What New Clients Should Know Before a First Visit to Cross Lanes Veterinary Hospital
Updated
Cross Lanes Veterinary Hospital (CLVH) is a full-service companion animal hospital in Cross Lanes, WV, serving pets and owners in the Charleston and Huntington regions. If you are booking a first visit, the essentials are: expect a new-client welcome offer, plan to complete a new client form (and a separate photo release consent form if you agree to it), and check the FAQ and payment options pages before you arrive. The practice also publishes dedicated puppy and kitten information resources, which are worth reading if you are bringing a young animal.
Confirm the basics before you book
The hospital describes itself as a full-service animal hospital and states it is "proudly welcoming new clients." Its listed services include wellness care, critical care, surgery, dentistry, ultrasound and radiology, and endoscopy, with a "View All Services" page for the complete list.
Contact and booking channels shown on the site:
- Phone: (304) 776-4501
- Email: [email protected]
- Online booking: "Book Appointment" links appear throughout the site
- Other channels: an online store and a mobile app
Note that the site as provided is marked offline, so verify current hours, availability, and whether online booking is still active by calling or emailing before you rely on a web form.
The new-client offer
The site's welcome message states: "Book today and get $25 off your first exam! *Terms Apply." Two things follow from that wording:
- The discount is tied to booking, and the asterisk means conditions apply that are not spelled out in the text provided.
- Ask about the terms when you book, rather than assuming the discount applies automatically to any first visit.
Paperwork to expect
The resources section lists two forms relevant to a first visit:
| Form | What it's for |
|---|---|
| New Client Form | Standard intake information for first-time clients |
| Photo Release Consent Form | Permission to use photos of you and/or your pet |
Completing the new client form before arrival is the practical step; the photo release is a consent decision, so read it and decide whether to sign rather than treating it as required intake.
If you're bringing a puppy or kitten
The site maintains separate Puppy Information and Kitten Information pages. These are the pages to read first for a young pet, since vaccination schedules, spay/neuter timing, and early socialization questions tend to come up at the first exam. The site does not reproduce their contents in the material available, so go to those pages directly or ask the staff.
If your pet is anxious — especially cats
CLVH has held Cat Friendly Practice certification through the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) since 2017. The hospital states that many of its veterinarians hold Cat Friendly Veterinarian certificates, and some staff are certified as Cat Friendly Veterinary Professionals and Cat Friendly Advocates. It also follows a Fear Free initiative, describing an effort to accommodate each pet's needs and make visits as comfortable as possible.
For a first visit, this matters in a concrete way: tell the staff in advance if your cat or dog is fearful, so accommodations can be arranged before you arrive rather than after your pet is already stressed. The site also offers a video on reducing feline vet-visit stress.
Questions worth settling before the appointment
- Payment: the site has a Payment Options page, but the material provided does not list accepted methods, plans, or pricing. Check that page or ask directly.
- FAQ: the site's FAQ page is the place to look for answers the hospital has already written down.
- Team and facility: "Meet Our Veterinary Team" and a Hospital Tour page let you see who you'll be seeing and what the facility looks like.
- Careers: not relevant to a visit, but listed if you're inquiring about work rather than care.
A simple first-visit checklist
- Call (304) 776-4501 or use a Book Appointment link, and ask about the $25 first-exam offer's terms.
- Complete the New Client Form; review the Photo Release Consent Form separately.
- Read the Puppy or Kitten Information page if applicable.
- Check the FAQ and Payment Options pages for anything you'd otherwise ask at the front desk.
- Mention fear, anxiety, or cat-specific handling needs when booking, so the Cat Friendly and Fear Free practices can be applied from the start.