Animal Cardiology of Alabama

4.7 (70)
2114 10th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Animal Cardiology of Alabama

Schedule Regular Vet Visits

One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.

Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions

Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.

Pet Insurance

Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.

How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?

Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 891
4.5 ASPCA 11,713
4.9 Embrace 16,627
4.9 Fetch 10,616
4.2 Figo 2,598
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 9,975
4.9 Lemonade 805
4.6 ManyPets 2,332
4.0 MetLife 625
4.8 Nationwide 21,404
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.5 PetPartners 112
4.3 Pets Best 12,053
4.6 Pumpkin 1,425
4.6 Spot 6,829
4.9 Trupanion 67,550
4.8 Prudent Pet 125

Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.

Thinking of insuring your pet?

Get Quotes & Compare

Getting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask

Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:

Tell me about your experience with [pet type].

Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.

How do you handle emergencies?

You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.

How do you communicate with pet owners?

Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.

Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?

Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.

Do you have any questions for me about my pet?

This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.

Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?

Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.

Reviews from Google

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Dawn Trainer

Simply the best! The staff is very communicative and very patient! They are kind and warm and wonderful! My husband and I are delighted with the service that they provide! One of my favorite parts is the pictures that they take and the care that they take and the paperwork that they give you at the end that includes a picture of your fur baby :-) it's such a delight! This place makes me happy!

posted: 01/02/2024

Dede Robinson

They are the best ! Everyone is so kind to our baby.

posted: 05/16/2024

Dawn Trainer

I'm pretty convinced that Dr. Straeter is an angel as are her whole staff! They do an amazing job making us as puppy parents feel heard. Our concerns, our questions, our fears, our feelings, they listen and they respond with compassion, patience, knowledge, and wisdom. We are treated as beloved individuals and not as just another pet family to get over with for the day. The personalities of each person there are warm and efficient and kind and I am so thankful that we found this wonderful place! Again I can't say it enough. They address any concerns that you have and make you feel cherished. Something else that I love is they had no problem with making the prescriptions all liquid compound form. Our TinkerBelle is overly picky and this really helps her too get all her medicine and keep her appetite! I am so thankful for Animal Cardiology PS - they take the cutest pictures of your fur baby while she's with them!

posted: 11/08/2022

Whitney

We absolutely love Dr. Straeter and her staff. They are such a blessing! They're thorough during exams and Dr. Straeter always comes out and speaks to you about findings/labs/radiology and gives you a written report detailing the visit with instructions/med changes/follow up. Included with every visit is a cute little photo of your pet (although Tootie usually looks terrified 😅). I keep mine in my car and it makes me so happy to see my baby every time I drive. The staff is also very responsive to emails/texts/phone calls. They are quick to send your primary vet any updates on your pet from their most recent cardiology appointment, and also willing to weigh in or collaborate with your primary vet if your problem isn't heart related (for example Tootie had pancreatitis recently and I wanted to verify that all the new meds being prescribed were okay for him to take with his current heart meds). I cannot sing enough praises for this business! They have made such a positive impact on our lives. Honestly, I'm an ER Nurse and I wish all medical practices coordinated/collaborated care the way Dr. Straeter does for her patients!

posted: 01/09/2024

Allie Johnson

The staff was very nice and professional, and they were very understanding of our need to get an appointment as soon as possible. They're also very good about following COVID safety measures, and everything is done curbside due to the pandemic. Unfortunately, Dr. Straeter had to give us unexpected bad news about our beloved 10-year-old dog, Baby. But she was one of the kindest and most compassionate veterinarians I've ever met, and her genuine care and concern meant a lot at a difficult moment. She took time to make sure I understood what she had found with the heart ultrasound, and she patiently answered all my questions. I would highly recommend this practice to anyone whose pet has heart issues.

posted: 12/25/2020