ARL Afford-a-Care South
Hours
How to Save on Veterinary Costs at ARL Afford-a-Care South
Preventive care
Routine wellness exams can help identify health issues early, often before they become more serious or expensive to treat. Regular checkups are one of the most effective ways to manage long term veterinary costs.
Compare prescription pricing
Some pet medications prescribed at veterinary clinics may also be available through local or online pharmacies. It can be helpful to compare pricing when appropriate to reduce ongoing medication costs.
Consider pet insurance
Pet insurance may help cover a portion of eligible veterinary expenses depending on the plan, including accidents, illnesses, and in some cases preventive care. Coverage details, reimbursement levels, and deductibles vary by provider.
Why Pet Insurance Information Appears on This Page
Looking for information about ARL Afford-a-Care South? This page also includes pet insurance resources to help pet parents understand how to prepare for unexpected veterinary expenses.
Veterinary care costs can vary widely depending on the type of visit, treatment, or emergency. Many pet parents explore pet insurance before they need it so they are better prepared when unexpected situations arise.
How to Choose a Pet Insurance Provider
Pet Insurance Review helps pet parents compare insurance providers using verified customer reviews and real-world experiences. Our tools make it easier to evaluate providers based on claims experience, service quality, and overall satisfaction.
We have collected more than 220,000 reviews from pet parents, creating one of the largest independent databases of pet insurance feedback available.
How rankings are determined
Unexpected veterinary expenses can happen at any clinic. The providers below are ranked using verified reviews submitted by real pet parents through Pet Insurance Review. Results reflect overall satisfaction, claims experience, and value based on real world feedback. Rankings are updated regularly as new reviews are submitted.
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | Adoro | 19 |
| 4.5 | AKC | 1,801 |
| 4.4 | ASPCA | 12,241 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,993 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,953 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,872 |
| 4.4 | Hartville | 183 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 11,393 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 833 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,416 |
| 4.7 | MetLife | 11,391 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 25,758 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 121 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 15,384 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,878 |
| 4.7 | Pumpkin | 3,592 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 11,639 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 55,033 |
Compare Pet Insurance Plans
You can compare coverage options from multiple providers to find a plan that fits your budget and your pet’s healthcare needs.
Getting to Know Your Veterinarian
Choosing a veterinarian is an important decision for pet parents. A strong vet relationship is built on trust, communication, and understanding your pet’s individual needs.
Experience
Ask whether the clinic has experience treating your specific type of pet, since care can vary between dogs, cats, and pocket pets.
Emergency Care Procedures
It’s helpful to understand how the clinic handles after-hours emergencies, including whether they provide emergency services or refer to nearby emergency hospitals.
Communication Preferences
Ask how the clinic communicates with pet parents, including updates, test results, and follow up questions.
Breed Specific Health Considerations
Some breeds may be more prone to certain health conditions. Early awareness can help with prevention and early treatment.
Facility Tour
If available, touring the clinic can help you and your pet feel more comfortable before the first visit.
Final Note
Pet care decisions often involve both medical and financial considerations. Having access to trusted veterinary information alongside pet insurance comparisons can help pet parents feel more confident when planning for their pet’s health and wellbeing.
Explore Topics
Reviews from Google
123 reviews
I always get great care and they listen to my concerns closely. Only vet clinic that was able to help my poor baby. I took her several places around where I work because it seemed convenient and had all kinds of test done and X-rays with no answers brought her back here because they treated her as a kitten had her X-rays redone and I got answers that day and a treatment plan. Now my baby can breathe and be happy again.
Sep 28, 2025
Low cost wellness services are literally life saving. The staff were friendly, understanding, and informative. They took good care of my little feral rescue kitten, and we'll be back for all our future needs!
Jul 31, 2025
The team at Afford-A-Care Pet Hospital is truly amazing! From the moment I walked in, they were friendly, caring, and professional. They took great care of my pet and explained everything clearly so I felt comfortable the whole time. You can tell they really care about animals and their families, not just rushing through appointments. My pet received top-quality treatment at a fair price, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. If you’re looking for a trustworthy, compassionate, and affordable veterinarian, this is the place to go!
Sep 17, 2025
My dog is very nervous in new environments and can get on the more aggressive side. The tech was amazing and my dog instantly warmed up to her. On top of that the vet was informative and has never tried to upsell me on unnecessary procedures or products. Very budget friendly and great expo for me and my dog
Nov 11, 2025
I’ve been coming here for years and never had a single issue, until ARL took over and hired people for the front desk. The employees(not the techs) now are some of the rudest, most childish people I’ve ever dealt with in a professional setting. They openly talked badly about customers after they left, showed zero patience, and were rude when I and others were simply trying to ask questions. It felt like catty, high school mean girl behavior instead of a medical environment where people are often stressed, emotional, and vulnerable. What made this absolutely unacceptable is that they continued running their mouths about me while I was in a room with my dying pet, loud enough that I could still hear them. No one should ever have to endure that while preparing to say goodbye to a beloved animal. You seriously need to address professionalism and basic human decency at the front desk. This was devastating to experience during one of the hardest moments a pet owner can go through. Shame on you, ARL.
Jan 14, 2026
Veterinarians in Des Moines, Iowa
Afford-A-Care Pet Hospital
3003 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320, USA(515) 280-5336
All-Pets Hospital
1330 2nd Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314, USA(515) 262-8535
Animal Medical Clinic
4520 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310, USA(515) 276-4511
ARL Afford-a-Care East
1258 E 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50316, USA(515) 263-9260
ARL Afford-a-Care South
3003 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320, USA(515) 280-5336
Beaverdale Veterinary Clinic / Riordan Pet Hospital
4529 Douglas Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310, USA(515) 276-3602
BluePearl Pet Hospital
4631 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA 50322, USA(515) 727-4872
Des Moines Equine LLC
2834 Forest Dr, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA(515) 418-9413