Hawkins Animal Hospital & Wellness Center

4.4 (196)
354 Hawkins Ave, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779, USA

Hours:

Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Hawkins Animal Hospital & Wellness Center

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 11,757
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 & 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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Alexandra Yakutsk

I love this vet. We've been to 2 other well known vets and just had not a good experience. We came here to Dr. Howe because they allowed us to be able to come into the exam room with our sick cat, Sweet Pea. Everyone working here is friendly and empathetic. They were so gentle and caring. We love Dr. Howe, she got to the root of the issue, gave good advice and provided the correct medications Sweet Pea needed to make her healthy. We now bring all our furbabies here.

posted: 09/30/2023

Lucy Barone

We recently adopted a new puppy, Josh, after 7/5 years since the passing of our last two beloved pets. Dr. Howe from Hawkins AH was our Vet then (since 2014) and we wanted her again to care for our new puppy. She truly loves all the animals she cares for, as if they were her own. We know that Josh will be in her Good, gentle hands for many years!!

posted: 07/06/2023

Jennifer Perrier

Dr Howe & her staff are amazing! Affordable pricing with high quality care and they offer a holistic approach as well.

posted: 09/22/2023

r1Enthusiast

Transferred from our vet that we did not like and fell in love. They were great with our dog and very professional. Glad we found you guys. Update, got a second pup to add to the hawkins family. They really have been absolutely perfect with her. Even received a thank you card after her first visit which no other vet ever did. They gave her her first two rounds of shots, told me about others that she could have but told me to research the shots before hand to make an informed decision all while keeping costs at a more than fair rate. I sleep better knowing Dr. Howe and her staff are taking care of my family.

posted: 02/17/2023

Anne Matheos

Dr. Howe is great. Very holistic (which I love) and doesn't do unnecessary things in my dog's visit which makes it affordable for me. My Yogi always has a great experience there.

posted: 09/20/2023