Animal Eye Care Center
4.7 (103) 9043 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, USAHours:
Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Animal Eye Care 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 | 895 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 12,078 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,688 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,187 |
| 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 | 14,600 |
| 4.8 | Pumpkin | 2,937 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 10,559 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 58,957 |
| 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
Dr. Smith and staff are amazing! They saw our pug on very short notice, correctly diagnosed her issue, and have provided peace of mind that we haven't had for the last couple days. Our pug isn't really a fan of Veternarians... Dr. Smith was the exception. She actually wanted to follow him out the door when he left the exam room! So, 2 paws up from Gigi and me!
posted: 10/15/2025
Dr Smith and his team were outstanding. They treated our cat with such kindness and provided measured guidance and detailed notes. If your pet has an eye issue I can’t recommend this place enough!
posted: 09/22/2025
We've been going here for my dogs eye issues for years. Friendly staff, friendly and professional. Dr Smith is great. Finding the office and parking can be a challenge among the many offices and small businesses in this office park.
posted: 09/23/2025
Dr. Smith is the absolute best. He was so knowledgeable, empathetic, and a true advocate for my cat Molly. When my local vets ran the wrong test, Dr. Smith and his office were on it and had my local vet redo it. I thought my cat had a fatal disease (FIP) due to my local vets giving me incorrect information from a different test, but by reviewing the test results from my local vets and double checking their work, he was able to confirm his suspicion that she is healthy. This was so important to me after going a week or two thinking my cat was not going to make it (and it only took that long because at the time Dr. Smith was out of office for a week or two, maybe for a vacation), but the day he came back from vacation he called me immediately to let me know that the wrong test had been done by the other vet and that he truly didn’t think she had FIP but he’d have them run the right test just to be sure, and he was right - she’s fine. He also went over the pros and cons of taking her eye out and the consequences for each so I could make an informed decision. He even gave me a call afterwards to make sure she was doing well after the testing issue was rectified. All around fantastic vet. Definitely the best of the best and 100% worth it. So glad I was able to work with Dr. Smith and his staff!
posted: 10/14/2021
We took our dog to see Dr Eric and he is wonderful in treating her eye. She had some calcium deposits and with medication he prescribed almost all is gone in less than 8 week. Dr Eric is great
posted: 07/29/2025
Veterinarians in Gaithersburg, Maryland
Animal Allergy & Dermatology
15942 A Shady Grove Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, USA(301) 977-9169
Animal Eye Care Center
9043 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, USA(301) 990-6373
Banfield Pet Hospital
218 Kentlands Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA(301) 977-8499
Best Friends' Veterinary Hospital
7600 Lindbergh Dr suite h, Gaithersburg, MD 20879, USA(301) 977-1881
Center for Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery LLC
9057 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, USA(301) 990-9460
CVCA Cardiac Care For Pets
500 Perry Pkwy, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, USA(240) 361-3820
Diamond Veterinary Hospital
17000 Longdraft Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA(301) 869-3990
Gaithersburg Animal Hospital
280 N Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, USA(301) 948-2828