We will be CLOSED on Labor Day, Monday, September 4th. See our post for more information.
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Palmer Animal Hospital

Veterinarian Myersville, MD

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Labor Day—Monday, September 4th, 2023

We will be closed on Monday, September 4th, 2023 in observance of the Labor Day Holiday.   We will re-open for regular business hours on Tuesday, September 5th at 7:30AM.    If you have an emergency which cannot wait, please contact one of the following local animal emergency services:

Crossroads Animal Referral and Emergency (CARE) —1080 W. Patrick St, Frederick     301-662-2273

Mountain View Animal Emergency  —- 13810 Crayton Blvd, Hagerstown    301-733-7339

VETURGENCY —- 434 Prospect Blvd., Frederick 301-288-8387 (VETS)  (Open 6PM-12AM Daily)

Examples of emergencies that should not wait:

  • Trauma cases— hit by car, fight wounds, falls, broken legs, hemorrhage/bleeding
  • Eye trauma/painful eyes/squinting
  • Persistent Vomiting or Diarrhea, especially if your pet appears weak or distressed
  • Difficulty Breathing, Severe/persistent coughing
  • Male cats or dogs straining but unable to urinate
  • Toxin ingestion —rat poison, antifreeze, grapes/raisins, human medications, Xylitol
  • Seizures, sudden behavior changes, inability to walk

NOW AVAILABLE: NexGard Plus– Once-A-Month Flea/Tick and Heartworm Prevention

The product we have been waiting for is finally here:   NexGard Plus, a once-a-month Flea/Tick and Heartworm medication for your dog.    This medication combines NexGard, a flea and tick product that has done a great job for over 10 years, with Moxidectin, a proven monthly heartworm preventative.   It is also labelled for the prevention of two intestinal parasites, Roundworm and Hookworms.   If your dog is already on Heartgard and NexGard, you can now give just 1 tablet once-a-month and do the same great job at protecting your pet from parasites.

There are no contraindications for NexGard Plus on the label, but dogs must be heartworm negative to start on the product, and as with NexGard, we do not recommend using this product in dogs that have seizures.   The cost of using NexGard Plus is similar to using the two products separately, and a $35 rebate is available on the purchase of 6-packs—NOTE that this should save you money even compared to online pharmacies.

If you are interested in NexGard Plus, please let us know and be sure to ask about it at your next visit.

 

Labor Day: Monday, Septmber 4th, 2023–CLOSED

We will be closed on Monday, September 4th, 2023 in observance of the Labor Day Holiday.   We will re-open for regular business hours on Tuesday, September 5th at 8:00AM.    If you have an emergency which cannot wait, please contact one of the following local animal emergency services:

Crossroads Animal Referral and Emergency (CARE) —1080 W. Patrick St, Frederick     301-662-2273

Mountain View Animal Emergency  —- 13810 Crayton Blvd, Hagerstown    301-733-7339

VETURGENCY —- 434 Prospect Blvd., Frederick 301-288-8387 (VETS) : (Open 6PM-12AM Daily)

Examples of emergencies that should not wait:

  • Trauma cases— hit by car, fight wounds, falls, broken legs, hemorrhage/bleeding
  • Eye trauma/painful eyes/squinting
  • Persistent Vomiting or Diarrhea, especially if your pet appears weak or distressed
  • Difficulty Breathing, Severe/persistent coughing
  • Male cats or dogs straining but unable to urinate
  • Toxin ingestion —rat poison, antifreeze, grapes/raisins, human medications, Xylitol
  • Seizures, sudden behavior changes, inability to walk

COVID Update: Jan 3, 2022—All Services Again Curbside

Beginning Monday, Jan 3rd, 2022, all services at Palmer Animal Hospital will again be curbside.   Frederick County’s positivity rate is now over 20%, and to be honest we have had continued issues with clients not following our COVID policies by not wearing masks properly, not observing social distancing (the “blue line”) and even coming into the office when sick.  We do not want to go all curbside because it does reduce our efficiency, but we must provide a safe environment for our staff.   We hope to have everyone’s cooperation as we all continue to be frustrated by the continuing pandemic.

     When you arrive at our office, please call into the front desk so that a staff member may come out to you.  Remember that we will have increased phone traffic so it may take a little longer than usual.  If you are here for your pet’s appointment, a staff member will come get your pet when the doctor is ready.  Please be sure to fill out a pre-visit form (found on our website).   If you are picking up food or medication, a staff member will bring it to you and do your check out at the car.

