Shores Animal Hospital

4.9 (385)
880 Santa Maria Blvd Suite 10, St. Augustine, FL 32086, 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: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Shores 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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Amy Ader

Can't speak highly enough about our first experience and appointment with Shores Animal Hospital. From the moment we scheduled our first appointment by phone to when we were in the room with our vet, the experience was an absolute pleasure. I knew immedietly that I was going to feel comforitable here when the secretary said "And what is your babies name?" Not animal, not pet, but baby. This meant alot because to me pets are family members. When we arrived, we were immedietly taken back to a private room where my cat, Cadi, and I could sit privately. This created less stress and helped my cat feel more at ease, not having to worry about other animals. I also can't speak highly enought about Dr. Kern, she got down on the ground with me and my cat and was extremly gentle and caring, answering all my questions. All in all in was a phenomenal experience, and I didn't feel like they were trying to sell me on anything extra. They were upfront about cost from the beginning and we are excited to make this our new vet home. Thank you Dr. Kern and staff for an awesome experience.

posted: 08/07/2023

Natalie Sklarenko

My husband and I had a great experience, as did our furry son. They treated us with kit gloves on. Everyone was extremely friendly, warm, and very welcoming. They treated our dog 🐕 with such tenderness and empathy. Our dog's veterinarian, Dr. Drilingas is very knowledgeable and so down to earth. He actually sat on the floor with our dog and made him feel at ease and comfortable. Also, his comforting words meant a lot to us during a stressful time with our dog not feeling well. I highly recommend Shores Animal Hospital and its entire staff and veterinarians to my family and friends. Thank you so much for treating us with such compassion ❤️ 💕.

posted: 07/18/2023

Marti Brooks

We absolutely love Dr. Kern! Not only is she knowledgeable and thorough in her examination of our doxies, she is so compassionate and has a complete understanding of our dogs’ special needs. She takes time to make sure our questions are answered and addresses any concerns we have. She interacts perfectly with our little Sam (who is a nervous little guy) and our diva Roxie❤️. We highly recommend Dr. Kern!

posted: 01/21/2023

Kimberley Padro

Dr. Kim Kern was absolutely amazing with our girl Kali. They found the issues, got us results, and in for her procedure the next week. Even better, they did not price gouge and the invoice was so well labeled out with no hidden fees. It actually came out less than what we expected, but I would spend any amount for my girls health. 10/10 recommend and it is a brand new facility so very well kept.

posted: 12/13/2022

Heather Harley-Davidson

I have been very happy with their compassion and care for my animals. They explain procedures and options. We had an emergency and they got us right in no waiting.

posted: 06/03/2023