Baxter Veterinary Clinic

4.7 (49)
102 Railroad St, Baxter, IA 50028, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Baxter Veterinary Clinic

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 11,713
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 & 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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Dee Figley

Update: Dr. Schmitz reached out to me and assured me that this was not typical behavior for the front staff. Everyone has bad days and I have no idea what she was going through at that moment. So I will grant grace and make arrangements to go back in next week. 3rd time a charm…I hope! Reading all the reviews I was hopeful that we found the perfect place. Unfortunately, we have only experienced the most unfriendly staff possible. My son made an appointment for 4:30 as he found an abandoned puppy. This puppy needed care. There was a mix up on the appointment time, no big deal we rescheduled for today at 1. Upon our arrival 20 minutes early, the clinic was closed, assuming they were out to lunch. Someone pulled in and opened the clinic around 12:45. I gave her about 5 minutes and decided to head in and grab any paperwork that might need to be completed. When I walked in, I waited at the door until a woman came around the corner. As she was walking towards me she said, TURN OFF THE LIGHT. Confused, I said, I am sorry what? She then told me to turn off the light as they are closed. So I turned off the light and she told me to leave. All I could say was, WOW just wanted to see if you had paperwork for me to complete while I waited outside. I left. Please note, I did not turn ON the light! And it was 12:55 pm. If they treat a new customer with such rude behavior, I certainly do not want them around this scared little puppy. Do Better!

posted: 07/07/2023

Summer Hesse

Small and efficient. The vet is awesome, and their prices can’t be beat!

posted: 07/28/2023

Angela Winkel - Stouffer

Wonderful, caring vet, staff is exceptional. They care for my fur babies as if they were theirs. Highly recommend.

posted: 01/27/2023

Clint Winchell

My wife and I have went to several different vet clinics around our home town trying to find a friendly, professional, and not crazy expensive place to take our animals. We found this place and love it. Scott is a very down to earth and knowledgeable person. He takes the time to check out everything about your pets and gives good advice without trying to up sell you on meds or things your pet doesn't need. We took our cat there to be put down due to old age and they were very sensitive and even sent us a card afterwards. We will always be a customer here. All the staff is awesome!!

posted: 07/30/2022

michael ware

My family has had companion dogs for nearly 25 years. The overwhelming majority of that time, Dr Scott Schmitz has taken primary care of our dogs. All have been large breed dogs and the care they've received has been top shelf. Not that I'm concerned with cost when it comes to a loved pet, but the pricing for his services is very reasonable. I buy all my meds from the Baxter Veterinary Clinic and am glad to spend my money locally among my neighbors. Deal with confidence when choosing the Baxter Veterinary Clinic and Dr Scott Schmitz.

posted: 03/30/2022