Best Friends Animal Hospital and Surgical Center
4.8 (22) 1961 E Lake Rd S, Palm Harbor, FL 34685, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
How to Save Money at Best Friends Animal Hospital and Surgical Center
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 | 894 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 12,057 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 20,305 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 27,409 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,786 |
| 4.5 | Hartville | 177 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,736 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 815 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,428 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 5,637 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,417 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.4 | PetPartners | 117 |
| 4.3 | Pets Best | 14,113 |
| 4.7 | Pumpkin | 2,549 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 9,855 |
| 4.8 | Trupanion | 62,914 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,445 |
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
We love Best Friends Animal Hospital! Dr. West and the whole team are amazing with our Frenchies. They always take such great care of them and treat them like family. The staff is super friendly, and you can tell they really love what they do. Dr. West is so knowledgeable and always takes the time to explain things and answer our questions. We wouldn’t trust our pups with anyone else — highly recommend!
posted: 06/21/2025
Dr. West and her staff at Best Friends went above and beyond with my sick foster kitten! He needed surgery, and they did such an amazing job! I do animal rescue and work with a lot of vets. Her compassion was amazing, and she comes out to talk to you, explain everything they are doing, etc. Not to mention they are open 7 days a week until 8 pm. That saves an expensive ER vet visit for you on the weekends or later in the day. I highly recommend!
posted: 06/23/2025
Dr. West is awesome! She’s been treating my exotic pets for years, and I can’t recommend her enough. Most recently, she amputated the necrotic tail of my Virginia opossum, and both she and her staff at Best Friends Animal Hospital were incredible throughout the whole process. My girl is doing great now, and I’m so grateful!
posted: 06/16/2025
Five Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dr. West has been caring for my beloved Frenchie, Maia, since she was just a few months old. From the very beginning, Dr. West and her incredible team have gone above and beyond for us. Maia absolutely loves visiting—she struts right into the office like she owns the place! One of the most unforgettable moments was when Dr. West delivered Maia’s puppies on a Saturday during back-to-back hurricanes. That kind of dedication and compassion is rare, and I will always be deeply grateful for her support during that time. Every visit puts me at ease, and I know Maia is in the best hands possible. We’re so excited to see Dr. West in her beautiful new building next week. Thank you for everything you do—your passion and care truly make all the difference!
posted: 07/07/2025
Super happy with this vet for my two kittens neuter surgery. I love their hours over operation too it worked great for my work schedule for during the week so that was a big plus for me .
posted: 07/04/2025
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