Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital
4.9 (308) 10737 Broad River Rd, Irmo, SC 29063, 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 Friarsgate-Ballentine 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 | 890 |
| 4.7 | ASPCA | 11,646 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 15,682 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 2,669 |
| 4.4 | Figo | 2,646 |
| 4.7 | Hartville | 164 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 7,521 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 805 |
| 3.2 | ManyPets | 2,356 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 577 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,398 |
| 4.3 | Pet Assure | 12 |
| 4.7 | PetPartners | 112 |
| 4.5 | Pets Best | 7,244 |
| 4.3 | Pumpkin | 1,340 |
| 4.7 | Spot | 6,404 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 60,501 |
| 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
What a great group of doctors! For the past 30+ years, I have taken all my pets to them. My animals have always received excellent care. Whatever the problem, the doctors were quick to diagnose and treat it.
posted: 10/26/2023
I am SO glad I switched to Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital. Dr. Mundell is amazing. So gentle and thorough with a scared rescued mom cat and her 3 kittens today. Excellent bedside manner with cats and hooman mom. I’ve named the only male kitten Jeffrey in honor of Dr. Mundell. My cats have since seen the other vets there and they are all wonderful!
posted: 09/06/2023
We had to unfortunately put our 13 year old kitty to sleep last week and it took a horrible turn, Dr Hurst and his team were so kind and caring they made a very painful and difficult situation comforting having them there with us. They also take amazing care of our dog babies! This is an amazing vet and I highly recommend it!
posted: 10/27/2022
I trust the entire staff at Friarsgate animal hospital with my fur babies. We recently had a medical emergency with our cat and they took her in immediately and provided her with excellent care. Thanks to the doctors and assistants my cat is now healthy again.
posted: 03/06/2022
Had to take my kitty here to get some help with her itching and flea meds, she usually does not like strangers but she was so comfy with the doctor and assistant. Yall are AMAZING
posted: 09/30/2023