St. Francis Animal Hospital

3.4 (162 reviews)
2736 University Blvd W #5, Jacksonville, FL 32217, USA

Hours

Monday 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Friday Closed Saturday Closed Sunday Closed

How to Save on Veterinary Costs at St. Francis Animal Hospital

Preventive care

Routine wellness exams can help identify health issues early, often before they become more serious or expensive to treat. Regular checkups are one of the most effective ways to manage long term veterinary costs.

Compare prescription pricing

Some pet medications prescribed at veterinary clinics may also be available through local or online pharmacies. It can be helpful to compare pricing when appropriate to reduce ongoing medication costs.

Consider pet insurance

Pet insurance may help cover a portion of eligible veterinary expenses depending on the plan, including accidents, illnesses, and in some cases preventive care. Coverage details, reimbursement levels, and deductibles vary by provider.

Why Pet Insurance Information Appears on This Page

Looking for information about St. Francis Animal Hospital? This page also includes pet insurance resources to help pet parents understand how to prepare for unexpected veterinary expenses.

Veterinary care costs can vary widely depending on the type of visit, treatment, or emergency. Many pet parents explore pet insurance before they need it so they are better prepared when unexpected situations arise.

How to Choose a Pet Insurance Provider

Pet Insurance Review helps pet parents compare insurance providers using verified customer reviews and real-world experiences. Our tools make it easier to evaluate providers based on claims experience, service quality, and overall satisfaction.

We have collected more than 220,000 reviews from pet parents, creating one of the largest independent databases of pet insurance feedback available.

How rankings are determined

Unexpected veterinary expenses can happen at any clinic. The providers below are ranked using verified reviews submitted by real pet parents through Pet Insurance Review. Results reflect overall satisfaction, claims experience, and value based on real world feedback. Rankings are updated regularly as new reviews are submitted.

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2026
Rating Provider Total Review
4.8 Adoro 19
4.5 AKC 1,801
4.4 ASPCA 12,230
4.9 Embrace 19,973
4.9 Fetch 5,921
4.1 Figo 2,868
4.4 Hartville 183
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,375
4.8 Lemonade 833
4.6 ManyPets 2,416
4.7 MetLife 11,266
4.8 Nationwide 25,712
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 15,353
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,868
4.7 Pumpkin 3,551
4.6 Spot 11,597
4.9 Trupanion 55,033

Compare Pet Insurance Plans

You can compare coverage options from multiple providers to find a plan that fits your budget and your pet’s healthcare needs.


Getting to Know Your Veterinarian

Choosing a veterinarian is an important decision for pet parents. A strong vet relationship is built on trust, communication, and understanding your pet’s individual needs.

Experience

Ask whether the clinic has experience treating your specific type of pet, since care can vary between dogs, cats, and pocket pets.

Emergency Care Procedures

It’s helpful to understand how the clinic handles after-hours emergencies, including whether they provide emergency services or refer to nearby emergency hospitals.

Communication Preferences

Ask how the clinic communicates with pet parents, including updates, test results, and follow up questions.

Breed Specific Health Considerations

Some breeds may be more prone to certain health conditions. Early awareness can help with prevention and early treatment.

Facility Tour

If available, touring the clinic can help you and your pet feel more comfortable before the first visit.


Final Note

Pet care decisions often involve both medical and financial considerations. Having access to trusted veterinary information alongside pet insurance comparisons can help pet parents feel more confident when planning for their pet’s health and wellbeing.

Explore Topics

Reviews from Google

3.4

162 reviews

I am very disappointed with our recent experience at St. Francis Animal Hospital. When scheduling an appointment for our rescued kitten, Campbell, my daughter paid a $100 deposit. Since I was responsible for payment, I called immediately to confirm what that covered. I was explicitly told that the visit should not exceed $100 and that the deposit would cover the appointment, especially since our kitten’s age was unknown and she might not even be old enough for vaccines. When I reviewed the emailed statement and saw additional charges, I called with questions and spoke to the same staff member. She was dismissive and claimed she had told me the visit would cost an additional $100, which is not true. Had that been disclosed, we would have canceled the appointment. Clear communication and accurate quotes are critical, especially when families are trying to plan responsibly. Unfortunately, our experience involved misinformation and poor customer service, which was especially disappointing given the values this practice promotes. I hope management addresses these communication and billing issues so other families do not have a similar experience.

Dec 17, 2025

❤️🐶Best veterinarian ever. Animal loving. Experienced. Well-trained Kind. Compassionate. Intelligent. Level headed. Honest. Trustworthy. Straight forward. Won’t sell tests or services that are not needed. Will do their best to work with you within your budget for the very best health and outcome for your pet. Puts pets first. The suicide rate amongst veterinarians is very high because PEOPLE that own them are sometimes really awful. Veterinarians have incredibly hard jobs, probably even harder than pediatricians because NONE of their patients can talk. Reading these horrible reviews from mean people is heart wrenching. ANIMALS are God’s gifts to us. He put them here before us! We should learn a thing or two from them about how to treat people. Thank you for the good care you give our babies! 🐶❤️

Dec 17, 2024

I have been with St. Francis Animal Hospital many years. I have nothing against Dr. Shelton but her policies and her office manager need to be reviewed or removed. I had an appointment for my new puppy in which I was asked to put a $75.00 deposit down for the initial visit. No problem at all. I saw the vet and loved their new place and excited to be bringing the puppy there. My second follow up was a couple of weeks later on a Tuesday. Monday I called to ask if I could move her appointment to another day that week as I was ill and had an appointment to see my doctor on the same day. The office manager was so rude as to say they would be keeping the $75.00, I’d need to pay another deposit because I didn’t give enough notice of cancellation. She kept saying she was following their policies. Also said the doctor was going to be very upset that her appointment for the morning was canceled with no one to fill that spot. Again, I explained I had no control over this and I wished I could have given 48 hour notice but they were closed. There are circumstances that do arise and I feel that issues as mine should be considered. I have referred so many acquaintances to this veterinarian over the years and I hate that this individual who works there, and hung up on me as she said she had nothing further to say, has forced me to find another veterinarian. I have managed medical offices for many years and situations like this I would have instructed my employees to come to me with this concern to be reviewed. This office manager has no compassion for individuals. I no longer can recommend this practice any longer.

Mar 11, 2025

Good vet. I've been coming to them for years. My only complaint is they won't release prescriptions for flea medicine to Chewy or other discount pharmacies, and require you to use theirs. They did allow this in the past, so this was disappointing and seems unreasonable.

Jun 5, 2025

It was a bit strange when we first arrived but I believe they were renovating. Once we got in to the exam room, the doctor was amazing and got all the way down on the floor to examine our little guy and he ACTUALLY let her which was SHOCKING and Awesome roiled together. Definitely at least one of the vets care, and that is saying something these days!!

Apr 19, 2025