Alternatives for Animals

5 (9)
425 Gregory Ln Suite 203, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, USA

Hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Alternatives for Animals

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 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 889
4.7 ASPCA 11,411
4.9 Embrace 14,234
4.9 Fetch 2,051
4.4 Figo 2,579
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,153
4.6 MetLife 493
4.8 Nationwide 21,393
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 110
4.5 Pets Best 7,196
4.3 Pumpkin 1,163
4.7 Spot 5,260
4.9 Trupanion 60,297
4.8 Prudent Pet 125

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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Laura Lyons

We started bringing our then 11-year-old lab mix Dave to the amazing women at Alternatives For Animals when he started experiencing severe arthritis. Within a month he was back to chasing balls, going on walks, and climbing up stairs. For the following four years, the quality of life their treatments provided for him got him through a near fatal bout of pancreatitis and extended his projected remaining life span from three months to 10 when he was diagnosed with cancer last year. We will be bringing our dogs to this amazing place for their entire lives! Outstanding acupuncture, herbal medicine and chiropractic care.

posted: 06/21/2023

Geri Bezio

So very happy with Dr. Rettig and Susan and Sabrina who make up the rest of this awesome team. They are very kind and caring and my dog loves going there. 2 years ago we received the devastating news our boy had a rare cancer combination and was given maybe 3 months to live. Fast forward 2 years later and he is still with us thanks to the care from Dr. Rettig and her team. Very highly recommend .

posted: 07/15/2020

Gina Piper

I have been brining my dogs to Dr. Rettig for many years. She is the best! I truly love her approach to Veterinary care. I also love her staff, especially Susan... she's wonderful.

posted: 08/23/2021

Sidney corbett

My sweet girl, Sneakers a Bernese Mtn Dog, has been visiting Alternatives for Animals for several months and the response has been very positive. Sneakers LOVES the staff 🐾🐾🐾. Best Decision I made for my girl. She is healthy and happy. Thank you so very much. 🐾🐾

posted: 12/11/2016

Santiago Martinez

They are the best for keeping our older dogs healthy and happy.

posted: 02/23/2016