North of the River Veterinary Hospital
4.2 (291) 207 China Grade Loop, Bakersfield, CA 93308, USAHours:
Monday: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 – 11:00 AM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at North of the River 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:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | AKC | 889 |
| 4.7 | ASPCA | 11,392 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 14,179 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 1,995 |
| 4.4 | Figo | 2,561 |
| 4.7 | Hartville | 164 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 7,475 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 781 |
| 3.2 | ManyPets | 2,145 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 487 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,391 |
| 4.3 | Pet Assure | 12 |
| 4.7 | PetPartners | 110 |
| 4.5 | Pets Best | 7,194 |
| 4.3 | Pumpkin | 1,131 |
| 4.7 | Spot | 5,194 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 60,280 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 124 |
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
My regular vet no longer has a surgeon so they referred me to this vet to neuter my newly adopted 1 year old boy. I dropped him off early and they gave him fluids, a chip, and vaccinations as well as the neuter. The office was super busy at drop off and pick up, but staff remained calm, nice and helpful. My boy has major separation anxiety and I wish they got to him first and I had a 1.5 hour drive to get there and hang around for 7 hours.
posted: 09/23/2023
Rufus had three teeth pulled today. The cost for the entire visit was $379 compared to quotes of up to $1600. Not to mention, a lot of vets won’t take new patients. Thank you Dr. Virga, Animal Assistant’s, and Front Desk Staff at North of The River Veterinary Hospital for quality care at an affordable price. Rufus needed the love!
posted: 08/17/2023
The love and care all of our dogs get at every appointment is top notch. The staff is amazing and the doctors are great. I will always choose North of the River Veterinary Hospital.
posted: 07/02/2023
They are absolutely wonderful and caring.. affordable and you can 100% trust your fur baby is getting top notch care. Appointments are readily available, from my experience, if need to be made in a hurry or certain timeframe. Staff working up front are respectful, caring, and helpful.. Dr Elaine Freeman is as genuine as they get❤️ She knows her stuff and has a warm, trusting aura about her. The other vet isn't as warm, but that's the difference between males and females lol so I always try to get her. Also, they take new appointments! There's a vet shortage, and many places do not have appointments available to take on any new patients. NOR Vet will. I hope this helps someone!
posted: 08/30/2023
Did a great job for my dog. I have been to 5 vets and this is the one who has a cotton pad on the exam table which is a nice touch. The vet did confuse my boy as being a girl, but lots of people do that. He was caring, accommodating to my dog's needs, and reasonably priced. The vet took time and answered all my questions. I like that he does acupuncture ($65). The only surprise was the anti-nausea shot that was an extra $45. So just ask before you agree to something if you are on a tight budget. Still, so reasonable compared to a vet emergency room. I appreciate the staff who were kind and offered water to both my dog and me.
posted: 06/23/2022
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