Dogs and Cats Emergency & Specialty
4.4 (1197) 6700 Laurel - Bowie Rd, Bowie, MD 20715, USAHours:
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
How to Save Money at Dogs and Cats Emergency & Specialty
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
After arriving at 6:15pm. It is currently 12:55 am in the morning and I am still currently sitting in the lobby, still haven’t been seen by a doctor and contemplating leaving with a dog who’s been vomitting and hasn’t eaten for a couple of days now. When I first arrived the wait time that I was told and saw displayed on the screen was 2-4 hours. My 8 month pregnant wife and I then decided to wait it out because we love our fur baby. We watched as they treated other dogs who came in after us with emergencies and have seen them all come and go but yet here I am still sitting here in the lobby in front of the customer service desk not having seen the doctor in over 6 hours. I was told that I was next in line for a room since before 9pm at which I left to go and get my 8 month pregnant wife some dinner from a near by restaurant. And as of now, the current wait time displayed is 8-10 hours. As the time kept jumping from 2-4, to 4-6, then to 6-8 hours, I asked about the increased wait time and we were assured that that time increased wasn’t for us since we were already checked in and was only for new customers. Not sure if this is standard treatment, but there is another dog owner here who was here an hour before me, however she was fortunate enough to get a room to wait even longer in comfort and her dog has been given 2 X-Rays. Meanwhile my dog’s vitals have been checked twice, once after I got here around 6:35 and again around 12:18. Nearly 6 hours mind you. Needless to say I am highly disappointed with this hospital and am willing to drive further away from my community in order to have better service and not waste our precious time. My dilemma is should I leave and risk having to wait somewhere else or continue to wait here with these ridiculous wait times since I’m already approaching 7 hours in and I now see that the 8-10 hour wait time was definitely intended for me and I should’ve taken head and left a long time ago. Silly me! I left at 1:07 AM as my wife and I had it up to here with this place. Please clear your entire schedule if you have an ill dog because they are understaffed and obviously have no system in place to provide adequate customer service. I will try to find a place who is more equipped to service my dog better.
posted: 03/03/2024
I want to give a huge thank you to Dr.Bonistalli and all the kindness she showed on one of the hardest days of my life. While Reigns diagnosis was not good, she showed me patience, kindness and presented me with my options. Reign has now transitioned but I will never forget how accommodating the staff was here. They answered all my many questions when I called back the next day, they explained things to me when I was confused. Dr.Bonistalli even prescribed Reign additional medication even though it was her day off the next day. The wait time was long however that was not a reflection of the staff. Everyone was so so so kind to Reign and I and made sure we were comfortable and kept updated during our wait. Sending lots of love on behalf of Reign.
posted: 02/16/2024
The doctors, techs, and office staff were wonderful. They answered all questions and took good care of my fur baby. They kept us informed of how things were going. We were there late at night for an emergency. I live 1 1/2 hours away but it was well worth the trip to take care of my baby. I can’t say enough positive things. I would highly recommend.
posted: 03/12/2024
We took our girl Tulip here after a chaotic emergency surgery for aftercare & they were wonderful. Very informative and helpful about her condition ,they got her set up with Dr.Ferreri in Internal Medicine and I really liked her vibe. Tiara at the check in counter has been so patient ,helpful, and kind in getting answers for any questions we've had during Tulips recovery. I definitely recommend Dogs & Cats.
posted: 11/08/2023
Our male cat had an emergency and had to have surgery and be in the ICU for a couple of days. The front desk, techs, and doctors were amazing! Very helpful and comforting. They were upfront with the cost and their payment policies. So glad my baby boy is home recovering. Thank you so much ❤️🩹
posted: 03/10/2024