Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic
4.9 (471) 7471 Black Forest Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80923, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Ponderosa Veterinary 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:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | AKC | 1,797 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 12,110 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,785 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,400 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,832 |
| 4.5 | Hartville | 179 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 11,071 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 822 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,413 |
| 4.7 | MetLife | 8,716 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 24,889 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 121 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 8,940 |
| 4.8 | Pumpkin | 3,153 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 10,949 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 55,032 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,695 |
| 4.5 | Adoro | 6 |
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
Dr. Carroll is amazing! For the past two or three years I’ve been procrastinating on scheduling a dental cleaning for my small dog (Happy). I was afraid because so many reviews on Google speak of dental procedure ending with dog’s broken jaw, severe neurological issues and death. I prayed and researched and found Dr. Carroll at Ponderosa Vet Clinic. Dr. Carroll was genuinely caring and professional from the first consultation. On the day of Happy’s oral surgery Dr. Carroll called me a couple of times as I was a nerve wreck the whole day until I got my little Happy back. Dr. Carroll was very gentle, took his time to ensure the best possible outcome. Happy didn’t have a broken jaw post surgery, no neurological issues and he recovered within 3 days (even though his dental surgery lasted somewhere between two and three hours). Happy is a brand-new pup after having all of his front (upper and lower) teeth extracted. He still has about six molars (teeth on the back) left and he is happier, healthier, more energetic and playful than he’s been in the past several years. He’s 8 years old and he’s behaving the way he was behaving when he was two years old. I can’t speak highly enough of Dr. Carroll’s expertise in dental/oral canine health and his care, compassion and commitment to give his absolute best. I’m so grateful and impressed by Dr. Carroll that I scheduled my other small dog (Joy) for his dental cleaning / oral surgery. Canine dental cleaning is not cheap but it’s necessary as I realize my little Happy must have been in pain and his gums were inflamed. I believe Dr. Carroll’s pricing for this vital service that improves the quality of dog’s life is priced reasonably given the high quality of service. I wouldn’t want to try to “save money” but lose my sweet, little dog in the process. I highly recommend Dr. Carroll at Ponderosa Veterinary clinic for dental cleaning / oral surgery. Again, I’m so grateful I found Dr. Carroll and he took such great care of my little 8 year old Happy! And this week my little Joy will get his teeth cleaned and taken care of. Thank you!
posted: 05/17/2025
One of my pups is very scared of vet clinics and strangers. This is the first clinic we have been to where all of the staff including the veterinarian, Dr. Carroll, took the time to work with her and made it a positive, calm, compassionate experience. Additionally, they were prompt in checking us in and engaged with me as though I were an intelligent dog owner. So grateful for the team who helped Abby today. Thank you.
posted: 11/12/2025
My dog was in for the first time yesterday. Dr Carrol and his tech got on the ground and petted my dog and talked to him while performing a thorough check up. He also followed up with me personally the next day with test results This is an office passionate about animals. There fees were reasonable and all around great experience
posted: 11/12/2025
Absolutely the best vet we’ve ever used. The doctors are amazing and so good with our animals. The staff is great as well and is always super helpful. Facility is always clean and has a great aesthetic. Wasn’t sure how they even had bad reviews then I saw how dumb SC’s was. We’ve been with them for years and that’s always been their policy, because you didn’t know it’s their fault?
posted: 10/07/2025
I had a wonderful experience for my dog and cat’s dental cleanings. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and happy to answer all my questions. For the initial exam, we saw Dr. Rippberger. She took the time to discuss my concerns in detail, which helped me feel confident and informed about how to proceed. My cat ended up needing to have all her teeth removed due to feline tooth resorption. Dr. Carroll performed the procedure and was fantastic—he kept me updated throughout the day and even called to discuss before pulling any teeth so there were no surprises. Now, my cat is feeling much better—she’s eating well, clearly more comfortable, and even more snuggly than before. My dog’s cleaning went smoothly too, and she’s doing great. I’m grateful for the care and communication from the entire team. 10/10 would recommend.
posted: 08/12/2025
Veterinarians in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Airway Veterinary Hospital Colorado Springs
5280 Edison Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80915, USA(719) 596-4811
Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery
5520 N Nevada Ave #150, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA(719) 536-9949
Animal ER Care - Central
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Animal ER Care, LLC
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Animal Hospital of Colorado Springs
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Animal Medical Services
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Aspen View Veterinary Hospital
5925 Constitution Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80915, USA(719) 638-6363
Austin Bluffs Animal Clinic
4323 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA(719) 598-7879