Birkdale Animal Hospital

4.9 (143)
16010 Northcross Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078, USA

Hours:

Monday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Birkdale 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:

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

hand swipe
Sara Zimmermann

Better availability of appointments than other vets in the area. At other places I tend to spend a lot of time in the waiting room but that has never been the case at Birkdale Animal Hospital. The employees have a great demeanor and are very accommodating.

posted: 10/27/2023

Dominick Macioge

I can't imagine going anywhere else for the care of my pets. We recently had to put my 12 1/2 year old buddy to sleep. Dr. Mark is by far the most clinically talented, caring, compassionate vet I have ever met. The staff is wonderful, every doctor we have seen here is top notch, the service costs are fair, and (most importantly) they treat your pets like members of their own families.

posted: 08/23/2023

Lauren Sheridan

Dr Mark is the best veterinarian, hands down. We’ve been taking our dogs to him for 15 years and he truly cares about your furry friends. Dr Mark has a heart of gold and is simply a great human being (funny, caring, intelligent, sensitive, and relatable). We wouldn’t go anywhere else!

posted: 07/26/2022

Patrick McIntosh

Dr Mark and his team are the best of the best. He and his team helped keep our yellow lab (Cayman) alive a few years longer then most vets would have given Cayman a chance. Years after we lost Cayman Dr Mark and team helped our family dog Bruce with a torn ACL. The surgery and recover was affordable and care and recovery easy with the physical therapy that was laid out for us. Dr. Mark and team are viewed as part of our family with the love they provided our dogs for over 18+ years (2017).

posted: 07/20/2017

Itty Bitty Vintage One

In the 15 years I lived in NC, I tried several vets. Birkdale was by FAR the best. They were so kind, compassionate and knowledgeable...and surprisingly reasonable on price. I also felt they gave me the most practical, healthy solution for my dogs, rather than the most expensive (hard to find in Lake Norman!) I was actually moving out of the state when I found them, my havanese mix ate poison. After examining her, the Dr. said extreme measures weren't necessary (thank God!). With Dr. Mark's treatment, she was better within the week and I didn't have to take out a second mortgage to cover the bill. There were a few panic moments within that week though and each time, the Dr and staff really listened and either explained or took prompt action. It took a huge weight of worry off. Right after the poisoning, my other pup ran off after a car accident and was missing for 3 days. Naturally, I brought him here when we found him and once again received great treatment. Both times I was panicked and left completely reassured that my furbabies were going to be fine. Love Birkdale Animal Hospital! I so wish they were in my new location!

posted: 08/29/2018