VCA Lockwood Ridge Animal Hospital

4.4 (143)
3802 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at VCA Lockwood Ridge 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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michael castagna

I had to put my baby boy Dee Boy down. He was 12. I don’t have children and he meant the world to me. It was the hardest choice to make but the vet said this is the best gift I could give him. He was suffering with lymphoma and couldn’t swallow and was having a hard time breathing and would seizure here and there do to that. They are an amazing staff. They made it as comfortable as possible for me and my boy. I had him cremated and they sent me a beautiful card with all the staff writing a little something about Dee Boy. I got a paw print in clay 2 cards with his nose and paw prints. A beautiful vase urn with his ashes. It’s been over 3 weeks without my boy and it’s painful. But I must say this veterinarian and her staff were the sweetest people and I truly believe they care. We just got a puppy a month before I lost my Dee Boy to help bring his spirits up. I will be using this vet for our puppy and for as long as he needs care or anything else I will be using this vet. Thank you for everything you guys have done for me.

posted: 11/14/2022

Ben Lamson

I had high hopes. They were pleasant and we were seen promptly. However, they gave up on my poor cat and said they could not treat him without an extra 200 dollar charge for sedation. It’s too bad because I liked this place at first but they have no animal skills! I offered to hold him which worked during the initial exam, but the doctor took my baby somewhere in the back and re-emerged with a larger bill. Do not be fooled by the first time visitor discount, it is a loss leader to bill you for more services.

posted: 08/17/2023

Joshua Fox

I used to bring my dog here since so close to home. My wife works at a other vet and we get basically half off so thats why I stopped coming here. I canceled my vet club a couple months ago. They still charged me for another month insisting it had to be paid prior to last visit. They were so demanding over the phone knowing I was right about canceling and was nice. They told me I wouldn't be charged for medication anymore and here I am two months later being charged. I already talked to the bank and they are refunding me the money; but don't tell me everything was canceled and still charge me months after. Like come on guys. You really need that $25 a month charge? I was always happy to come here but that's why you are getting the one star. Don't take money after canceling memberships when I honest and sincere about why I was leaving.

posted: 07/02/2023

Stephanie Soler

We are very happy with Dr. Alimpic. Our elderly dog had extremely rotten teeth and needed all of his teeth removed. After the initial consultation we decided to go with Dr. Alimpic. Dr. Alimpic did an outstanding job. She is very knowledgeable and experienced in veterinary medicine, yet was still compassionate and attentive to our concerns. Throughout the process she called several times to inquire about his well-being. She was also very reasonable and honest when it came to costs. We highly recommend her.

posted: 08/31/2023

Sisplau

Our 13 year old Yorkie , Benji was not his self this morning, obviously felt ill and uncomfortable. They got us in THE SAME DAY , WITHIN HOURS ! They had a coupon online , they applied it without any fuss . DR Sherell came in , explained EVERYTHING, had an estimate typed out , helped us understand . Everyone here was kind , compassionate, professional and generous in every way. The tests we could not do today , we can come back to do them next week. No pressure. Can't say enough positive things about this place. Thank you.

posted: 07/26/2023