Homestead Small Animal Practice
4.8 (285) 205 11th St SW, Spencer, IA 51301, USAHours:
Monday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Homestead Small Animal Practice
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 | 12,059 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 20,317 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 27,446 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,790 |
| 4.5 | Hartville | 177 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,763 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 815 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,428 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 5,901 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,417 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.4 | PetPartners | 117 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 14,145 |
| 4.7 | Pumpkin | 2,569 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 9,894 |
| 4.8 | Trupanion | 62,983 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,472 |
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 had a great first appointment for my pets! They were able to get me in fast and easy and with three pets all at once they were right there with helping hands! So beyond thankful they are able to provide care for my rabbit as well! I will definitely continue going to them for all my animals' needs! Pictures are just of my pets for fun!☺️
posted: 05/16/2025
Dr. Sam Ford saw my rabbit and treated him so great! Was very knowledgeable and helpful even with my rabbit being stressed out in a new environment. 5 stars! Highly recommend her for rabbits and will be taking my other buns and reptiles to see her as well! Updating review - still 5 stars, another visit for another bun! Got in quickly. Orville was having seizures and Dr.Ford took the time to examine and listen to my concerns. She was very knowledgeable and able to quickly diagnose him with epilepsy. No seizures since starting the medication and I can’t thank her enough!
posted: 07/29/2025
Thank you Homestead! After calling my usual veterinarian and not able to make an appointment, they referred me to Homestead Small Animal Practice. My male cat Tiger was in pain, and he had to be seen right away, and Homestead was able to see him, thank God! The entire staff treated me with courtesy, and paid attention to me, and to what Tiger needed. Dr. Butson was so nice, explained in very good detail about Tiger's condition, and provided me solutions to treat him. Thank you so, so much, Homestead, for seeing Tiger at short notice, and treating Tiger, and me, with the utmost care! :)
posted: 07/16/2025
By far the best Veterinary Clinic I had for my pets. You are greeted immediately and taken to an exam room - which is very clean. The technicians and doctors are very knowledgeable and explanations are clear. My pets are my babies and we are so blessed to have such competent and kind caregivers. Thanks so much! ❤️
posted: 09/12/2025
This place has been absolutely wonderful. One of my younger cats had developed a limp. They were able to get me in very quickly to get him checked out. A day before his follow-up, the limp got worse. They got me in again very quickly for some X-rays. During the entire process, they were professional and kind with me. They treated my little one with care and didn't their best to ensure he was as comfortable as possible. I'm very grateful for them. I highly recommend bringing your fur babies here.
posted: 07/24/2025