VCA Albany Animal Hospital
How to Save on Veterinary Costs at VCA Albany Animal Hospital
Preventive care
Routine wellness exams can help identify health issues early, often before they become more serious or expensive to treat. Regular checkups are one of the most effective ways to manage long term veterinary costs.
Compare prescription pricing
Some pet medications prescribed at veterinary clinics may also be available through local or online pharmacies. It can be helpful to compare pricing when appropriate to reduce ongoing medication costs.
Consider pet insurance
Pet insurance may help cover a portion of eligible veterinary expenses depending on the plan, including accidents, illnesses, and in some cases preventive care. Coverage details, reimbursement levels, and deductibles vary by provider.
Why Pet Insurance Information Appears on This Page
Looking for information about VCA Albany Animal Hospital? This page also includes pet insurance resources to help pet parents understand how to prepare for unexpected veterinary expenses.
Veterinary care costs can vary widely depending on the type of visit, treatment, or emergency. Many pet parents explore pet insurance before they need it so they are better prepared when unexpected situations arise.
How to Choose a Pet Insurance Provider
Pet Insurance Review helps pet parents compare insurance providers using verified customer reviews and real-world experiences. Our tools make it easier to evaluate providers based on claims experience, service quality, and overall satisfaction.
We have collected more than 220,000 reviews from pet parents, creating one of the largest independent databases of pet insurance feedback available.
How rankings are determined
Unexpected veterinary expenses can happen at any clinic. The providers below are ranked using verified reviews submitted by real pet parents through Pet Insurance Review. Results reflect overall satisfaction, claims experience, and value based on real world feedback. Rankings are updated regularly as new reviews are submitted.
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | Adoro | 19 |
| 4.5 | AKC | 1,801 |
| 4.4 | ASPCA | 12,230 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,973 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,921 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,868 |
| 4.4 | Hartville | 183 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 11,375 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 833 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,416 |
| 4.7 | MetLife | 11,266 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 25,712 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 121 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 15,353 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,868 |
| 4.7 | Pumpkin | 3,551 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 11,597 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 55,033 |
Compare Pet Insurance Plans
You can compare coverage options from multiple providers to find a plan that fits your budget and your pet’s healthcare needs.
Getting to Know Your Veterinarian
Choosing a veterinarian is an important decision for pet parents. A strong vet relationship is built on trust, communication, and understanding your pet’s individual needs.
Experience
Ask whether the clinic has experience treating your specific type of pet, since care can vary between dogs, cats, and pocket pets.
Emergency Care Procedures
It’s helpful to understand how the clinic handles after-hours emergencies, including whether they provide emergency services or refer to nearby emergency hospitals.
Communication Preferences
Ask how the clinic communicates with pet parents, including updates, test results, and follow up questions.
Breed Specific Health Considerations
Some breeds may be more prone to certain health conditions. Early awareness can help with prevention and early treatment.
Facility Tour
If available, touring the clinic can help you and your pet feel more comfortable before the first visit.
Final Note
Pet care decisions often involve both medical and financial considerations. Having access to trusted veterinary information alongside pet insurance comparisons can help pet parents feel more confident when planning for their pet’s health and wellbeing.
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Reviews from Google
88 reviews
They have been really great recently; much improved over the last year with more vets and staff.
Dec 12, 2024
My family has been coming to VCA Albany for over 30 years now and the quality of care and the focus on profit has gotten out of control. I would recommend anyone find a different vet as all the Doctors who were there for a long time have either retired or quit and they appear to have not replaced them as wait times have gotten incredibly long. They also will misadvise you in the interest of scheduling extra appointments. We brought our dog in in November for vaccines to renew his registration and had a checkup for him in January scheduled. We asked if we should keep that appointment and were given a strong yes. Fast forward to that appointment, we were in the waiting room until 25 minutes after the appointment time start after arriving five minutes before. When we saw the doctor she weighed our dog and asked what dog food we were feeding him. They asked if we had any concerns and we had her look at a small growth he had since we were there. We wouldn't have scheduled a separate appointment for this as it wasn't a big deal. This bill was $120 for an appointment that was less time than the wait and equated to a phone survey. When I called to try and discuss this ridiculous charge the hospital manager said that it was our choice to bring him in and they'll always recommend "the best care" and preventative medicine. I find it disturbing to essentially say we shouldn't trust their advice because they'll always recommend the maximum number of visits to increase their billings. Yes it's a pet owners decision to bring their pet in, however many of us rely on the advice of the vets we bring them to and VCA will give you the advice that helps their bottomline first and you and your pet second.
Feb 21, 2023
Took my 8 year old cat here, who had been spayed when she was 3-ish months old, and has been to the vet every year since. This vet told me she should make sure that my cat is female (cause I and my previous vet clearly wouldn't know that)?? I certainly hope when they spayed her 8 years ago they knew she was female. On top of that she suggested a $3000 unnecessary dental "procedure" (she called it a cleaning). Luckily I didn't fall for this scam, and another vet has said my cat absolutely does not dental work.... and surprise surprise, she IS a female. 🙄
Sep 6, 2023
Our two dogs and cat have gotten great care from Dr. Draeger and team. They are kind and gentle with our pets and have been there for them. I highly recommend.
Apr 2, 2024
2/14 Update: For what it's worth, I emailed the address they replied with on 1/17 and haven't heard back. I've been taking my cat here for three years. In all that time they repeatedly told me she had chronic herpes but there was no test and no other treatment than the one that only had so-so results for her. It was increasingly hard to get a timely appointment so after adopting a dog and getting a next-day appointment at another vet, I decided to switch my cats as well. At the first appointment for this cat the vet asked if she had been tested for respiratory diseases. I was floored. They ran the test and it was not herpes. It was feline Chlamydia which is treatable and cured after two weeks of meds. My cat had been suffering for three years because Albany VCA did not run a simple test. I have now switched all my pets to a different vet and will never be returning.
Feb 14, 2023
Veterinarians in Albany, California
Albany Cat Clinic
904 Stannage Ave, Albany, CA 94706, USA(510) 229-0302
Banfield Pet Hospital
1080 Monroe St Ste 140, Albany, CA 94706, USA(510) 559-6937
Codornices Annex Clinic
954 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706, USA(510) 524-3072
Codornices Veterinary Clinic
944 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706, USA(510) 524-3062
Hillview Pet Hospital
666 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706, USA(510) 525-4571
VCA Albany Animal Hospital
1550 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94707, USA(510) 526-2053