Countryside Veterinary Hospital

4.8 (421)
374 Leavenworth Rd, Shelton, CT 06484, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Countryside 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:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2025
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 895
4.5 ASPCA 12,059
4.9 Embrace 20,318
4.9 Fetch 27,453
4.1 Figo 2,791
4.5 Hartville 177
4.9 Healthy Paws 10,767
4.8 Lemonade 815
4.6 ManyPets 2,428
4.6 MetLife 5,950
4.8 Nationwide 21,417
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.4 PetPartners 117
4.9 Pets Best 14,149
4.7 Pumpkin 2,574
4.6 Spot 9,917
4.8 Trupanion 62,992
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,475

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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Shelby Donahue

This was my first experience at Countryside and I cant say how happy I am with my visit! My dog was a stray and has some behavioral/aggressive behaviors but they welcomed him with open arms! They offered many different services and suggestions to help him and were so open and not even phased by his behavior (which I was nervous about). They were also so friendly to my 4yo who wanted to ask so many questions and be apart of the visit haha Thank you guys so much and looking forward to future visits! Tex tired out from all the love (and treats) at Countryside!

posted: 03/29/2024

Donald DeBlois

Have been using Countryside for approx 16yrs - they have provided excellent care for my dogs & cats. Entire staff from reception, techs & veterinarians are personable and extremely connected to the pets they treat. It’s a homey and well run organization!

posted: 12/21/2023

Rachel Janssen

My husband and I moved to Shelton CT a few months ago and were in need of a new vet for our dogs. Especially our older girl, she needed special care! This was just the place. I felt that the nurse and doctor genuinely cared and took time to look at my nervous girl. By them being so friendly to her, they were able to calm her and examine her very thoroughly. It was a very pleasant experience, also affordable. I would recommend to anyone in need of a vet!!

posted: 05/05/2024

Chelsea Addotey

Wow, I am so amazed with their professionalism and empathy. My almost 2 week old French bulldog puppy gave me a scare! It was 5pm and every vet nearby was either closed or closing. I initially went to my vet that I use for my other dogs and they declined to see my pup. So I found countryside in the midst of crying due to not knowing what to do. I walked in close to closing time and explained the situation to Chrissy at the front desk. She then said the MD would see us! We were taken back to the exam room and greeted by Dr.Jeffrey Santee and Jessie.C. Wow were they awesome. They made me feel so comfortable, reassured and as if I’ve been going there for years! My pup fell asleep in Jessie’s hands. So precious and such a relief! I will now bring my other dogs here. Best vet experience I ever had. Highly recommend. Thanks to such a great team!

posted: 04/19/2024

John Judd

Countryside Vet took great care of our pup for 14 of her 17 1/2 years. When we first brought Annaliesa in with very bad stomach issues, Dr. Jim Micinillio really took the time to figure out what the underlying issues were and gave her a livable life….which turned into an amazing long life. Dr. Shael Littleton figured out some of her skin issues and did a great job with her. Dr. Jeffrey Santee took great care of her during the elderly years, and provided some amazing and sensitive guidance on how/when to deal with the end of life. The staff has always been so very helpful and we really do appreciate it.

posted: 01/30/2024