First Coast Veterinary Specialists

5 (19)
301 Jacksonville Dr, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250, USA

Hours:

How to Save Money at First Coast Veterinary Specialists

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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Heather Nichols

This review is way overdue, but shows you I never will forget that First Coast and Dr Linden got my dog through his surgery safely. August 2022 Jester had a rectal tumor removed. Long story short, anesthesia is extra risky for Jester due to several heart diseases. The tumor was blocking his rectum and I had no choice but to try. I honestly thought this was it. Dr Linden brought in an anesthesiologist (who deserves their own 5-star review) so that Jester would have the safest surgery possible. Dr Linden called me before the surgery and went though everything thoroughly. Let me ask all my questions. Just a kind and authentic person all around. He personally called me after surgery and went through all the details. And then handed the phone over to the anesthesiologist where I got to hear about that aspect. From our first consult to getting stitches out, I can't say enough. Front desk staff is phenomenal! Maybe it wasn't the most major of surgeries in the world, but for Jester it was a big deal and for me I was a nervous wreck. Thank you forever for all this extra time I now have! On our way out, we were told "I hope we never see you again!" I love you guys, but here's hoping we won't have to come here again!

posted: 04/01/2023

Dale Crews

Our vet referred us here to get a second opinion regarding our puppy. Oscar was born with a hernia. The Dr. is an experienced vet and surgeon, who examined our pup. He determined surgery wasn't necessary at the time and could be handled by our vet, when he was neutered. However, he cautioned we should watch the hernia and not wait until he was an adult. We were truly impressed with his work ethic, experience, kind manner and honest approach to our issues. We highly recommend this animal hospital. Honest examination and review of pups issue.

posted: 05/02/2023

shirley gorbutt

We were referred to First Coast Veterinary specialist by our regular vet. We are completely satisfied with the service received for our dog Charley. Dr Matz is wonderful we were told exactly what to expect and how much the cost would be. All of the staff we came in contact with are great. All our questions were answered. When you hear your 10 year old little dog has cancer it’s scary. First Coast Veterinary is helping us through it. Thank You Much First Coast Veterinary Specialists.

posted: 06/20/2023

Mark Miles

We appreciated the time the staff spent with us to explain everything. Dr. Linden spent time explaining the diagnosis. He did not push any services and gave an honest opinion of what he thought was the best course of treatment (not involving surgery).

posted: 05/26/2023

Angela Barnard

I was referred to First Cost Veterinary Specialists by my primary Veterinarian for a consultation regarding a complicated tumor my Golden Retriever had developed. We were treated in the most caring and professional manner and I felt confident with their ability and that they had our best interest regarding my pets condition, treatment and prognosis.

posted: 06/29/2023