River City Veterinary Hospital and Resort
4.4 (244) 6050 St Johns Ave, Palatka, FL 32177, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at River City Veterinary Hospital and Resort
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 | 11,392 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 14,179 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 1,995 |
| 4.4 | Figo | 2,561 |
| 4.7 | Hartville | 164 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 7,475 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 781 |
| 3.2 | ManyPets | 2,145 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 487 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,391 |
| 4.3 | Pet Assure | 12 |
| 4.7 | PetPartners | 110 |
| 4.5 | Pets Best | 7,194 |
| 4.3 | Pumpkin | 1,131 |
| 4.7 | Spot | 5,194 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 60,280 |
| 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 & 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
I've been going to RCV since I moved here two years ago with my 12 yo dog Sparky. I have been to numerous vets, both here in town and in other states, with my 5 other animals and my fosters and RCV is my choice. Doc Martinez is my favorite. She never rushes me, never pushes anything on me, always sits down with me or calls me to go through everything (shows me results on paper) and answers ALL the questions my hypochondriac self has about Sparky. They never make me feel bad for being overly concerned about my boy. They have pulled a few loose teeth without total anesthesia, messed with an infected nail, and done multiple blood draws (which he does not like- ask the techs), yet he still walks into the door without hesitation. Yes it's expensive, but all vets are these days and they always give you quotes and discount when they can. The place is clean, calm, and quiet. They have gone through personnel changes and staff shortages (what business in this town hasn't), but the quality has only gotten better in my opinion. Their hours (which are posted) most likely reflect the staffing they have and it's probably done to create a better work life balance for their employees so no one gets burnt out. If that is the case, good for them. Everything is scheduled, so outside of an emergency I have had zero issues. They always get me in within a week and I never have to wait long at all. Special shoutout to the techs Sparky has bitten, you are angels :)
posted: 09/27/2023
River city veterinarian clinic is very welcoming and clean. The staff take the time to listen and explain everything that’s going on with your pet. I recently switched clinics for the main fact that my experience at the other clinic was uncomfortable due to them not allowing you to go back during the appointment with my pet. Appointment times took entirely too long, you drop your pet off in the morning and go back in the afternoon and the service still had not been completed. At River city, they make you feel welcome and are engaged with you during your appointments. Very friendly and accommodating. They take the time to get to know your pad before start the exam to build the trust. I recommend a river city veterinary and clinic to anyone looking to make a change or start up with a new doctor.
posted: 06/16/2023
We have been taking our dog here since 2017 and at the beginning, it was a positive experience. It seems for the past 3 years or so this facility has gone downhill as far the doctor(s). The staff is still amazing, but the doctor(s) are awful. For the past few visits, the doctor keeps telling us that our dog has fleas really bad yet can not show us one flea. We paid over $500 for the flea treatment pills and heartworm pills every year, yet the doctor continues to inform us he has fleas which HE DOSE NOT, not even one flea! She can never show us one flea and our recent visit the doctor wanted big buck for a treatment that was addressed with a nonprescription treatment for $19. If you go here, be prepared for excessive fees and the doctor pushing high dollar treatments which are not needed. This facility is constantly changing up doctors and at times, they do not even have a doctor working at this facility. We all make mistakes from time to time, but the current doctor is constantly failing to address our dogs needs and constantly attempting to push / sell procedures not related to our dog’s needs. Use this facility at your own risk, ask questions about why procedures are needed and hold on to your wallet / purse.
posted: 06/16/2023
I have 2 indoor cats and have used River City Veterinary since their opening on St Johns. Doctors and technicians always very good with the cats... do a great job of checking them over, administering only necessary shots, and asking and answering succinctly, if any concerns. Reasonable hours and costs.
posted: 05/30/2023
We had a dog with extremely serious wounds, and the vet we normally use wanted more for the surgery than we could possibly come up with. River City was able to work within our budget and save our sweet baby-girl. They were compassionate and gentle with our Luna and I couldn't ask for better care. Thank you Dr. Martinez!
posted: 01/06/2023