Alpine Animal Hospital
4.5 (198) 921 Emerald Bay Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USAHours:
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: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Alpine 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:
| 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 & 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
Thank you so much for making my dogs final moments so painless and filled with compassion. The staff at this clinic are remarkable.
posted: 04/03/2023
Thought this vet was doing well for our Dingo, but all they did was blow smoke up our ****, tell us she wasn’t eating and in pain from bad teeth. They removed teeth, did blood work, did xrays…. Over and over again to the tune of $5,000. She still couldn’t eat solid food. Went again and they said they needed to remove more teeth! Made the appointment, but while waiting another week, I took her to Minden for a second opinion. They had her come in the next day after initial consult, and after putting her under, they took more X-rays, etc. I expected to be called after a couple hours, but within 30 minutes, I was told to come back and talk…. Xrays showed a huge tumor from her head, and down her neck!!! I had to put my baby down that morning… and they charged around $250 for everything including her cremation (Alpine charged me over $700 for my Weiner dog the year before and then didn’t get my baby’s paw print). All that time… over 6 months they cleaned out our savings account, made my poor baby suffer, and didn’t give her a chance to get treatment. I will never send anyone to them, and they are lucky I didn’t sue them for negligence, etc.
posted: 12/06/2022
We love Dr. Shane Sheets and staff. They really care about your animals. Our Labrador puppy and senior chihuahua mix have gone through the works this year. Dr sheets really gets down to the bottom and investigates issues. He doesn’t pressure you to do a bunch of tests unless he thinks it’s absolutely necessary depending on the severity of what’s going on with your pet. He provides a lot of context which is very helpful. We’re really happy with Alpine Animal hospital 💕
posted: 02/06/2022
Wonderful staff and doctors. Of course my Gracie dog is absolutely amazing too.
posted: 08/07/2023
Thank you Dr.Emily Campbell I can always count on you to call me when I need to talk about my babies and take care of them. You are the best Vet up here dont ever leave us. Thank you for all you do for us We love you💞💞💞
posted: 03/24/2023
Veterinarians in South Lake Tahoe, California
Alpine Animal Hospital
921 Emerald Bay Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA(530) 541-4040
Blue Lake Animal Care Center
1154 Emerald Bay Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA(530) 600-3911
Henry Kostecki, DVM - Natural Pet Vet
964 Rubicon Trail, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA(775) 762-2899
Homeopathic Veterinarian
964 Rubicon Trail, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA(775) 762-2899
Monroe David DVM
3095 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USASierra Veterinary Hospital
3095 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA(530) 542-1952