Ballard Animal Hospital

4.7 (125)
4368 Leary Wy NW, Seattle, WA 98107, USA

Hours:

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 Ballard 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:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
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 & 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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K D
K D

We are extremely grateful for the high level of expertise, compassion and care from Ballard Animal Hospital. We had tried a few local vets before them. the first always gave us lectures about fleas. The second, we liked, but they gave our 16 year old Persian a shot for arthritis (not really needed) that ended up ruining his quality of life for the 6 months he lived afterwards. When we moved to Ballard animal hospital, the staff was very sympathetic and caring, and the doctors were very experienced and don't recommend unnecessary treatments. Nothing fancy, just good solid care. We stayed with them, and they with us for close to 30 years. We no longer have pets, but if we did, they would be our first and only choice.

posted: 04/28/2023

Kaley K

We love the entire staff at Ballard Animal Hospital. We have used them for the past 7 years for both of our dogs. They are very responsive, compassionate with us and our dog Annabelle, and thoughtful in determining the right diagnosis and treatment plan when we’ve had issues arise. Our last baby who passed a couple of years ago developed seizures suddenly, and Dr. Howe diagnosed her and referred us to Veterinary Speciality Center of Seattle. Dr. Friedberg (who recently left the practice) was wonderful in helping with our 15 year old dog who has had a range of issues and is also being co-treated at VSCS for vertebral disk disease. Now, Dr. Howe has taken over for Annabelle’s care, and we couldn’t trust her and the entire team more. They are transparent with the fees and always put our dog’s best interest first and kind to me and my husband.

posted: 08/11/2023

Natalie Selle

I can't say enough about how much we love it here. The entire staff is kind, efficient and truly loves your pets. They make sure you are making the most informed decision and have all the information regarding your pets healthcare. We have 2 cats and one dog that see them and I would not dream of going anywhere else. Thank you Ballard Animal Hospital!

posted: 04/14/2023

John Terpin

We feel so fortunate to have found a wonderful team at Ballard Animal Hospital. We know our precious boy is in great hands in their care.

posted: 09/21/2023

Emily Graham

They are great here! Always so kind with my dog and love him - they are also very cost conscious (asking before performing procedures, being transparent about procedure costs) and take the time to make sure I understand any issues and the required treatments.

posted: 06/18/2023