Polk Street Animal Hospital

4.7 (157)
1830 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109, 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: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Polk Street Animal 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:

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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Gabriela Suarez

I don’t usually leave reviews, but I believe in this case it is needed. I adopted my little dog like a year ago and since reviews looked good and distance was quite beneficial for me, I went to this place since the beginning. At first, we had some bumps because they kept telling us my dog had allergies. So instead of going to the bottom of the issue, they kept adding stuff to our invoice (change in the food, pills for allergy, etc) which can be justified at the end, but it always felt like they were just charging us as much as the could. The last time I went, I attended an appointment for an international certificate. I didn’t have a worst experience with the assistant (not the vet) who at some point told me: “can you please ask everything at once so I don’t have to come and go?” - I was shocked. We all know how hard it is to travel with our best friends and how important it is to set everything right. This person was so rude and I couldn’t believe it. Overall, doctors were always different and the people from front desk are usually very junior / unprofessional (they don’t know what to do, next steps) they just ask for your CC. I’ll never come back. What a pity, it was quite close to my house. But I’m glad I changed and found a place that really cares about my little one

posted: 06/25/2024

phoenixsanfran

My two cats are back on track after the pandemic, this is a well organized animal hospital. They got me in right away for a sick cat, now that I’m a client I can go to the Church Street hospital closer to home in Noe Valley. My sick cat was separated right away to a room, loved the vet, and the tech went above and beyond carrying two cat carriers to my car limiting exposure to animals in the lobby again. Great staff.

posted: 07/18/2023

Carol Kurth

I saw Dr. Najim for a new patient visit with my elderly dog that has a chronic health issue as well as a newer issue that was being "watched." During my visit Dr. Najim was great at listening to my concerns and took great care of my doggie. She shared hard news very compassionately and the entire staff was very supportive during an emotional time. I would highly recommend Dr. Najim to anyone looking for a new vet around SF.

posted: 06/12/2024

Leah Womelsdorf

I have tried several vet clinics in the San Francisco area and Polk Street Animal Hospital is the best. The caretakers are both gentle with animals and very informative. This week I took my cat in for an annual exam. My cat is very anxious when she leaves the house. Dr. Eden Hurlburt offered to treat her on the ground, where she was more comfortable, and gave excellent tips on how to introduce tooth brushing and ear cleaning to a comfortable routine. I’ve also called the office several times for recommendations on pet insurance providers and animal products. Everyone I have met here has been so kind, informative, and welcoming.

posted: 10/14/2022

Alysia Jo

Very pleasant experience :) Kind, caring staff and physicians. Tidy waiting area and exam rooms. Yummy treats (so I’ve been told by both doggos).

posted: 10/05/2023