Chase River Veterinary Hospital
4.6 (318) 1151 Lawlor Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9R 6L6, CanadaHours:
Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Chase River Veterinary Hospital
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:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.9 | Fetch Canada | 163 |
| 4.9 | Furkin | 347 |
| 4.1 | Pets Plus Us | 815 |
| 4.5 | PHI Direct | 28 |
| 4.8 | Spot Canada | 147 |
| 4.8 | Trupanion Canada | 25,883 |
| 1.0 | Desjardins | 1 |
| 5.0 | OVMA | 1 |
| 3.5 | Peppermint | 2 |
| 2.5 | Petsecure | 225 |
| 0.0 | Sonnet | 0 |
Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.
Thinking of insuring your pet?
Get Quotes & CompareGetting 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
This is a long overdue review as my fur babies have been attending Chase River Veterinary Hospital for the last 12 years. They have received the best care throughout the years and I trust them completely. All staff are personable, compassionate and professional. They are organized and always on time for prescription refills, following up and returning phone calls. I have never been disappointed with their level of care. I definitely recommend them to take care of your fur babies.
posted: 08/07/2024
I’ve only gone once so far, but they have been pretty good! My cat is really outgoing and has a lot of patience, so I can’t comment on how they are with anxious patients. She has a difficult disease to manage though as the cause cannot be identified. So, it’s a lot of guesswork. Internal medicine strongly believes it is viral. The vet has been working hard to help me manage her flare up where she has a wheezy cough. She’s done follow ups and helped me find medications that actually work for her. The only issues I have had with Chase River so far are: 1. Their dental cleanings are quite expensive compared to some of the other hospitals. The extractions seem reasonable though. 2. Somehow the vet read my cat’s history and thought she had asthma. I guess because she’s on an inhaler typically used for asthma to manage some of her symptoms. Honestly, they have so much to keep track of, I don’t blame her for this. She was apologetic when I explained to her that she isn’t asthmatic and listened to my explanation well. 3. The veterinarian told me we were going to give her medication daily, but the prescription said every other day. And she was gone for 5 days so nobody could confirm or deny if it was correct.
posted: 06/15/2024
Dr. Sakai was absolutely amazing with my reactive and anxious dog! She was so kind and patient with her and took the time to help her settle down and get to know her by giving her lots of treats and praise. Pandora ended up just adoring her, I think she wanted to go hang out with her instead of me by the end of our visit! I’m so extremely grateful to have her as Pandora’s vet. I can’t thank her enough!
posted: 05/30/2022
This clinic is fantastic. The front staff are all kind, engaging, and professional. The veterinarians are exceptional. The clinic is always a pleasure to engage with because the front staff love animals and appreciate customers. Everyone is aware of the vet shortage on the Island. Some front staff get hostile to the public. Not this place! Top-level professionalism. I'm so happy to bring my animals here!
posted: 02/09/2024
Came here under very unfortunate circumstances with my cat in extreme distress, and I am so thankful they took her right away without hesitation. Although an upsetting situation, every person we interacted with was very kind. I really appreciate the compassion that was shown both to us and most importantly to my beautiful girl Pru. It's comforting to know that she spent her final day surrounded by caring people. Thank you all so much for making a very sad time easier, I am so grateful 💗
posted: 12/19/2022
Veterinarians in Nanaimo, British Columbia
Central Island Veterinary Emergency Hospital
6550 Metral Dr, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8, Canada(250) 933-0913
Chase River Veterinary Hospital
1151 Lawlor Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9R 6L6, Canada(250) 591-4050
Harbour City Animal Hospital
2208 Petersen Pl, Nanaimo, BC V9S 4N5, Canada(250) 585-0911
Linley Valley Veterinary Clinic
5295 Rutherford Rd Unit 100, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5N9, Canada(250) 585-1721
Mahalo Veterinary Hospital
3-5767 Turner Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6L8, Canada(250) 824-1444
Nanaimo Veterinary Hospital
4508 Wellington Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2H3, Canada(250) 758-3985
ORCA Orthopedic and Referral Centre for Animals
1861 Dufferin Crescent #101, Nanaimo, BC V9S 0B1, Canada(236) 462-6722
Petroglyph Animal Hospital
990 Old Victoria Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9R 6R4, Canada(250) 754-8822