Guilderland Animal Hospital
4.2 (146) 4963 Western Turnpike, Altamont, NY 12009, USAHours:
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: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Guilderland 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 | 891 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 11,757 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 17,158 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 18,571 |
| 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 | 12,232 |
| 4.6 | Pumpkin | 1,473 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 7,033 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 73,743 |
| 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
I have been going to this establishment since 2015. I had good experience when the older doctor was there. Since he left, it has gone down. I had a new puppy wellness exam on Monday 7/10. I could overhear the tech and vet talking in the back while in room. I could hear judgement about our breeder that we used for our golden retriever. When she came in, she immediately was judgemental. Our breeder put our puppy on an antibiotic because her litter had coccidia and giardia. The breeder we used is one of the most ethical breeders in NYS and highly recommended by Golden Retriever Club of America. She has been a breeder for 30 years. She said that our "breeder should stop breeding for a year and clean up her kennel with some bleach". So inappropriate. I also did not want pup to get the kennel cough vaccine as she is not being boarded or being around other dogs besides friends and family. She told me it was required to be part of this office. I called several vets around the area, and NONE required this vaccine. I will be suing if she has any bad reaction to the vaccine. I quickly called other places and found an office in Latham where my two cats and new pup will be going. Also, their prices are crazy. To spay a dog, it would be $900. At the other vet, $250-400. They also charge a tech fee when getting routine vaccines and the other clinic does not.
posted: 07/12/2023
Great staff. The staff here are awesome with animals. My Aussie/German Shepherd is skidding and loud, the staff were great with him and very understanding of how he is. Totally helpful to boot. Wouldn't think of going anywhere else.
posted: 02/23/2023
I was always a fan of this practice. While my favorite veterinarian left, I decided to stay on because Amanda is fabulous and I trust her. I have two small dogs, they need to have their vaccinations split up because it would be too hard on their little bodies and system. For each visit, two weeks apart to just get the additional vaccine shot, I am charged an additional $34 per dog for an office visit. This is absurd! The shot are just spread out because they are little. I am fine with the charge for the first visit. Big dogs can get all their shots at once but little dogs get hit with extra fees for walking in door for their follow up shot. Does not make sense and feel very slighted.
posted: 02/23/2023
I wish I could give less than one star. Guilderland Animal Hospital consistently told my cousin his cat was fine and in no serious condition after finding out she had a high white blood cell count. After their final visit there they took their cat to an emergency vet to get a scan and found out their cat had severe cancer and was in terrible condition. They had to put her down because of the lack of knowledge and services provided by Guilderland Animal Hospital. DO NOT GO HERE! Unless of course you want them to overlook cancer in your animal causing them to die.
posted: 03/16/2023
Great Animal Hospital!!!! Have been going to Guilderland Animal Hospital with my family pets for over 30 years. When I moved to Albany I still drove out to GAH for pet care. The staff is very knowledgeable and caring.
posted: 06/08/2022