Veterinary Referral Associates
4.2 (586) 500 Perry Pkwy, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 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 Veterinary Referral Associates
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
My dog Puzzle was diagnosed with aggressive oral melanoma in July of 2021, which has an expected survival time of 4-6 months without treatment and 6-10 months with treatment. Dr. Fritz provided knowledgeable and compassionate care to us and explained all our options. With her guidance we started the melanoma vaccine and got more than two more years with our boy. He recently passed of unrelated causes with no sign of his cancer returning. We are so grateful for VRA's excellent care which gave us so much more time with our old man. While I hope we never have to use the oncology service with our pets again, I would not hesitate to return to them if needed. Thank you all so much!
posted: 08/12/2023
The worst experience I have ever had with any medical professional - and I use that term very generously. We brought our dog in after sending recent x-rays and diagnoses from two other vets. We were shown to an exam room and our dog was taken in the back for x-rays because the x-rays provided by other vets were several days old at this time. After waiting an hour, we started to wonder what was taking so long. Finally, a vet came to talk to us. We asked if he had reviewed the documents sent over. We got a vague response that made it clear he had not reviewed anything. We asked if they were finished with the new x-rays. They hadn't even taken them yet. We asked what they'd been doing with our dog for over an hour and if he was in a kennel all this time (he is not a crate-able dog, so we were concerned). Another vague response, "They're taking care of him." What does that mean? This vet was so evasive and shady that I wouldn't have trusted him with a cockroach, much less a beloved pet. After he couldn't even give us a quote for what this might cost (we did eventually get one that was so expansive, it was would obvious that he had no real clue of the potential cost), we got our dog and got out of there. I would never take a pet to this place. My impression is that they only care about money and are out to get as much of yours as possible.
posted: 09/15/2023
My fiancee and I took our dog diesel there yesterday and before getting there all hope was just about gone. Erica and Dr. Hays changed that and worked with us and our situation awesomely. He started his chemotherapy for lymphoma and in less than a day our dog is already coming back to his normal self. Thank u for restoring our hope for our beloved family member cause thats what diesel is a family member not just a pet.
posted: 06/21/2023
Dr. Ganjei operated on my pup Maggie 5 years ago in Vienna. I found him in Gaithersburg when she needed another surgery and didn't hesitate to make the 50 minute drive over there and back. I wasn't disappointed in either will you be. I'm sure all the rest of the doctors there are great docs but Dr Ganjei is my go-to. The whole staff there was very pleasant to deal with friendly accommodating. Highly recommend them for emergency veterinary services or any surgical needs.
posted: 07/30/2023
This place is truly amazing. Yes it is expensive but the staff here is the best (particularly Lisa at the front desk). We recently got a puppy and he fell ill, she helped us out even when the ER was “on pause” because it was so full. She offered us many options on how to cover the expenses and helped us get approved for financing so our puppy could get the best treatment. My heart is so grateful to her. All the Dr.’s were also so kind and patient, explained everything thoroughly. I really recommend this place to anyone. 10/10!
posted: 09/08/2023