The Veterinary Emergency Referral Center

3.6 (1109)
4800 N Davis Hwy, Pensacola, FL 32503, USA

Hours:

Monday: Open 24 hours

Tuesday: Open 24 hours

Wednesday: Open 24 hours

Thursday: Open 24 hours

Friday: Open 24 hours

Saturday: Open 24 hours

Sunday: Open 24 hours

How to Save Money at The Veterinary Emergency Referral 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:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 889
4.7 ASPCA 11,414
4.9 Embrace 14,242
4.9 Fetch 2,055
4.4 Figo 2,580
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,156
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 5,275
4.9 Trupanion 60,301
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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Katie Pilston

The staff saw my dog quickly and explained what their diagnosis was and the steps to proceed. I was given a treatment plan that was itemized out incase I needed to pick and choose what I wanted done. I got a follow up phone call that night with an in-depth explanation of everything that went on in the day since my dog ended up spending the night. Overall I was very pleased. Was able to pick my dog up the next morning and was show scans and discussed what follow up needed to be done with her main vet.

posted: 08/13/2023

Jenifer Wells

My 7 year old dog had been having issues for almost a month and we had been trying to schedule an ultrasound. When his condition declined, I called VERT asking about my options. With that, everyone I spoke to was very transparent and upfront about prices and what to expect. Unfortunately, I did need to bring him in and although I had already asked my vet to send his recent records, the techs at VERT were persistent calling my vet to get them. Thankfully I had a copy to provide to them in case I needed to bring him. I left him in their care, but before I even made it home, the vet was calling me to advise that my baby had Stage IV cancer that had metastasized into his lungs. They wanted to keep him for the day to help administer the medication and set up a plan to help keep him comfortable for as long as possible. I am incredibly grateful for them being very upfront with me on what they are doing, how much it will cost, and the fact that they wouldn’t do additional “unnecessary” treatments and procedures as it would not be beneficial. It was very expensive and you pay upfront, so be aware of that, but they are quick to refund the amount not needed due to changes in treatment based on findings. All the staff was incredible and caring especially as I was sobbing like a baby when they let me take him home. They didn’t volunteer their findings to me, but when I asked, they showed me and took the time to explain everything and answer all my questions. They gave me the peace of mind of the condition he was in and unfortunately, I ended up letting him go less than a week later due to how weak and exhausted he was due to the labored breathing and how advanced the cancer was. Hopefully no one ever needs to utilize their services, but if you do, you are definitely in good hands.

posted: 07/09/2023

Hubbell Castillo

I’ve seen a lot of negative reviews on VERC, and I was skeptical at first, too, when we took in our sweet Rottie, Mongo, for an emergency situation. However, my tune quickly changed as our baby received the best care over his 4-day stay. Yes, it’s very expensive, and fortunately we have pet insurance. Mongo was not doing well and we thought he might have to be out down during those first 48-hours or so, but the team of veterinarians and vet techs kept a close eye on him, conferred with one another and gave Mongo their utmost attention. We cannot thank them enough. It’s been almost 2 weeks since Mongo came home and he’s practically back to his old self. Thank you all again , VERC team, for saving Mr. Mongo’s life.

posted: 08/16/2023

nadine barragan

I am so grateful to have a facility that offers 24/7 help. We took our baby in after a dog fight around 10PM on a Sunday and they immediately took her back and started examining her. Im sad i Don’t remember the staff names, but everyone was so kind and compassionate. I was on the verge of a panic attack and the gentleman at the front desk really helped take my mind off of the incident by telling some stories and reassuring us that their staff cares about our pets deeply. The vet was prompt and informative and the techs were kind and patient. I was informed of every option and with their help we were able to come up with the best game plan for her. Valentina is now home resting and we were able to get a second opinion to be safe. I will forever be thankful for their quick action and kindness. Gives me such peace of mind to know that they are 10 minutes away should we ever need their help again!

posted: 10/08/2023

Charles Greer

The entire staff was professional, courteous, and extremely kind. Unfortunately, our beloved Sylvia died during the frustrating 1.5 hour Sunday morning drive from Gulf Shores, AL to Pensacola, FL necessitated by the total absence of emergency veterinary care in the South Baldwin County (AL) area. We will be forever grateful for the care shown our dear pet’s remains and the kindness shown to two grieving pet lovers.

posted: 07/27/2023