Veterinary Ophthalmology Services

4.6 (68)
118 N Mason St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420, USA

Hours:

How to Save Money at Veterinary Ophthalmology Services

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 11,756
4.9 Embrace 17,140
4.9 Fetch 18,308
4.2 Figo 2,602
4.7 Hartville 165
4.9 Healthy Paws 10,008
4.9 Lemonade 805
4.6 ManyPets 2,343
4.0 MetLife 652
4.8 Nationwide 21,407
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.5 PetPartners 113
4.3 Pets Best 12,229
4.6 Pumpkin 1,473
4.6 Spot 7,024
4.9 Trupanion 73,550
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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Jenna Guerrero

Dr. Schmidt and all of the office staff are absolutely amazing! They are friendly and kind and so thorough. You wait in your car and they come get your pet from you. Then Dr calls you with the evaluation and talks you through the diagnosis and next steps. The office staff then calls with more information, billing, and then they bring your pet out to you. They have been so flexible with options, timing, and Dr Schmidt has the pet’s best interest in mind at all times. I highly recommend this office!!

posted: 06/15/2023

Linda Butler

Dr. Schmidt and her staff are competent, kind and empathetic. They've now cared for the eye problems of three of my dogs over the last few years, most recently to treat my "pandemic puppy" that had an abscess on his cornea. We are very fortunate to have someone of Dr. Schmidt's caliber in this area.

posted: 07/22/2022

Richard Albert (Richard Albert)

Thoroughly competent. Very experienced and compassionate. Dr Schmidt is a long-time pet owner herself. Caution. Available for emergency treatment, but routine appointments are around two months out.

posted: 04/30/2023

Katie Dunlop

Super friendly and professional staff! They were able to get my kitty in much earlier than expected due to a cancellation, which I appreciate so much. Even though the appointments are curbside service only, the nurses provided constant phone call updates on what they were doing and how my cat was. Dr. Schmidt provided such clear information on what she thought was wrong with his eyes and what the proposed treatment plan was. Samurai hates appointments as much as any other cat, but he was a happy, well-taken care of boy at the end of our visit!

posted: 03/01/2022

Elaine Khachi

Dr. Schmidt and her team are incredible. They are knowledgeable and extremely compassionate. They took care of my Peppers' eyes so that he had vision throughout his life. They are now taking care of my two senior dogs. Highly recommend Dr. Schmidt. She explains everything very well, believes in preventative care. She is amazing.

posted: 06/04/2021