Banfield Pet Hospital

4.3 (192)
1610 8th St Dr SE Bldg E, Hickory, NC 28602, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Banfield Pet 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:

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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Alena Sinitsa

If you treat your pet as family then it is extremely important to make sure they receive best care possible. Dr Evans was very nice and cautious making sure my dog was safe to proceed getting his dental cleaning. After taking additional precautions she assured that we were good to schedule a dental clean. When I called to make an appointment the technician was so passive aggressive it makes never want to use the clinic again. She started to repeat what the doctor already told me and when I said I was aware of that and that the doctor has already approved the cleaning she had an audacity to tell me that I must be talking about a different banfield location. Not sure why someone would treat their clients like they are complete idiots. The technician (instead of asking the doctor) told me that we need to get additional X-rays done before I could schedule a dental clean, and which the doctor assured me was completely optional. Needless to say, I called a different location and after examining my dog they had no issue scheduling his dental surgery. I rather drive for an extra hour than ever set foot in this location.

posted: 10/17/2023

Brittany Horn

This has been one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had with a vet. This place is not affordable there was a lot of miscommunication going on with this place. I’m stuck in a 12 month contract that is extremely unnecessary. The receptionist was extremely rude and not helpful at all a family came in with their sick dog that unfortunately had to be put down and I didn’t like the way she treated them. If you have the money she will treat you so nicely and will help you but if you don’t then she gives you the cold shoulder. I’m not an angry person but today just made me extremely mad I got there at 9:30 and didn’t get my dog back til 6:00 it was just one thing after another with this place. They have me set up for an appointment tomorrow and the 21st that I will not go to because they only care for the money I feel like they are not in for the pets wellbeing. To get quoted $125 and then say everything else will be put in payments the I go pick up my dog it’s $211 is ridiculous then get told if I don’t pay it that the bill will go to collections. This place is the worst place I should have just sucked it up and went back to Marion animal hospital this place is a joke.

posted: 09/07/2023

Tara Ingle

Banfield always takes good care of my dog. And anytime after he's had to have anesthesia which has been twice they always call the next day to check on him and make sure that he or I don't need anything or that I don't have any questions all the staff are great. I recommend Banfield to anyone

posted: 08/31/2023

Leslynn Lewis

I absolutely love my vet! She is truly the best! She is sooo compassionate and patient! Please keep her! She helped my kitty so much! Thank you!

posted: 10/20/2023

Carolyn Spears

I adopted my pur baby Hazel. She was 5 months then I've had her for 2 months from Wilksboro Humane Society. Pet Smart was holding her for them. When anyone adopted a pet from Pet Smart They give free wellness visit free from Banfield Pet Hospital & bag of food. Plus bunches other coupons. If you adopte a pur baby. Make sure you bring crate with you.

posted: 09/15/2020