First Avenue Veterinary Hospital

4.3 (108)
335 1st Ave., New York, NY 10003, USA

Hours:

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at First Avenue Veterinary 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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Bonnie Gibbs Vengrow

We've been clients of First Avenue Veterinary Hospital for several years and can't recommend it highly enough. The doctors and staff are highly trained, yes, but also incredibly compassionate and respectful. Whether we're calling with a question or explaining a health issue during an in-office visit, we appreciate how the doctors consistently take the time to listen to us. All treatment plans and medical recommendations are thoroughly explained, and cost estimates are provided in advance, so there are never any surprises. Plus, the office is sparkling clean and modern, the front desk is warm and friendly, and checking in and out is quick and efficient.

posted: 05/09/2023

Yuwei Pan

Bond Vet was too expensive so we took our cat to this more traditional vet place. The vet was attentive but they didn’t end up finding anything wrong with her. I also wished that they could give me a price rundown before running the tests because $450 is a lot for someone like me.

posted: 11/28/2022

Barbara Tiernan

Dr Temple and the staff at First Ave Veterinary are the best! They are always so gentle with my high anxiety old lady cat. They are thorough and answer ever question you have. They are quite expensive though so ask for pricing if you are concerned.

posted: 08/10/2023

Phyllis Spencer

Dr Temple and the staff have given my senior dog who is 18 yeas old excellent care. They are so knowledgeable and also loving and caring. I am so happy that I chose First Avenue Vets.

posted: 04/05/2023

Brian Grossbard

Dr Poller has been taking care of my pets for several years. I have also recently worked with her associate, Dr Temple. They are both great, caring Veterinarians and their staff are always very nice. They were both very responsive when I needed them and they even called in a specialist to consult and do an ultrasound when my dog needed one. The office is always clean and doesn't have that "vet clinic smell." Definitely a great find and great location.

posted: 05/28/2022