HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CARE
for your four-legged friends
for your four-legged friends
The Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital is a full-service veterinary hospital providing quality care at a reduced cost to pets in the Greater Richmond region.
It is our mission to ensure that all families have access to affordable treatment options for their dogs and cats, regardless of financial hardship.
The Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital is not an emergency facility. If your dog or cat has a medical emergency, please contact your local 24-hour emergency clinic.
The Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital provides primarily outpatient services to dogs and cats. Hospitalization and other non-routine services may be provided on a case-by-case basis as resources allow.
Services offered include, but are not limited to:
We also offer non-routine surgeries on a case-by-case basis as resources allow including, but not limited to:
Free sterilizations and rabies vaccinations for community cats through Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return are offered at the Richmond SPCA Smoky’s Spay & Neuter Clinic in Mechanicsville. For community cat inquiries, email communitycats@richmondspca.org or call us at 804-368-6232.
Online Pharmacy
Existing clients can use My VetStore Online to conveniently order medications, prevention for fleas, ticks and heartworms, and other supplies for the health and wellness of their pets. Please note that while online pharmacy pricing is competitive, product cost and availability will differ from prescriptions filled in-person at our veterinary hospital. Online prescriptions will be verified by the veterinarians at our hospital and mailed directly to your home.
To get started, visit MyVetStore Online and click REGISTER.
New Patients
We are not able to see new patients because we are at capacity for service at this time. Please check back on our website or call us for updates.
Existing Patients
If your pet has previously received an exam at our hospital within the last three years, they are considered an existing patient. Likewise, if your pet was adopted from the Richmond SPCA within the last 12 months and you live within our service areas, your pet is considered an existing patient.
Income-Based Qualifications
Pet guardians who live in our service area and whose total household income is less than four times the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines qualify.
| Household size (number of people) | Total household income |
| 1 | Less than $55,000 |
| 2 | Less than $74,000 |
| 3 | Less than $93,000 |
| 4 | Less than $112,000 |
| 5 | Less than $131,000 |
| 6 | Less than $150,000 |
| 7 | Less than $169,000 |
| 8 | Less than $188,000 |
Richmond SPCA Alumni
Guardians who have adopted a pet from the Richmond SPCA in the last year and who reside within our service area may register the adopted pet as a patient in our hospital regardless of household income. Please follow the prompts for existing patients when calling for an appointment. Other pets in the home are only eligible to use our services if the guardian meets our income qualifications.
Service Areas
The Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital services clients in the City of Richmond and in the Counties of Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield, Goochland and Prince George.
Veterinary Referrals for veterinarians only
If your veterinary practice has a client to refer for low-cost services, please fill out our online form (please call if you don’t have the password for our online portal) or call 804-521-1330, extension 5.
Government Shelters
Pets in need of veterinary care while in the custody of area government shelters remain an at-risk population, which is why we extend access to our hospital to all municipal agencies within our service area.
Sterilization Status
Pets must be spayed or neutered. Documentation of your pet’s surgery (receipt or medical record) is required. If your pet is not spayed or neutered, an appointment for low-cost surgery through our hospital will be made following the pet’s initial examination.
To maximize the number of pet patients our professional veterinary team can help and to provide all clients and patients with access to timely wellness, sick and surgical appointments, we kindly ask that you review our cancellation and no-show policies.
Wellness and Sick Appointments
Please provide two full business days’ notice (48 business hours) when cancelling or rescheduling your pet’s appointment. Clients who fail to cancel or reschedule an appointment at least 48 business hours in advance two or more times will be charged a deposit to schedule future appointments. The appointment deposit will be forfeited if you fail to cancel or reschedule within our policy guidelines.
Effective January 16, 2024, when a deposit is required, the following fees apply:
Surgical Appointments
Please provide three full business days’ notice (72 business hours) when cancelling or rescheduling your pet’s surgery. Failure to cancel or reschedule a surgery at least 72 business hours in advance will result in the loss of your surgical deposit. A new deposit will need to be paid when rescheduling.
The demand for our low-cost services is very high, and these policies exist to help ensure we meet that demand for precious pets—like yours—who need us.
If you do not meet the qualifications to become our client, or we do not have the capacity to make an appointment for your pet, these practices may be accepting new patients. Please contact them about availability.
Seek treatment at an urgent care facility when your pet has a non-life-threatening condition that cannot wait for a regular appointment.
Emergency vet care is for critical and life-threatening situations that require immediate attention. Call ahead to let them know you are coming and to ensure that the clinic has capacity to see your pet.
If you are seeking only spay/neuter services and do not wish to become a full-service client, please contact one of the local low-cost sterilization clinics listed below:
For vaccines only, without a physical exam, there are a few options in the area to explore:
Additionally, free rabies vaccine clinics may be hosted by municipalities at the invitation of the Department of Health. Such clinics are usually publicized by the local news stations, so you may try Googling the city or county you live in plus the phrase “rabies clinic.”
Get the latest Richmond SPCA news:
