Upper Charles Animal Hospital

5 (37)
116 Mechanic St # 2, Bellingham, MA 02019, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Upper Charles Animal 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:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2026
Rating Provider Total Review
4.5 AKC 1,796
4.5 ASPCA 12,099
4.9 Embrace 19,746
4.9 Fetch 5,310
4.1 Figo 2,828
4.5 Hartville 179
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,027
4.8 Lemonade 822
4.6 ManyPets 2,413
4.7 MetLife 8,226
4.8 Nationwide 24,744
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 8,890
4.8 Pumpkin 3,072
4.6 Spot 10,812
4.9 Trupanion 55,032
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,664
4.3 Adoro 4

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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Peas, Love & Parsley gardeners

Dr Read and her team go above and beyond for their furry patients and their families. We recently had to say a very tough good bye to our dog. The staff spent time talking with our family, gave us a quiet and comfortable space to say goodbye and stayed with us the whole time to guide us through the process. Our new puppy actually gets excited for vet visits because of all the love and attention they give to each of their patients. We are so grateful to have found this practice and highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a personalized experience for their pet.

posted: 08/18/2024

Ellen Boockoff

My very anxious rescue pup Daisy does not do well with vet appointments. We saw Dr. Read and our vet tech was Dyann, they both handled her wonderfully. Everyone was kind and caring with Daisy. Very pleased with our experience!

posted: 07/29/2024

Jane P

We love our vet Brooke and the staff!! We brought our puppy in for neutering and were so please to have our new baby pup be done quickly and comfortably. We'll be trusting them all in the future for our pets' care.

posted: 08/20/2024

Katie H

I took my pup Cooper to a few different veterinary clinics before we landed- and stuck with the Upper Charles crew! My pitbull mix is terrified of most people and each upper Charles staff has been so patient and understanding with my lil guy. They take their time each appointment to make sure he feels as comfortable as possible. I couldn't recommend this vet more!

posted: 08/18/2024

M

M

My senior skittish pup just had her 1st annual physical at Upper Charles with Dr. Read. Her visit went so well she didn't move while she had her vaccines and the fluid drained from a bump on her back. Dr. Read is very informative, gentle and kind. The office staff is also very pleasant. Thank you, Susan A.

posted: 07/04/2024