WILLIAMSBURG-Longtime friends and veterinarians Dr. Andrew Moyer and Dr. Laura Buscher will open the doors to their new collaboration, Five Forks Animal Clinic, on Monday, April 25. Located in Five Forks Shopping Center, the partners took over the storefront that Cities Grill previously occupied between Little Charlie’s Pizza and Via Vitae Chiropractic.
Five Forks Animal Clinic aims to educate, prevent, and treat ailments and diseases that dogs and cats may face during their lifespans. Moyer and Buscher will customize your pets’ healthcare to their individual lifestyle, activity level, breed, gender, and genetics.
“We’re going to be very heavy on the preventative medicine,� said Buscher. “We hope we can keep people’s pets from having the need to visit emergency rooms, which can be very hard to get into these days. Our goal is to have the latest non-invasive testing available for early detection so we can treat issues early and not have surprises.�
The veterinarians will provide services such as genetic testing and cancer screenings to detect medical issues before symptoms arise. Noting that early detection can save animals’ lives just like humans when it comes to certain diseases, the partners hope to manage canine and feline health issues from the moment they’re discovered.
“For example, there’s a genetic marker for back disc disease in dachshunds,� said Buscher. “If you get a dachshund and you’re worried about the day you wake up and he can’t use his rear legs, we can know if you to need to worry at all, and from the time that they’re a puppy.�
Burcher said that similar to people who undergo a mammogram or colonoscopy for early detection of cancer, there are tests available for pets that can detect 30 different types of cancer in the initial stages before there are any physical indications.
“If you wait until they’re sick and showing outward signs that cancer is advanced, all we can do is try to slow it down,� said Buscher. “We want to be more proactive, and that will be part of our older-dog screening process.�
Buscher said that dental care is also important for pets’ long-term health and comfort. Many dog owners tend to wait until there are signs of trouble, like bad breath, before they make a dental appointment for their pets. Preventative maintenance is encouraged versus waiting until a pet shows signs of infection or conveys they’re experiencing pain.
“Our goal is to have every pet pass with all their teeth,� said Buscher. As some dogs age, the need for dental care increases, and cleanings can save pets’ teeth and their owners a lot of money down the road.
“We’ll also have a safe, legitimately-sourced online pharmacy that will ship straight to your home,� said Moyer. Any medication or refill that pets are prescribed during visits will be available for pickup at the clinic’s pharmacy window and ordered through the online option.
In addition to caring for pets’ healthcare needs, the clinic will also perform spay and neuter procedures.
“We both worked in corporate medicine and feel it’s important to be connected to the community,� said Buscher. “We believe that having a relationship with the people in our community and being involved is where the best medicine happens.�
Five Forks Animal Clinic is located at 4511 John Tyler Highway, Suite C. Hours of operation will be from 9am to 6pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. The clinic will be closed on Sunday.
For more information, call 757-378-9028, or visit the clinic’s website or Facebook page.