River Valley Veterinary Hospital
4.7 (151) 88 Sodom Ln, Derby, CT 06418, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 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 – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at River Valley 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | 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 & 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
We (me, my bf, AND cats) love River Valley Vet! Dr. Moore and Alyssa are the sweetest and give our babies so much love when they come in! We’re first time pet owners so we wanted to make sure we found a vet that was friendly, responsive, and made our experience positive; River Valley does just that. We feel very comfortable leaving our two boys in their care ❤️
posted: 12/11/2023
Love this place! The staff is truly amazing! Prices are very fair! I switched to Dr.Moore's practice earlier this year and I am so happy with my decision. My German Shepherd has very bad Vet anxiety and they are so patient and loving to him. He recently had his first dental cleaning and I was so impressed. I got updates throughout the procedure and even pictures. Highly recommend!
posted: 06/22/2023
Dash had his yearly checkup with vaccines,etc Dr Moore has been our vet, first with Buddy & now with Dasher. Over 13 years and appreciate all that they do for us. Caring and understanding especially with Dash who has anxiety challenges. Love the quality of care we get! Appreciation & Gratitude Joan & Dash
posted: 05/15/2023
We love Dr. Moore and staff at River Valley Veterinary Hospital. Everyone is so friendly, warm and loving. Dr. Moore has been with my family for about 16 years and has cared for all of my dogs. We don't know what we would do without her. I highly recommend Dr. Moore and her staff. They are simply amazing!
posted: 05/09/2023
We came to River Valley by the way of our long time vet retiring. I believe that the staff are nice and well intentioned, but 2.5 months wait for a dental procedure that our dog needed proved to be too long. I am understanding that there is a veterinarian shortage. I struggle to grasp how a medical professional can be okay with waiting 2.5 months for a procedure, having assessed our dog's symptoms and receiving a thorough write up of his symptom history, us calling twice for antibiotic refills, and contacting regularly to say his symptoms were worsening. We were proactive in communicating and asking for help, and were only communicated with through non-medical staff of the practice. A primary doctor is meant to be the home base who tells you when you need to seek specialty care, which we would have done if we had received guidance. It is possible that there are breakdowns in communication between office staff and medical staff. We were told that they would get us the estimate the day after being seen, only for us to have to call several times, and receive the estimate 10 days later. My feeling is that the staff has their hearts in the right place, but are possibly overwhelmed by the demand for care.
posted: 10/12/2023