Carstairs Veterinary Clinic
4.8 (255) 901B AB-2A, Carstairs, AB T0M 0N0, CanadaHours:
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 Carstairs Veterinary Clinic
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:
| 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 & CompareGetting 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
We had to take our black lab for knee surgery. Although they were a little less expensive than the VCA hospitals, the work and care they provided for my baby, was 10 stars. Definitely worth the drive for that high of quality of care. With great admiration, I say thank you for your excellent care for my little girl.
posted: 10/19/2024
Hard to find the words for how grateful we are to Dr. Tom and his amazing team! Our dog needed a knee surgery that was very difficult to access in Calgary - we were able to get her in quickly and she is well on the road to recovery quicker than we anticipated would be possible. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for skilled, compassionate and accessible vet care!
posted: 07/31/2024
Dr Tom Picherack did our dog Luna TPLO surgery. He was amazing, he kept us informed during the whole process. Explained what to expect, the way he interacted with our dog during the assessment made us feel confident and comfortable with him and his team. I use every opportunity I have to share the fantastic experience with other dog owners about this clinic. If you are feeling uneasy about your dog going through the whole experience, don't think it any longer the quality of life for your dog after is worth it. I can't thank you enough for the amazing experience.
posted: 04/05/2023
Amazing vet, can’t recommend enough. Our primary care vet in Calgary recommended Dr. Tom for TPLO surgery. He took amazing care of our Bea, and the staff was lovely. I was definitely nervous about surgery but the whole team was very kind and patient with me. When I had questions post op I got quick replies. While I hope Bea doesn’t need another surgery if she does I will 100% go back to Dr. Tom. Super affordable too especially considering the quality of care.
posted: 01/27/2024
Dr. Tom did an amazing job with my dog. She needed a TPLO surgery on her left knee and has recovered amazingly well post-op. From start to finish, we felt reassured and cared for. Our girl is back to her normal happy self a few months post-op and we couldn't be happier. Thank you Dr. Tom and the awesome team at Carstairs!
posted: 09/10/2021