FAQs

Yes! We welcome new dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, select pet birds, and their families. Whether you’ve recently adopted a new pet or are looking for a veterinarian in Farmville, our team would love to meet you.

Willow Grove Animal Clinic proudly serves Farmville, Greenville, Pitt County, Greene County, Edgecombe County, Wilson County, and surrounding communities in eastern North Carolina.

We believe great veterinary care starts with relationships. Our team takes time to get to know you and your pet, explains your options clearly, and works with you to create a care plan that fits your pet’s needs and your family’s goals. Many of our clients appreciate seeing familiar faces at every visit and receiving compassionate, personalized care from a locally owned practice.

Yes. Willow Grove Animal Clinic has been locally owned and operated by Dr. Susan Morphis since 1995. As an independent veterinary practice, our recommendations are based on what’s best for your pet, not corporate policies or production goals.

Most healthy adult pets should be seen once a year. However, our pets age faster than we do, so twice-yearly visits are beneficial for your pets’ long-term wellness. Senior pets often benefit from wellness exams every six months because health conditions can develop more quickly as they age. Puppies and kittens require more frequent visits while completing their vaccine series.

Your pet’s wellness exam includes a comprehensive physical examination, dental evaluation, parasite prevention recommendations, vaccinations when appropriate, nutritional guidance, and time to discuss any concerns or changes you’ve noticed at home. Additional testing, such as bloodwork or fecal testing, may be recommended based on your pet’s age and health.

Yes. Indoor cats can still develop dental disease, arthritis, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, heart disease, and other health concerns. Regular wellness visits help detect problems early, often before cats show obvious signs of illness.

Yes. Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and intestinal parasites are year-round concerns in eastern North Carolina. Preventive medications help protect your pet from diseases that can be painful, expensive, or even life-threatening.

Many intestinal parasites aren’t visible to the naked eye and can affect both pets and people. Routine fecal testing allows us to identify parasites early and recommend the most effective treatment.

The ideal age to spay or neuter depends on your pet’s breed, size, health, and lifestyle. While many dogs and cats are spayed or neutered around six months of age, some larger dog breeds may benefit from waiting longer. During your pet’s wellness visits, our veterinarians will discuss the timing that’s best for your individual companion and answer any questions you have about the procedure and recovery.

Puppies typically begin their vaccine series around 6 to 8 weeks of age and receive booster vaccines every 3 to 4 weeks until approximately 16 weeks of age. After completing the initial series, most puppies will receive annual wellness exams and vaccines based on their lifestyle and risk factors. Our team will create a personalized vaccine schedule to help keep your puppy protected.

Kittens usually begin vaccinations around 6 to 8 weeks of age and receive booster vaccines every 3 to 4 weeks until their initial series is complete. After that, your kitten will continue with regular wellness exams and vaccinations based on their age, lifestyle, and health needs.

Yes. Even indoor cats should receive regular wellness exams and core vaccinations. Indoor cats can still be exposed to disease through open doors, new pets, boarding, grooming visits, or unexpected escapes outside. During your cat’s annual exam, we’ll recommend vaccines based on their age, health, and lifestyle.

Itching can have many causes, including allergies, fleas, ticks, mites, skin infections, ear infections, environmental irritants, or underlying medical conditions. Because treatment depends on identifying the underlying cause, it’s important to have your dog examined rather than simply treating the symptoms. Our team can recommend diagnostic testing and develop a treatment plan to help your dog find lasting relief.

Every dog should receive core vaccinations, which generally include rabies and DHPP (distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza). Depending on your dog’s lifestyle, we may also recommend vaccines such as Bordetella (kennel cough), leptospirosis, Lyme disease, or canine influenza. During your dog’s wellness visit, we’ll recommend only the vaccines appropriate for their individual risk factors and lifestyle.

Yes! Willow Grove Animal Clinic provides veterinary care for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and select pet birds in addition to dogs and cats. If you have questions about your rabbit’s health or would like to schedule a wellness exam, we’d be happy to help.

Bad breath, tartar buildup, red gums, difficulty chewing, drooling, or changes in eating habits may all be signs of dental disease. However, many pets, especially cats, hide oral pain well, making routine dental evaluations during wellness exams especially important.

Before anesthesia, we perform bloodwork to evaluate your pet’s overall health. During the procedure, our team closely monitors heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, body temperature, and pain management to help ensure your pet’s safety.

Much of dental disease develops below the gumline, where it can’t be seen during an awake exam. Dental X-rays allow us to identify hidden infections, damaged tooth roots, and bone loss, so problems can be treated before they become more painful.

Most surgical patients return home the same day to recover in the comfort of their own home. Before discharge, we’ll review medications, home care instructions, activity restrictions, and follow-up recommendations.

Your pet receives individualized pain management before, during, and after surgery. Throughout the procedure, our team carefully monitors anesthesia, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, breathing, temperature, and comfort.

We offer digital X-rays, in-house laboratory testing, urinalysis, fecal testing, ECGs, tonometry, otoscopy, ultrasound with a visiting specialist, and internal medicine consultations to help diagnose a wide variety of medical conditions.

Absolutely. Our team explains why a test is recommended, what the results mean, and the treatment options available so you can make informed decisions about your pet’s care.

Yes. We offer boarding for dogs and cats, providing compassionate care from the same trusted veterinary team that knows your pet.

Yes. We offer grooming services to help keep your pet looking and feeling their best. We do not offer any nail clipping services at this time. Ask our team about available grooming options when scheduling your visit.

Yes. We offer convenient drop-off appointments for established clients with busy schedules. Your pet’s visit still begins with time spent with you in a private exam room before they stay with us for the day.

From the moment you arrive, our goal is to help both you and your pet feel welcome. Most of your appointment takes place in a private exam room where we’ll get to know your pet, discuss your concerns, perform the examination, review recommendations, and even complete checkout whenever possible.

We use gentle handling techniques, treats when appropriate, patience, and a calm environment to reduce stress. We also minimize unnecessary noise and allow many pets time to adjust before beginning their examination.

Yes. Cats have unique needs, so we use quieter handling techniques, minimize stress whenever possible, and tailor our approach to each cat’s personality and comfort level.

Yes. We provide compassionate end-of-life care and guidance, helping families navigate one of the most difficult decisions they may face with dignity, kindness, and respect.

Yes. Even indoor pets can accidentally slip outside. A microchip provides permanent identification that greatly increases the chances of being reunited if your pet is lost.