Catawba Valley Animal Hospital
4.9 (275) 1043 3rd Ave Dr NW, Hickory, NC 28601, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Catawba Valley Animal 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:
| 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
This is by far the BEST vet clinic I have ever been to! Every single person that I encountered during my visit was SO nice and professional. I am VERY picky about my animals and to say that I am impressed is an understatement!! Dr. Bristol was fantastic!! I highly recommend this clinic!!
posted: 08/07/2023
We have been using this Vet office for a very long time now. My wife and I cannot say enough things GREAT about Dr. Bill and Dr. Bristol and the rest of the staff!!! They’re all so caring, polite and take wonderful care of our animals. The last year was a tough one on us, we lost 2 of our senior dogs within 10 months of one other and they took very great care of both of our animals up until the very end and answered any question at any point in time to see to it that we were able to get the most time with them. We will be forever grateful for that. It’s also very reasonably priced as well, they’re not over the top and can definitely fit into a budget. I will always recommend this place, 10/10 for Catawba Valley Animal Hospital!
posted: 10/24/2023
We recently had to euthanize my sick elderly cat. The staff was warm and understanding. They gave us time and helped him be calm during the procedure. We were grieving very hard and they got us in quickly. They are extremely compassionate and kind. We are so grateful for their help during that hard time and highly recommend them.
posted: 09/16/2023
Our little furbaby was sick for about a month or longer. We had taken her to one vet before this one and they didn't do a good job - giving us the wrong medication & ect... therefore our dog not getting better. They were able to fit her in for surgery the same day we called, to help start her recovery. We are now home and loving on her, thankful for the wonderful and kind staff at this facility. I will forever start bringing my baby here!
posted: 10/16/2023
We love Dr. Bill! She is so knowledgeable and friendly. She has helped us multiple times with our dog.
posted: 11/08/2023
Veterinarians in Hickory, North Carolina
All Hearts Animal Hospital
1205 Old Lenoir Rd, Hickory, NC 28601, USA(828) 855-3357
Animal Hospital North
27 13th Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28601, USA(828) 304-0550
Banfield Pet Hospital
1610 8th St Dr SE Bldg E, Hickory, NC 28602, USA(828) 261-0356
Bethlehem Animal Hospital
1261 Shiloh Church Rd, Hickory, NC 28601, USA(828) 495-4545
Blue Skies Veterinary Hospital
816 US-321, Hickory, NC 28601, USA(828) 327-7387
Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency (CASE)
1050 US-321, Hickory, NC 28601, USA(828) 328-6697
Catawba Valley Animal Hospital
1043 3rd Ave Dr NW, Hickory, NC 28601, USA(828) 327-7100
Dr. Lorin Bilhorn, DVM
2870 2nd St NE, Hickory, NC 28601, USA(828) 328-2448