Veterinary Surgical Specialists

4.7 (239)
7512 Paula Dr, Tampa, FL 33615, 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 – 3:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Veterinary Surgical Specialists

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 11,392
4.9 Embrace 14,179
4.9 Fetch 1,995
4.4 Figo 2,561
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,475
4.9 Lemonade 781
3.2 ManyPets 2,145
4.6 MetLife 487
4.8 Nationwide 21,391
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 110
4.5 Pets Best 7,194
4.3 Pumpkin 1,131
4.7 Spot 5,194
4.9 Trupanion 60,280
4.8 Prudent Pet 124

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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Kyle Morrison

Our dog hurt her knee and required surgery to heal. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful throughout the whole process. While knee surgery is never inexpensive, the piece was reasonable and included all follow up appointments. Our dog is happy and healing. Each follow up, the staff has been prompt and made the appointments easy. I would recommend anyone needing surgical options for their animals to consider them.

posted: 10/07/2023

LoLove Thornton

This is the most wonderful place to take your animal ❤️ every employee is simply amazing, friendly & knowledgeable! Dr. Thomas got us in immediately, and unlike other vets we had taken Mika to, whom said she would need surgery for a break in her leg, Dr. Thomas quickly let us know she didn't need surgery! Our treatment plan was explained to us in depth & was very cost effective for what was required to get our sweet little Shiba Inu back to her normal self* Trust no other place for your surgical needs, I won't. Thank you all so much!

posted: 07/27/2023

Angie B

I had to take my American Bulldog, Cali, there to get a consult and surgery. The staff has been great with Cali and me. They would call for follow-ups and to make sure we are ok. I highly recommend them. They are kind, professional, and helpful.

posted: 04/24/2023

Uri Lopez

I brought my Rescue Rufus here for knee surgery, I found him on the street took him to the Tampa Humane Society for a Chip Scan, they Found the owner and he said that he had relocated him already to a new home and that he couldn’t take care of him. After the stray hold Rufus tested Positive for Heart Worm and had a Torn CCL, The Humane society told me that they could take care of the Heart worm, but the Torn CCL was an expensive procedure that they couldn’t perform in their Hospital, and that they were going to put him to sleep unless I decided to take him and cover the surgery for the CCL. Insurances a don’t cover this kind of surgeries specially if they are pre existing before coverage so it had to be Out of Pocket, After many phone Calls I came across Veterinary Surgical Specialists, they had the most affordable price in town and Me and my family decided to schedule the surgery so we could take Rufus home with us! Dr. Leslie Thomas sat down with me and my wife, explained the procedure and told us that everything was going to be ok, they took great care of him, the whole staff is great from the moment you walk into the office until you leave! Definitely Recommend them! Wouldn’t go anywhere else if I ever need surgical services for my 4 legged kids! ThAnk you to all the staff that took great care of our Rufus!

posted: 06/22/2022

April Kearney

Great dog surgeon! The office staff and Dr Thomas are fantastic! They got us in for a consult within a week and we're wonderful accommodating our drive from zephyrhills! We spoke with Dr Thomas during the consult where she advised my girl remmy did not infact have the suspected injury our primary vet advised of. While she still needed surgery, it wad cheaper and a better diagnosis than we had thought. We were kept informed every step of the way, Dr Thomas called HERSELF after surgery with an update and we were sent home with a clear healing plan and all the meds my girl needs to recover. The expense matches the quality and experience! Were so grateful!

posted: 10/06/2023