Steinbeck Country Small Animal Clinic

4.9 (14)
15881 Toro Hills Ave, Salinas, CA 93908, USA

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 Steinbeck Country Small Animal 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:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2025
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 894
4.5 ASPCA 12,057
4.9 Embrace 20,305
4.9 Fetch 27,409
4.1 Figo 2,786
4.5 Hartville 177
4.9 Healthy Paws 10,736
4.8 Lemonade 815
4.6 ManyPets 2,428
4.6 MetLife 5,637
4.8 Nationwide 21,417
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.4 PetPartners 117
4.3 Pets Best 14,113
4.7 Pumpkin 2,549
4.6 Spot 9,855
4.8 Trupanion 62,914
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,445

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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Maro VanValer-Campbell

Just moved to Salinas from Charleston SC and had to leave my beloved vet. This place has great reviews so I got an apt for my puppy here. They got me in within a week or so of me calling and I had a great first experience. They were timely and kind and clearly love animals. I didn’t feel like they tried to “sell” me on anything I didn’t want. They gave great advice on when to fix my pup and training tips too. I will be making appointments for my kitties to come here as well. EDIT: brought one of my kitties in when he suddenly was using the litter box a LOT more than usual. They were able to fit me in same day. Thankfully Zigzag is ok but they were great about seeing him. Beverly who is usually who I see up front is an absolute sweetheart. She never rushes people and is always so pleasant and kind. All the staff has been the same way. I feel like I found a great vet and so close to my house.

posted: 10/03/2024

Kaileigh Bautista

Steinbeck has been really helpful and great quality service for us and our puppy. We are first time puppy owners and their puppy starter pack was reasonably priced and helped us navigate vaccinations and heart-worm protection etc. Our pup a few weeks ago ate a stuffed toy (classic) and they helped us navigate what to do over then phone and it was successful- dodged a emergency vet visit thanks to them! Highly recommend this vet for our area!

posted: 11/02/2022

Ericka Engelman

Dr Pete came to the rescue when my ex veterinarian couldn't see my cat with an abscess for 2 weeks! Its not a fancy place but they really care about the animals. Their prices are reasonable too! Needless to say they are our new vet. Thankyou Dr Pete we can relax now ❤️

posted: 10/18/2022

Affogato Semicolon

The vet where your pet can win! It’s hard to find a vet that truly takes the time to care for your pet the way you would always imagine or want a vet to. This practice is intentionally kept small, is nestled out of the way in a nice peaceful pocket - it feels like you’re walking in Fort Ord or Toro Park and happen to stumble upon a nice caring vet. After moving here we searched long and hard for a good vet who isn’t rushing all the time or has poorly trained staff who don’t even know how to approach an animal non-violently. We were disappointed with other vets until we finally found this wonderful place. They aren’t out to get you on the price either. They know how to work with you at whatever your current financial situation is. Seriously, thank you for being good people. We love you and I hope we never leave!

posted: 12/08/2023

sally cali

I have been coming to Steinbeck Small Animal Clinic since they opened. I have seen both vets and love them both. The staff is the best. They are always friendly and very communicative. Everything is easy there. I highly recommend.

posted: 10/26/2022