Mountain Shadows Animal Hospital

4.7 (142)
9171 US-50, Salida, CO 81201, USA

Hours:

Monday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Mountain Shadows Animal 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:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 889
4.7 ASPCA 5,697
4.9 Embrace 10,255
4.9 Fetch 174
4.4 Figo 587
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,475
4.9 Lemonade 781
3.2 ManyPets 11
4.6 MetLife 424
4.8 Nationwide 21,391
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 98
4.5 Pets Best 7,194
4.3 Pumpkin 54
4.7 Spot 160
4.8 Trupanion 55,007
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 & 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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Sonya Filippini

Dr. kitt and the whole staff are so good to my baby Otis! Prices are more than reasonable for the services offered and I’ve not had a bad experience here ever! Otis just had his teeth cleaned, but to my pleasant surprise they also did his nails for me 🥹 thanks Mountain Shadows for taking good care of my fur baby (and me) ❤️

posted: 05/11/2023

Lydia Cardinal

My dog tore his nail nearly off on a Sunday evening; I couldn’t find anyone to see him in BV so I started looking in Salida. I am so happy to have found this Vet; when I explained what happened and that I was in a pinch, I was told to come right over and that they’d fit me in when they could. Everyone was super nice and caring, and more than accommodating. The Doc was kind and explained what was going on and what needed to be done… I was seen basically right away and in and out very quickly. Everyone fussed over my boy and made him feel very special, and to top it off, I was really pleased with the bill and found the cost of service to be very reasonable. Thanks Mountain Shadows for the wonderful care and service!

posted: 05/09/2023

Liz Specht

So grateful for this clinic!!! I called them frantic at 5:20pm because my dog had just gotten a fly fishing hook lodged in his side while playing in the river, and we couldn't make it to the clinic before their 5:30pm close. They agreed to stay open late to see me, and not only removed the hook after-hours but since my dog was already sedated, the Dr. also took the initiative to remove two cysts that I knew would need to get surgically removed sometime soon. I had been told by two previous vets at other clinics that the cysts would require full anesthesia and intubation, which I was quite nervous about with an older dog, and which seemed pretty excessive given that they are just superficial skin cysts... it seemed to me like a local anesthetic and sedative should be fine. Fortunately this Dr. agreed that such intense anesthesia was not necessary, and he took care of them in one fell swoop along with the fish hook, saving us from another much more intensive surgery and likely several hundred dollars in vet fees had we gone elsewhere for the cyst removal! We were there until past 7pm by the time all was wrapped up. This vet and clinic are down-to-earth and caring and willing to go the extra mile, even for a brand-new client they'd never met before who called them a few minutes before closing time!

posted: 05/03/2023

Roo Bah

Everything online says our cat should be seen within 24 hours. We have fourteen days of waiting with these guys. We had been elated with their service until this episode. Moving elsewhere for the emergency needs of our pets. What else can we do?

posted: 07/30/2023

Slugger Nwp

I am so disappointed in this hospital. I took my cane corso puppy to get her ears cropped not long ago and her ears look absolutely horrible.. I am embarrassed of them. The staff it’s self was okay during the process they were nice and took good care of her but the crop it’s self is hideous and I will never ever bring any of my dogs or suggest this place.

posted: 12/28/2022