Athabasca Veterinary Services (1982) Ltd

4.2 (124)
4906 48 St, Athabasca, AB T9S 1B8, Canada

Hours:

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Athabasca Veterinary Services (1982) Ltd

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 863
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

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Ellen MacKinnon

Always great service here, top notch care, and reasonable prices. 100% will be recommend to anyone. Just had Ms Cartoon Kitty and Ms Super Nice Kitty spayed, and although it was a hefty bill, it was a LOT less than BC, where people are paying 500 plus for a routine cat spay. The cats surgical incisions look great, and the cats seem back to normal today. EDIT: Just had my French Bulldog Winston neutered and vaccinated there, they did a great job with a high risk dog, trimmed his nails for free, and the incision looks great. He is back to his normal self, and I appreciate the good pricing.

posted: 06/27/2024

angelique chasse

Worst Vet ever! My dog was sick. Took her in. They said probably her hip but had no one to run the xray machine. Bring her back on Monday. If they knew they had no one to run the machine or the help to assist, why on earth say bring her in! I could have taken her else where then. Paid their fee for nothing.

posted: 11/08/2024

Dora The Explorer

Called for a vet emergency appointment. They responded they don't do emergencies for people who are not already clients. Good to see that they care so much about animals that for even more money they won't help a dog in need. Vets are really starting to hurt their reputations in small towns. Don't call there for an emergency if you haven't been there before.

posted: 09/26/2024

Abigail Pilgrim

I am from out of town but had no problem booking in my two dogs (one newly adopted and one senior). The staff and vet were friendly, helpful, and professional. They were especially awesome when my old boy (who is nervous at the vet) had to come back for dental extractions. Overall awesome service and I am so happy to have this clinic as an option for my dogs’ healthcare! Phineaus and Josie appreciate it 😁🐶

posted: 11/17/2023

Haley Briand

brought my dog Jeff from out of town for his annual shots. great staff very friendly. vet seemed knowledgeable and they were a FRACTION of the cost compared to Fort McMurray and quick to get him in. very happy with my visit.

posted: 02/02/2024