat by 6 months of age, and the larger breeds are usually older when they show signs of heat, from 6-15 months of age, typically.

Four-six weeks. Spaying too soon after the end of the heat cycle can lead to surgical complications.

Every pet owner should have a conversation with their veterinarian about the pros and cons of spaying and neutering and decide together which is best for the pet. There are many benefits associated with these surgeries such as increased life expectancy, prevention of unplanned and unwanted litters and shelter overpopulation control.

For the majority of cats, spay-neuter performed at 4-6 months of age will serve them well. For dogs, your veterinarian will suggest a time based on the breed, behavior, and its environment. Generally 4-6 months of age is a good recommendation. For large and giant breed dogs, the decision may be to delay spay and neuter until the pet stops growing; however, there are additional risks and additional costs when they are older. 

The decision should always be an informed decision made jointly by the owner with their veterinarian.

Signs of pain in the dog are: vocalization, changes in drinking, eating, socialization, self-mutilation, increased or decreased energy level, facial expressions (enlarged pupils, flattened ears), lameness (non-weight bearing, sitting with leg out, etc.), change in posture (hunched, unusual positions) and aggression or fearfulness.

Cats are typically harder to recognize pain as they are normally more elusive. Most cats hide when they are in pain, so unless you see them out, you may not pick up on their pain. Changes in the litterbox habits can also be signs of pain. Vocalization, restlessness, changes in their activity level, unusual postures, lameness, and aggression.

Yes, we are constantly searching for vaccines that have fewer side effects perhaps with a smaller volume. Our feline rabies vaccine is adjuvant free, which helps to prevent injection site sarcomas. Our canine rabies vaccine is thimerasol-free which is safer for the long-term health of the pet. We carefully select our vaccines with the safety of the pet always at the forefront of our decision.

Today, in-clinic titer test kits for canine distemper (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), canine adenovirus (CAV), and feline parvovirus (panleukopenia, FPV) correlate well with appropriate gold standard tests. Therefore, when these in clinic tests are performed properly: A positive test result indicates the patient does have protective levels of antibody against the virus. A negative test result indicates the patient does not have protective levels of circulating antibody. However, a negative test result does not necessarily define susceptibility.

When it comes to rabies titers, things get a little more complicated. The sample must be sent to an outside laboratory where the Rapid Fluorescent Foci Inhibition Test is performed. Test results are normally available in 3 to 4 weeks from the date that the sample is received at the laboratory. This test cannot differentiate vaccination from infection. 

Additional paperwork must be filled out by your veterinarian in order to use a titer test instead of an actual vaccination for rabies certification.

Smallest surgery we have done here was neutering a pet rat! We have a special anesthesia mask specifically for small rodents.

The strangest surgery we have done here was removing impacted gravel from a chicken’s crop. We did the surgery while the chicken was standing using local anesthesia.

The cutest surgery we have done here was to do a C-section on an alpaca and deliver a healthy baby alpaca – called a “cria”.

We don’t always appreciate the smells our animals leave behind but did you realize that these same scents also offend other animals. For those reasons we carefully select combination of essential oils to diffuse into the air and use room sprays and pet deodorant sprays also made of combinations of essential oils.

Yes, but let one of us know first. We always have an assortment of treats to feed to the horses and we can show you how to do it safely. Make sure your dog is always on a leash when you come here. Never go into the pasture with the horses. Never let your pet get too close to the horses.

Our barn cats: Dusty, Reba and Miranda are lovely cats but a little shy. They like to be petted but on their terms. They don’t bite but if you have your dog with you, they may act differently.