Harbour City Animal Hospital

4.9 (227)
2208 Petersen Pl, Nanaimo, BC V9S 4N5, Canada

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: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Harbour City 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 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
Vanessa

The staff here are so friendly and helpful. We took our rescue dog there recently for her first checkup and were so impressed with the time and care from Dr. Erin. We know she's in good hands going forward.

posted: 12/05/2024

Sujay

I needed help securing my dog Neo's export documents from Canada to India, and the team at Harbour City Animal Hospital was simply phenomenal! The process of obtaining endorsed export documents from CFIA officials was extremely time-sensitive, with a strict 10-day flying window and specific requirements. Before my appointment with CFIA officials, the folks at Harbour City Animal Hospital, especially Dr. Sandie Landa who went above and beyond to prepare the necessary documents for CFIA endorsement. When the CFIA requested some revisions, Dr. Sandie, who was supposed to be off the day before my appointment, came in anyway to accommodate the revisions. This level of dedication was truly exceptional. Throughout this stressful ordeal, Dr. Sandie's reassuring words, "Let's get Neo back to India!" brought me immense relief. I am incredibly grateful for their dedication, and care. I highly highly recommend Harbour City Animal Hospital for their outstanding service and commitment!

posted: 06/05/2024

Kyra Swinton

Brought my puppy here for her first visit and we’ve had a great experience!!! Dr sandy was lovely and her team is fantastic. My puppy will be very happy coming here :)

posted: 09/10/2024

Stephanie Thorpe

One of the best veterinary hospitals in town! They’ve always taken such good care of my dogs and Dr.Erin is amazing and always takes the time to answer any crazy dog mom questions or concerns I have. My Boston just absolutely adores Sue! Highly recommend!

posted: 11/14/2023

Alana Hopkins

Harbour City Vet has the most compassionate, amazing, knowledgeable and kind staff you will ever meet. When my Mochi broke his leg, Dr. Sandie and the staff went above and beyond to take care of him and treat him like their own. It’s been a journey and the staff were there all the way and were so understanding. I’ll never be able to express how grateful I am. Thank you to all the staff there for everything you’ve done! Mochi is recovering and living his best life with his big sister!

posted: 11/14/2022