Heaton Heistand Vet Hospital
4.3 (163) 2030 N 8th St, Vandalia, IL 62471, USAHours:
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Heaton Heistand Vet 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:
| 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 & 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
Dr. Connie Heaton has been an amazing veterinarian with our new puppy and family cat. Our cat became very ill to the point we didn't think we was going to make it. She took him in to administer medical care for four days. They called us to keep us apprised of his condition. We gladly received a call that he was doing well and he was able to come home. He is currently on an antibiotic but doing well! Dr Heaton has always taken the time to answer questions and listen to our concerns. She does not seem to be in a rush to get us in and out but genuinely cares about us and our pets. She is also conscientious about the cost of caring for a pet or pets. We appreciate her, her staff and caring spirit and love for animals. Thank you Dr. Heaton and Staff!
posted: 04/12/2023
Do NOT take your pet here. I took my cat up here LAST summer and I've been receiving papers claiming I owe them money from an appointment in February that he never had. I've called up there several times being told I'd receive a call back and never did.
posted: 07/27/2023
I took my dog, Jake to Connie to get him fixed. On the way home, he was acting funny. He had a seizure and I took him back Up there and he passed away. She won't answer my calls the people that do answer the phone is very rude Please do not take your dog there
posted: 07/12/2023
Lydia is always TOP NOTCH at helping with things! I walked in today (no notice) with an emergency and said "I need help right away, my dog has been hit by the FedEx truck". Lydia immediately came from the back and helped me carry him inside and took him straight back for x-rays. Doc Connie was extremely busy but she took a few minutes to come look at the x-rays and asked for 1 more to be taken. She came back and unfortunately gave us the bad news 😔 She put everything on hold to sit and take the time we needed to put our sweet boy down 💔 She was very knowledgeable with everything that was going on with him, and she was beyond patient, kind, caring and compassionate! Today was heartbreaking but we can't thank them enough for the excellent, speedy care our family and most importantly our boy received.
posted: 02/10/2023
Best vet paws down..I won't take them anywhere else. Its a hour away from me, but the care Dr.Connie and her team give, its priceless! And very affordable.
posted: 02/28/2021