Veterinary Medical Center of Athens

4.6 (973)
1404 E Tyler St, Athens, TX 75751, USA

Hours:

Monday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Thursday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Friday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

How to Save Money at Veterinary Medical Center of Athens

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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Morgan Cook

I am so grateful for the staff here. I had to put my best friend of 16 years to sleep and it was one of the worst days of my life. Everyone here was so gracious and so kind. They were so sweet to us and made the the process as easy as it could be, and were all full of compassion. ❤️

posted: 08/11/2023

Michelle Court

I have been meaning to write this review for over a week now, but haven't had the will. Having to put my baby Ted-Bear to sleep, was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. He was only 8-years old and was the most unique, quirky, predictable animal I have ever had and will be greatly missed. Saying good goodbye was so difficult, but I give koodoos to Dr. Grafel and the vet technician, Taylor for making this process so much more bearable. They were so compassionate, patient and sympathetic through the whole process. It's obvious that they, as well as the entire front desk staff genuinely care and are passionate about what they do. I will forever be grateful and, my other fur-babies (Harley & Dixie-Pearl) have a forever Vet.

posted: 06/12/2023

Sheri Booth

The staff was amazing. Their compassion and care were so comforting. I had to put my sweet Boo to sleep after 17 years of loving. Thank you, May and Dr. for taking the time to help me through this process 🙏🏻

posted: 03/09/2023

James Taite

Have had many excellent experiences here. Had to make some difficult decisions with our pets "kids" and Dr James was the best. Truly appreciate everything you provide for us.

posted: 06/26/2023

Judy Granado

This is how my baby was giving back after a surgery with a 90 percent success rate from the vet.She pasted 5 days later.Worst place to take a pet that is serious ill. Im a retired dog groomer with over 27 yrs experience. Also had my own shop. Sometime a place will use our compassion for our loved pets to empty our pockets at the cost of our beloved pets.

posted: 07/04/2023