Vets Near Me > British Columbia > Nelson > Selkirk Veterinary Hospital

Selkirk Veterinary Hospital

4.3
614 Railway St, Nelson, BC V1L 1H4, Canada

Best Pet Insurance in Nelson, British Columbia 2025

Hours:

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 – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

How to Save Money at Selkirk Veterinary 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 2025
Rating Provider Total Review
4.9 Fetch Canada 166
4.9 Furkin 348
4.1 Pets Plus Us 862
4.3 PHI Direct 31
4.8 Spot Canada 149
4.8 Trupanion Canada 25,888
1.0 Desjardins 1
5.0 OVMA 1
3.3 Peppermint 3
2.5 Petsecure 226
0.0 Sonnet 0

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

hand swipe
Rose Rant

I recently had some experience with Selkirk Veterinary Hospital. Only 1 month after my huband passed, my beloved cat Sheba also needed to be put down. I called Selkirk, and the vet came to my home and helped her to pass on. In a place she was more comfortable with. As I felt the drive to the clinic would be too difficult for her. Dr. Gentry was so caring and tender with her and me not only because my beautiful Manx was at the end of her life but with me for my double losses. I have read some of the previous posts and find some people haven't been very happy with the service. I would like to say that was not the case for me. I received a sympathy card signed by all the staff even though it was my first time here.

Brandon Liefke

A couple weeks ago my family was camping at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park which has been something of an annual trip for us as we live outside of the Kootenays and love the area. During our stay, our German Shepherd, Boston, unexpectedly came down with a medical emergency and needed immediate care. Selkirk Vet was the on call office for emergencies that day and we couldn’t have asked for a more caring and professional group. Our family was heartbroken to lose our best friend that day but the care and dignity Dr Gagnon and the technicians (forgive me for missing their names in the stressful moment) gave our loved one was so welcomed and appreciated. My wife and I both reflect positively on the care he received and the overall experience. THANK YOU for caring so much for our boy (and us)!

dc slye

We have only been bringing our dogs to this clinic for a few months but would highly recommend! The receptionists are all so friendly and accommodating. It has been our experience so far, that the Veterinarian’s and Assistants all take their time to approach your pet, they really listen to any concerns or questions you may have…along with explaining things thoroughly. We have never felt rushed and appreciate their honesty and trust them with our beloved companions.

vania inne

Called today and the secretary was rude and snickered at my issue when I tried to explain my dog's health issue. The female that answered the phone sounded very sick too...and should be given more training on customer service. I booked at cottonwood and the man was helpful and attentive.

Alex Russell (TravelNurseNorth)

Amazing. Got the pup in day-of for an urgent injury. The front desk admins, the vet techs and the vets were all amazing. Honest, concise information and options provided, listened to concerns and made a plan specific for the pup. Very happy with the team there and the care provided.

Get a quote today

Leave a review