VCA Shaker Road Animal Hospital
4.5 (118) 108 Shaker Rd, East Longmeadow, MA 01028, USAHours:
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at VCA Shaker Road 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 | 890 |
| 4.7 | ASPCA | 11,646 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 15,682 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 2,669 |
| 4.4 | Figo | 2,646 |
| 4.7 | Hartville | 164 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 7,521 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 805 |
| 3.2 | ManyPets | 2,356 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 577 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,398 |
| 4.3 | Pet Assure | 12 |
| 4.7 | PetPartners | 112 |
| 4.5 | Pets Best | 7,244 |
| 4.3 | Pumpkin | 1,340 |
| 4.7 | Spot | 6,404 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 60,501 |
| 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
Dr. Kathy and team are excellent in caring for our two pups. They always try their best to get us in during emergencies. The team is incredibly knowledgeable and always so helpful.
posted: 12/27/2023
Our cat was a patient of Dr Kathy’s for 15 years. This past weekend we could tell the end was near. We called to see if we could get in to be seen, not only was our phone call returned with a text but we were not able to be seen and was told the next available appointment was the following day at 11:30. I advised I didn’t think the cat would be alive by 11:30 the following morning. I wasn’t thrilled that we couldn’t get in given the circumstances and how long we had been going there but gave the benefit of the doubt that schedules get full. We took our cat to the new Animal ER in West Springfield who was fantastic! Highly recommend them. After being evaluated we decided it was time to put her down. The following morning I sent a text to VCA to let them know we had gone to West Springfield and what the outcome was. I NEVER received a text back or how about a phone call with condolences that our cat was gone!!!! My opinion they should have called me as soon as they opened to see how she did during the night. They had no issue taking my credit card for 15 years. They showed zero compassion. Will NEVER go there again.
posted: 10/26/2023
Dr. Kathy and the Vet Tech were excellent today. Poor Bo got poked and prodded but they handled him gently and he handled it like the good boy he is. Some vaccines and some quick checks of ears and claws and we were on our way. Good job VCA Shaker Road!
posted: 12/16/2023
Dr Kathy is great. Staff is friendly and helpful. I didn't feel rushed at my cat's appointment.
posted: 12/26/2023
First time there and I absolutely loved it I would definitely recommend this vet
posted: 04/03/2024