Dixie Animal Hospital

4.8 (262)
14701 S Dixie Hwy, Palmetto Bay, FL 33176, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Dixie Animal 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 2024
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 & 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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William Lopez

My pet was not feeling well and had a hacking cough late at night, so I logged in to Dixie Vet Hospital after midnight and left a message to see if I could get in that morning and sure enough they called me at 8:30 am and accomidated my request. "Fantastict" the staff was courteouse and professional. Dr. Smiley was awesome,she took the time to explain symptoms and remedies and was not in a rush to push you out. "👍👍" Just moving here from out of state and finding this hospital was a plus. We will be going back from here on out. Thank you.

posted: 10/14/2023

Victoria Heller

Dr. Pegelow, the head veterinarian there, really goes above and beyond. He is very caring and compassionate. He goes beyond the call of duty. He calls himself with test results, and to schedule surgeries and procedures. He will even call on a Sunday if he has to to find out how your pet is doing or to give you test results. He is the only veterinarian who I have even trusted to put my dog under anesthesia to do any type of procedure or surgery. Even a dental cleaning. He really cares. He has a couple of other veterinarians on staff. But he is the only veterinarian who I consider , my dogs veterinarian and the person who is in charge of her care. She is a senior dog and has some potentially serious digestive issues and I trust him implicitly with her care. The staff are very caring. The nurses are very compassionate. When they come in to ask the preliminary questions before you see the doctor, they are very nice and you can tell that they really care about your pet. I have been coming here for about a year and a half. I used to take my dog to one of the larger nationwide chain but as she got older, I wanted to take her to a place that had more experienced veterinarians because senior dogs start to have more health problems as they get older. I am very happy with Dr. Pegelow. I'm glad that I found him to care for my senior female terrier mix who I love so much.

posted: 09/28/2023

Amanda van Huyssteen

What a pleasant experience! Dr. Smiley is super knowledgeable, the staff are all friendly, helpful and professional, and our puppies are doing excellent under their care! I highly recommend Dixie Animal Hospital!

posted: 08/30/2023

DIANE Perless

Even when my dogs have been sick, the staff and doctors at Dixie try to make it as pleasant as possible. They are friendly and compassionate and helpful. As I can't mention them all, I 'll just single out Veronica Garcia to accept the praise for all of them. Dr. Servito is just lovely, and Dr. Pegelow is efficient and caring and explains everything clearly, taking his time to listen. My only complaint - wish they were cheaper!!

posted: 04/27/2023

Tony Gamero

On May 11 2023 I brought Nellie my senior pet companion to Dixie Animal Hospital. She was being treated for a heart murmur by Dr. Pegelow. Dr Smiley was the attending Vet who examined Nellie that day. Nellie’s respiratory rate was elevated and having heart disease there is a risk of congestive heart failure. Smiley was aware of her preexisting condition but never suggested oxygen therapy to prevent an emergency situation requiring hospitalization. My pet companion did not get the best possible care that Dixie claims it provides. Smiley was not interested in stabilizing Nellie. Her focus was setting up an appointment for an echocardiogram with their mobile imaging contractor. Nellie’s condition worsened overnight. I called Dixie Animal Clinic on May 12, 2023and informed one of the employees of her condition and asked if I could bring her for oxygen therapy. I was told that Dixie does not have an oxygen machine. I asked where Nellie could receive that treatment and she told me that she would check with Dr Smiley as to where I could take her. She never called back. I cannot understand how thoughtless and uncaring people that provide medical care for animals can be. After an 1 ½ I called Dixie again and spoke to a Brianna. I explained Nellie’s condition and if she would call Dr Smiley for advice. Brianna claimed that it was the Dr’s policy not to be called on their days off. I took Nellie to Miami Veterinary Specialists. She collapsed as we arrived. She had to be resuscitated. She was placed in a oxygen tent with an IV. Her lungs were filled with fluid and she was beyond saving. She was euthanized that evening.

posted: 07/04/2023