VCA Colonial Animal Hospital

3.9 (114)
2369 N Triphammer Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

How to Save Money at VCA Colonial 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 891
4.5 ASPCA 11,713
4.9 Embrace 16,627
4.9 Fetch 10,616
4.2 Figo 2,598
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 9,975
4.9 Lemonade 805
4.6 ManyPets 2,332
4.0 MetLife 625
4.8 Nationwide 21,404
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.5 PetPartners 112
4.3 Pets Best 12,053
4.6 Pumpkin 1,425
4.6 Spot 6,829
4.9 Trupanion 67,550
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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Candy Maffe

While we were on vac, our Molly's mammary tumors ulcerated and the bleeding scared the kennel owner (not surprisingly). We took her to Colonial Emergency on Sat. Molly was still eating and acting normal. As we expected the prognosis was not good. We chose to continue palliative care because she was not in pain and acting like Molly. Two days later, Misty had an annual exam. While there I mentioned poor Molly to Dr Harris. She told me about some things I could do to keep Molly comfortable. She constructed a little t-shirt to protect the ulcerated areas. I took Molly to see Dr. Harris the next day to be sure I had explained situation properly and we establish a plan for Molly's care. Infection was a big concern. We went home with some Oriental herbs to minimize any bleeding and OTC's along with the antibiotics the emergency vet had sent home. Within a week the tumors showed no infection and Molly didn't have to wear the distasteful Tee. After 3 weeks Molly shut down overnite. No treats, no food, no looking for laps. She decided it was time. When we went for our final visit, Dr. Harris came in with big hugs of compassion. Because of Dr. Harris, Molly had a wonderful final 3 weeks with many treat and cuddles. While it was hard to lose Molly, those 3 weeks gave us extra peace at that difficult time, Dr. Harris is not the first vet to give us such caring help when a beloved was ready to let go. We take our pets to Colonial exclusively because of the exceptional care we all receive.

posted: 06/11/2023

Rudy Krupitza

Dr. Harris is the best vet we have ever been to see! She is very passionate about her patients and always orders a ton of preventative vaccines and testing. We live in the Binghamton area but drive the hour to see her and the wonderful facility that is Colonial Animal Hospital! I received chemotherapy for my cat here through Dr. Rasnik as well two years ago . They offer every possible treatment and technology which is why we don’t go anywhere else!

posted: 07/05/2023

Jeremiah Edwards

Thank you for your service. The only facility (Cornell was on pause, whatever that means) within an hour of Binghamton to assist with humane care for a mortally wounded pet. I commend your commitment to the families and veterinarian care that you provide.

posted: 09/17/2023

Terri Granger

I cannot praise VCA Colonial enough. My 4.11 y.o. dog was very very sick and my primary vet was not equipped to perform the tests needed to diagnose the problem, but suspected Protein-losing nephropathy (PLN). VCA Colonial took us in with less than an hour's notice and Dr. Eule and his team were wonderful, compassionate, and thorough. Zeldi is doing much better now, and I have made an appointment for another one of my dogs at VCA Colonial for a different complex condition. Thank you VCA Colonial!

posted: 07/07/2023

Sydney W

After our visit to my dog's local vet last week on Wednesday, we found out he needed to get a referral for surgery. We left the appointment unsure and nervous of how long we would have to wait before we were able to get him in anywhere. By the time we got home from the appointment (~25 min later), the vet had gotten him into VCA Colonial for the following day. We had very positive and helpful experiences communicating with the staff what had been going on and he was admitted for his surgery consult. Unfortunately during his consult, they found out he had the dreaded bloat (GDV) and called to let us know the imminent surgery that needed to be fixed while his other surgery needed to be put on hold. They explained the situation concisely and quickly and called to update us after the procedure that everything went well. The entire staff have been very kind and communicative throughout the whole process both through call and their helpful text line! I know they are a super busy place so it's amazing the care they are able to show to every pet that needs it. The only downside is we are located ~1.5 hrs away. However, for the care that my dog has received it is well worth the trips!

posted: 07/19/2023