Ally Veterinary Specialty Center
4.8 (6) 180 Bear Hill Rd, Waltham, MA 02451, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Ally Veterinary Specialty Center
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 | 894 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 12,057 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 20,305 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 27,409 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,786 |
| 4.5 | Hartville | 177 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,736 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 815 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,428 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 5,637 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,417 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.4 | PetPartners | 117 |
| 4.3 | Pets Best | 14,113 |
| 4.7 | Pumpkin | 2,549 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 9,855 |
| 4.8 | Trupanion | 62,914 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,445 |
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
The staff at Ally are terrific. The oncologist can be a scary place - Dr. Custead, Santina, Beth, and all other staff members made us feel comforted and confident that our cat was in the very best hands. Wonderfully compassionate and competent team. Highly recommend! Thank you so much for all you do.
posted: 04/28/2025
We are writing in appreciation to the staff of Ally Veterinary Specialty Center in Waltham MA. Our bichon Gracie, has a very difficult diagnosis. However, thanks to her oncologist, Dr. Michelle Custead and her wonderful staff, Gracie is now doing very well. We traveled 1-1.5 hours from Worcester to Waltham every other week for Gracie’s treatments. Dr. Custead’s expertise, empathy, and just plain kindness made the whole process more comfortable for us. We would gladly travel to Ally Veterinary whenever the need arises. We are so grateful to them. Elizabeth and Barbara Drake
posted: 09/18/2025
I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Custead and her team related to some bad news we received from our regular vet. They were kind, compassionate, and reassuring. Hoping for great things for this team!
posted: 05/28/2025
Dr. Custead and her staff are so helpful, thorough and compassionate. In a confusing and scary time, Dr. Custead was able to help me understand what was happening and how to proceed forward. Her confidence put me at ease and I'm grateful my kitty and I landed in the right hands.
posted: 02/26/2025
Love the caring staff at Ally! They are kind, knowledgeable and provide wonderful individualized care. They strive to ensure you and your pet feel cared for.
posted: 03/11/2025
Veterinarians in Waltham, Massachusetts
Ally Veterinary Specialty Center
180 Bear Hill Rd, Waltham, MA 02451, USA(781) 790-0805
BluePearl Pet Hospital
180 Bear Hill Rd, Waltham, MA 02451, USA(781) 684-8387
CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets - Waltham
180 Bear Hill Rd, Waltham, MA 02451, USA(781) 208-0127
Kindness Animal Hospital
20 Linden St, Waltham, MA 02452, USA(781) 893-2800
MSPCA-Angell West
293 2nd Ave, Waltham, MA 02451, USA(781) 902-8400
Vescone
180 Bear Hill Rd #1, Waltham, MA 02451, USA(781) 890-2871
Vetco Vaccination Clinic
75 Linden St.20 & No.60, 20 & No.60, Waltham, MA 02452, USA(781) 736-0200
VIP Petcare Vaccination Clinic
1030 Main St, Waltham, MA 02451, USA(800) 427-7973