Best Friends Animal Care

4.9 (56)
110 W Clifton Ave, North Augusta, SC 29841, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Best Friends Animal Care

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 2025
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 893
4.5 ASPCA 11,862
4.9 Embrace 18,256
4.9 Fetch 26,237
4.2 Figo 2,614
4.6 Hartville 169
4.9 Healthy Paws 10,159
4.9 Lemonade 809
4.6 ManyPets 2,377
3.9 MetLife 729
4.8 Nationwide 21,410
4.0 Pet Assure 13
4.5 PetPartners 115
4.3 Pets Best 12,821
4.6 Pumpkin 1,643
4.6 Spot 7,860
4.9 Trupanion 60,842
4.8 Prudent Pet 1,733

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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Logan

I left a message on about every vet in the CSRA yesterday and this place is the only place out of over 10 vets that called me back. They squeezed Ms. Pants in within a couple of hours of me calling. Everyone I spoke with at best friends animal care was kind and professional. Dr. Santos was everything you want in a good vet, she didn’t rush through it, she was down to earth, very kind to our little family member, and explained all options. The whole team seemed like they genuinely cared at Ms. Pants and the issue she suddenly had going on. Also, the place was really clean. I’m impressed enough that we are switching to this clinic as our new regular family vet. They go ahead and get an appointment payment from you when you schedule, which was fine by me because we were definitely coming to that appointment. It isn’t an extra fee they charge or anything it just goes to your appointment.

posted: 10/03/2024

Stephanie Humphrey

My cat, Vega Dee, and I had a wonderful experience with Dr Santos and ALL of her great staff today. We were able to get an appointment as a new patient this afternoon after calling yesterday to see what availability they had for a pretty sick girl. Vega made herself at home as soon as we got there, and was comfortable visiting with all the staff! She had her infected little ears swabbed for cytology, bloodwork drawn, and urine checked/ cultured, as well as given sub-q fluids…which could have been traumatic for this (or any) kitty, but they took such good care of her. The office was fresh and clean…very welcoming! Now we await results that we will know as soon as tomorrow to know which antibiotics will be right for her situation, and get this girl back to her normal self. We’re both so happy to be getting established at this office, in North Augusta, and right in our own neighborhood…definitely the right choice! 10/10 recommend!

posted: 08/27/2024

Danielle Perkins

For Dr. Santos and her team this business is more than a job. They are full of kindness and compassion. They truly care about their patients and their owners. I had to say goodbye to my best friend yesterday who lost his battle with cancer. The entire team went out of their way to make sure Griffey and myself was handled with the utmost care. I cannot recommend them enough as they made the most traumatic event a bit easier to endure because of their qualities beyond running a business.

posted: 08/23/2024

Crystal Whalen

Dr.Emile Mele , the tech (sorry I forgot your name 🤦🏼‍♀️), and Michelle in reception were phenomenal. They scheduled a next day appointment for my boy, so he could get the care necessary for his wounds from another dog attacking him in our neighborhood. They are the epitome of true animal lovers/whisperers and I am furever grateful to them and look forward to them being our primary for our big boy Lox. Thank you, thank you, thank you and may y’all always have nothing but blessings, and good fortune in each of your lives daily! Warmest Regards, Crystal Whalen and Lox (A.K.A OllieOllieLoxenFree)

posted: 11/20/2024

Jada Soto

Very thorough and kind. Reasonably priced & Dr. Santos and her staff are all awesome and were able to see my cat quickly despite the area just experiencing a hurricane. I will be seeing Dr. Santos and her team for care for my cat from now on.

posted: 10/02/2024