Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency (CASE)

3.8 (704)
1050 US-321, Hickory, NC 28601, USA

Hours:

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 Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency (CASE)

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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Savannah Owens

We've had to come here a couple times. The first time was for our 3yo dog Ruby who was having seizures. The second time was last night with our 11yo dog King. Turned into the worst day of our lives when we learned he had cancer and wasnt going to get better. We knew it was time to say goodbye to him. The staff and doctors were so gentle and kind throughout the process. It takes a special human to be able to do what the vets and vet techs do every day and we thank you all so much for taking care of our sweet old dog. We miss him so much.

posted: 09/21/2023

Kristen C

After an unexpected injury playing in the woods, the staff at CASE welcomed us at 10:30 pm and took such great care. The ladies at the front desk were super friendly and made us feel welcome. The clinic is very clean and well-run. We were able to leave our buddy overnight for his stitches procedure and he was ready to go first thing in the morning. Shout out to Dr. Sawdy and to Brooke for their peaceful and friendly demeanors and for explaining the procedure and discharge instructions. Yes, the visit came with a price tag- but the invoice was itemized and the associated costs were explained along the way so there were no surprises. 10/10 recommend. Thanks again, all.

posted: 07/19/2023

Brent Guffey

Friendly very compassionate about your family member. They understand it’s not just a dog. Keep you in the loop and informed every step of the way. From ER to internal medicine. Our little 15 yr old has had the best care she can get. Love the staff.

posted: 07/15/2023

Julie Silverthorne

Took my dog in due to tracheal collapse and anxiety and he was suffering respiratory distress which I explained to them. Signed documents and went home to get his favorite blanket. We were put in a private room to say goodbye to our fur baby and a lady came in asking if he had bit anyone and I told her he bites us but that I couldn’t tell her the last time and that I had his rabies vaccination information in my car. The question never should have been asked since I signed documentation saying he had not bitten anyone in the last 14 days. She said she would have to call animal control to report biting. I questioned it and was only told it was protocol. They refused my vaccination information as well. I was told that animal control would call in the morning as this was late in the night and I had no choice but to use this clinic. I received a call from animal control not even 15 minutes after going through one of the most stressful events in my life and my children’s as this was the first dog we have had. I was accused and f being hostile towards their staff by the office administrator which I was not and if they were so fearful they didn’t show it when I showed back up to obtain copies of paperwork I had signed earlier that evening and had to ring the doorbell and be let in which I was. Of course the paperwork mysteriously disappeared that night. I have fought with them since animal control informed me they would have to take my fur baby to the state lab and cut his brain out. This again never would have happened if they had listened to me and taken the vaccine information. I have reached out to their chief legal counsel which if anyone else needs it look up innovetive pet care which is who they run under. I have been lied to and given the incorrect insurance information by their chief legal counsel themselves which has been confirmed through department of insurance in NC and the department of Justice in NC. I will not drop this as they caused the trauma to me and my children and think it’s ok. I will never bring another fur baby of mine here. I will make the drive to Charlotte or wait for my vet clinic to open. YES I’m still fighting for the correct information. If I could give zeroes stars it definitely would get it.

posted: 10/24/2023

Chelsea Chapman

Dr. Hooper and her staff were nothing but amazing. My 2 year old cat had a seizure and as you can imagine, I was freaking out. Every employee we came in contact with was calm, friendly and empathetic. They made the situation bearable and I just want them to know how thankful I am. Dr. Hooper explained everything very clearly and answered our plethora of questions. I highly recommend CASE to any pet parent in an emergency situation. The prices are reasonable and the staff is top quality.

posted: 06/19/2023