Blue Skies Veterinary Hospital

4.5 (122)
816 US-321, Hickory, NC 28601, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Blue Skies Veterinary 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 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 & 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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Kevin Como

I've been going to Blue Skies for a few years now. Today was the day I had to make the difficult decision to let go of my 12 year old girl, Leah. Everyone at Blue Skies, Dr. Wuest and staff, were kind, considerate, non-judgmental, and supportive both today and during all my past visits. I can't imagine taking my 7 year old boy anywhere else. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

posted: 11/09/2023

Josh Gaylord

My wife and I, though anxious and desperate when we first arrived for an emergency visit to Blue Skies, were met with caring and knowledgeable staff who immediately took over the situation from -and I mean this literally- the second we parked our car In the lot. After a few visits, it became clear that we exhausted every option for our elderly pet. It was absolutely devastating. We couldn't stop ourselves thinking that maybe we could've done something different. We couldn't stop questioning what the right thing was to do.. We made the decision together and made the call. The staff at Blue Skies were non judgemental and comforting and again incredibly informative. It was absolutely priceless to us to have that support with end of life care for a long time and extremely well loved 4 legged family member. Though we have moved 45 minutes away since our last visit, we will still make the trip to Blue Skies for the continuing care of our other family pets. We know they will get the best treatment at the best price and that our trust in them is well placed.

posted: 06/12/2023

Christine Surber

There’s so much I wish I could say but I’ll try keeping it to the point. Our sweet boy Havok was with us for almost 11 years, as we were starting our married life together before our children arrived. This loss has hit us all much harder than we ever expected but everyone at Blue Skies was so wonderful during that time! My husband brought him in and said that everyone respected his time alone with our Havok as well as comforting both of them. There are NOT enough gestures in the world to express how much it all means to us how caring and thoughtful they all were! I wish I could show my gratitude in another form but nothing feels big enough. Thank you soo soo soo soo much, we will NEVER forget your kindness ❤️

posted: 04/18/2023

Cath M

Absolutely phenomenal vet! Our kitten has been sick and we needed to get him seen sooner rather than later. They got us in the next business day even though we'd never been before. When we arrived for the appointment we got put into an exam room almost immediately. The vet and assistants were all very helpful, going above and beyond to help out little man. They were very careful with him and treated him like the best little boy in the world. At the end of our appointment they showed us how to give him all his medication and the vet asked us if we had any other questions and concerns. And they were much more affordable than any of the other vets we've been to in the area. I believe we literally saved hundreds on the appointment and we got better care then anywhere else we've been to. I truly can't thank them enough for the time and care they put into our kitten. Edit 4 months later: We've been actively going here to help our little guy through some tummy issues. They've worked tirelessly to help us out! They even call every time we try a new treatment to see how it's going for him. Thanks to them he's now doing so much better! Our absolute favorite vet we've ever been too. Both vets we've seen here were very kind, patient, and truly wanted to help us. The other staff is always very pleasant and helpful, no matter what we're calling about or coming in for. I can't recommend Blue Skies enough!

posted: 06/16/2023

Benny Harris

Blue Skies and Dr. Weist are awesome. I've been taking my furry children there for years. They really take care of them. Highly recommend!

posted: 09/18/2023