Heritage Oaks Veterinary Hospital
4.5 (38) 2444 N Heritage Oaks Path, Citrus Hills, FL 34442, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 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 Heritage Oaks 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:
| 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 & 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
The low stars given for this vet and her staff is appalling. As a Nurse Practitioner, with over 20 years in medicine, how can you expect to refill prescription drugs for a patient who is not seen or examined? I can give scripts all day long, with refills, but you are still responsible for follow up appointments. It is just ignorant to expect any physician or practitioner to give medications to a patient, "in this case an animal" without seeing them. We are required by law to follow a patient regardless of "refill" status! She did you a favor by putting refills on your scripts in the first place. With, I am sure, the expectation of a follow up appointment at least yearly! If you are going to own pets then it is your due diligence to have the patient seen at least yearly. Things change at the drop of a hat, and that simple "asthma" could now become a severe pneumonia, yes I am a pulmonology nurse practitioner as well as an emergency practitioner so I know the ropes. So before leaving a nasty remark, do your part and bring your pet in for an exam. Food for thought, if you were sick and called your doctor, regardless of a "chronic" condition, would they want to see you, if they were any kind of responsible physician the answer is yes. They also probably told you to go to an Emergency vet due to an acute issue, this is not unreasonable, people come into my ER everyday with dental pain, shortness of breath, etc, and there is no way that I would send them out the door with meds without evaluating them and properly diagnosing them, that is the responsible/respectful thing to do. Don't expect anything different, and her asking for an appointment is not unreasonable. Your pet could have an acute issue that is far different from a chronic one. Let me tell you something, this vet found cancer in my dog that eventually I had to put down because I am a responsible pet owner and had tests done. Please if that is how you want to act then you should not have pets and seems like to me that you are trying to "get something for nothing". Shame on you, and I encourage you to take your dog to a shelter and give it a better life.
posted: 12/21/2022
I’ve been taking my miniature schnauzer, Romeo, to heritage oaks for quite some time. I have no complaints. The staff is friendly, compassionate, and so patient with him. From the vet, to the techs, to front office - always willing to answer any questions. Dr. Vilchez is super knowledgeable and truly takes her time share info. From wellness visits, concerns, and dental cleaning - we are super pleased. Thank you!
posted: 12/22/2021
Dr. Vilchez and her team are a cut above. Absolutely top-drawer! Warm and professional. Understanding and direct. There is no substitute for the confidence born of having trusted friends care for beloved animal family members.
posted: 07/30/2023
I take both of my Belgian Malinois here. One is a senior and one is a puppy. They have been AMAZING for both of them! No matter the issue from both age ranges of my fur babies they are responsive and caring. I feel that they are reasonably priced. The vet has always taken the time to explain things and answer any questions. The staff is always kind and friendly! You are never treated like a bother as I always have A LOT of questions. I highly recommend them!
posted: 12/08/2020
Do not recommend. Called to have my dogs blood drawn for a DNA send off. They told me to go to my primary vet. Im like are you serious? They said yes we do not do anything for any dogs or cats unless they are our patient. I'm like OK well I need veterinary services now wouldn't that make me a patient.? So basically they are turning away future business.
posted: 02/14/2022