   Please note, that we are still operating on a limited schedule to control the flow of persons into and out of our building. Scheduling continues to be our biggest challenge, but we continue to work hard to provide great care for all of our patients. We do reserve appointments every day for sick patients, but these fill up quickly. If your pet needs to be seen, you need to call us early in the morning.  Unfortunately there are times that we cannot fit any more appointments into our schedule and must refer patients to one of the local emergency hospitals.

Stay safe and healthy, get vaccinated, and we hope this winter surge will soon resolve.

Sallys says stay healthy and get vaccinated!

2021 Holiday Hours

 

 Our Holiday Hours For New Year’s weekend are:

New Year’s Eve—Friday, Dec 31st—8AM-5PM

New Year’s Day—Saturday, Jan 1st—CLOSED

 

      If you have an emergency with your pet that cannot wait, please contact one of the below emergency clinics and they will be able to help you:

Crossroads Animal Referral and Emergency (CARE) —1080 W. Patrick St, Frederick     301-662-2273

Mountain View Animal Emergency —- 13810 Crayton Blvd, Hagerstown    301-733-7339

Pet Scams and COVID-19

      With the COVID-19 Pandemic still looming, pet scams are becoming increasingly common with people looking to buy or adopt pets. While pet scams have been present for many years, the conditions resulting from the pandemic have only allowed scammers to be even more successful in taking people’s money for pets which don’t even exist, and will never come.

            With more people working and spending the majority of their time at home during the pandemic, many have looked at purchasing or adopting pets for company. However, to avoid being scammed make sure you go and see the pet in person. During the pandemic, it has become easy for scammers to convince people not to see the pet in person using the excuse of COVID-19. In the past several months, according to BBB’s Scam Tracker, there have been 2,166 reports of pet scams in the past several months which is more than triple the amount of the same period in 2019, at 700 scams. In addition, with animal shelters in high demand and selling out of animals, people are becoming even more desperate and willing to purchase pets with as little in-person contact as possible.

In addition, cash apps have made it easier to purchase online goods, pay friends and other expenses, and more. However, these apps such as PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay are hotspots for scamming and make it easier for scammers to take people’s money. According to the BBB’s Scam Tracker, pet scams have experienced the largest increase out of all categories of online shopping fraud and now at 24% of cases of online fraud, comprise the largest percentage as well. In addition, after sending people money using these cash apps, there is no way to get it back. With the average cost of pet scams at $700, added to the fact that people never receive the pet, scams can be heartbreaking for many families.

Even so, there are several things potential pet buyers can do to avoid being scammed. While online shopping, it can be helpful to research the average price of the animal you are purchasing. If you see purebred animals at significantly lower prices and including additional fees for shipping or health paperwork, it is likely a scam. In addition, once you find a potential pet, make sure you see the animal in person. If an individual is serious about selling or adopting their pet to you, they should be able to work with you on meeting and interacting with the animal. If they are not willing, it is best to move on and continue looking. Finally, if you think you’ve met your perfect pet, even if the seller appears trustworthy it is best to avoid using cash apps, wiring money, or gift cards. If an issue arises using these payment options, there is often no way to get your money back.

The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed for ideal conditions for pet scammers to trick people with the idea of as little in-person contact as possible. However, with some background research and conscious shopping habits, you can find the perfect pet to enjoy.

 

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Testimonials

What Our Patients Are Saying

“They have always taken wonderful care of our pets. Especially when there is an emergency. I moved out of the area and never found a vet to compare so I make a longer drive back to Palmers as it is well worth it.”

Darlene Donaldson

“I’ve taken my pets here for the past 14 years and always find the staff friendly and caring. Dr. Palmer and his team always take great care of the animals and help people make good choices taking each situation into consideration.”

Larry Hector

“Dr Palmer did an amazing job with our dog Bailey’s surgery. Have been a customer for more than 20 years and have been completely satisfied with the service here.”

Scott Sheppard

“Great staff and always very accommodating and sweet. They really care for the animals that come in and the vets have all been very friendly.”

Anna Lebo

“I’ve been going to Dr. Palmer since he first opened years ago. He has saved and worked on many of pets for me. I don’t know what I would have done without him!!! Great place. Great Drs. Great staff!!!”

Sherry Fisher

“I have been taking my dogs to Dr Palmer for over 15 years. The Animal Hospital staff is always very kind and proffesional. His charges are very reasonable also. Top Knotch !!”

Malea Sanbowers