Back Cove Animal Hospital

4.9 (400)
55 Baxter Blvd, Portland, ME 04101, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Back Cove 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 19,741
4.9 Fetch 5,302
4.1 Figo 2,828
4.5 Hartville 179
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,023
4.8 Lemonade 822
4.6 ManyPets 2,413
4.7 MetLife 8,206
4.8 Nationwide 24,738
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 8,866
4.8 Pumpkin 3,067
4.6 Spot 10,801
4.9 Trupanion 55,032
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,660
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

hand swipe
justin prest

This place fills me with ease! They take my annoying dog dad calls, and talk me off all the ledges! My dog struggled with an awful skin issue for well over a year. Dr. Strickland was the only person who thought outside the box and truly evaluated my dogs issues. With her recommendations was almost fully recovered within six weeks. I couldn’t believe it! I cannot thank her enough, not to mention she talked me through every step of this and helped me find options to help my dog that didn’t hurt me financially it was a long process, but she is an angel!

posted: 07/18/2024

Emily Cloutier

I cannot say enough great things about Back Cove. They’re easily the best vet we’ve ever gone to for all of the reasons including staff kindness, clean and comforting environment, prices, etc. I have two cats who are complete opposites in terms of level of needs and both have a successful visit every time. We love Back Cove!

posted: 09/07/2024

Bethany N W

Everyone is always so nice and friendly and they love my pup, Lexi. Lexi gets all the love and pats and treats. Lexi sure loves the cheese whiz used to distract her when getting checked out. I'm so glad I chose Back Cove Animal Hospital for my Lexi Lou Who!!

posted: 10/29/2024

Nicole Feig

I don't live full time in Portland, but I'm there for the summers. Got connected to Back Cove through a referral and was quite impressed. Even though I was not a usual client, they got my dog an appointment immediately. The staff was very welcoming and friendly. The vet was knowledgeable and patient with all of my questions. Even provided local emergency options, if I was in a bind. The office is IMMACULATE!!! I was very impressed by it all.

posted: 08/26/2024

PJane

Dr Golden removed a surface MCT from Franklin Delano. Three years ago she performed a similar procedure with another one of my kiddens. That positive experience led me to choose BCAH and Dr Golden when it was discovered that Franklin Delano would need surgery. Both were excellent experiences with Back Cove AH! Hopefully there will be no need for future surgical care. However, any needs will be brought to BCAH! Franklin's recovery has been remarkable. He was back to baseline the following day with a clean incision area that looks fantastic. We are super thankful for the care provided to this tiny panther!

posted: 10/19/2024