Big River Veterinary Service
4.8 (156) 774 Nooseneck Hill Rd, West Greenwich, RI 02817, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Big River Veterinary Service
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 | 11,756 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 17,140 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 18,308 |
| 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 | 12,229 |
| 4.6 | Pumpkin | 1,473 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 7,024 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 73,550 |
| 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 & 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
Dr. Cardozo and his team are the best. My dog went through TPLO surgery and I couldn't recommend them enough. Affordable compared to other vets for this particular surgery. My dog is back to her self and happy. Lola and I thank you!!
posted: 09/29/2023
My pup Valak destroyed his knee. At 3 years old and extremely athletic I went for a consult at Big River. It was clearly explained which method would be the best fit and why by Dr Cardosa. A TPLO surgery was done and went very well. My pup is a shy guy yet at each visit he LOVED the staff because they met him where he was at. Now at 9 weeks post op I couldn't be happier! A big thank you to the entire team.
posted: 03/03/2024
Wow! Dr. Cardosa and his staff are truly wonderful. They really love your pets as if they were their own. My boy Killer had a great experience having his knee surgery done at this hospital, and I look forward to using them for all of my pets future ortho needs (including Killer’s other knee!). They’re compassionate, affordable and can definitely be trusted with your furry friends
posted: 08/04/2021
Our dog Ares had suddenly lost the use of his back legs and after countless visits to other vets and emergency services with no ability to diagnose, Big River immediately welcomed us in and within minutes knew exactly what was wrong! Not only that, but they checked in with us to see how he was doing on medication, and recommended we not go through the very expensive and risky procedures we thought we’d need due to his progress! With their help, our dog was able to heal fully and quickly, and is a healthy boy. They’re warm, welcoming, and so friendly. I’d never trust my babies with anyone else or go anywhere else! Well worth the drive from Johnston for me!
posted: 03/18/2023
Our pup Mr. Bingley got both of his CCL's repaired here. Dr. Dan and his staff were AMAZING. When going over our options they never pushed the more expensive one--which is generally recommended for dogs Bingley's size and were understanding that even the cheapest option was tough for us to pay for. When we ended up choosing that cheaper option they asked many questions to ensure that it would work for our guy (luckily he's a couch potato) and supported us in that decision. Their prices are the best in the area and I found so much solace in the fact that I got to know the surgeon who would be operating on our boy. I trusted them all with Bingley's life and even though it was scary leaving him there, I knew he was in the best hands. Bingley does not do well waking up from anesthesia so each time we had to pick up him up soon after he woke up. Before we got there they loved on him and tried to comfort him as best they could. Bingley struggled a bit (I did to) for the first few days after his surgery and they always answered my multiple phone calls a day with kindness, calm voices and a wealth of information and comforting advice. When Bingley needed his other knee done we called them to set it up without hesitation. Big River Vet will always be my first phone call if any of my dogs need surgery in the future and I cannot say enough good things about them.
posted: 01/05/2019