ARL Afford-a-Care South
4.1 (123) 3003 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320, USAHours:
Monday: Closed
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: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at ARL Afford-a-Care South
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:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | AKC | 895 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 12,078 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,688 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,175 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,816 |
| 4.5 | Hartville | 179 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,944 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 819 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,413 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 7,375 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,418 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 120 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 14,599 |
| 4.8 | Pumpkin | 2,937 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 10,559 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 58,937 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,617 |
Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.
Thinking of insuring your pet?
Get Quotes & CompareGetting 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
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.
posted: 09/28/2025
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!
posted: 07/31/2025
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!
posted: 09/17/2025
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
posted: 11/11/2025
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.
posted: 01/14/2026
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