Dirigo Veterinary Care
4.8 (41) 14 Waterville Commons Drive, Waterville, ME 04901, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Dirigo Veterinary Care
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 | 5,175 |
| 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 | 14,599 |
| 4.8 | Pumpkin | 2,937 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 10,559 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 58,937 |
| 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
I cannot recommend Dirigo Veterinary Clinic, and specifically Dr. Townsend, highly enough. After using several different veterinarians over the years, Dr. Townsend is hands-down the best I have ever encountered. He has been absolutely amazing with both of my dogs. They genuinely love coming to see him—which, as any pet owner knows, speaks volumes about his calm and compassionate demeanor. He makes veterinary visits a positive experience! Beyond his rapport with my dogs, Dr. Townsend is super knowledgeable. I trust his expertise and recommendations completely, knowing he always has the best interest of my pets in mind. His explanations are always clear, and I feel incredibly confident following his guidance. My dogs are in the best hands possible here. Furthermore, the entire staff at Dirigo is professional, kind, and clearly dedicated to providing excellent care. I am incredibly impressed with Dr. Townsend and the whole team! They truly set the standard for veterinary excellence.
posted: 11/07/2025
Today, my baby boy Jack (Jackie) came in with a scratch on his eye caused by his older sister. I called and spoke with Leslie, who was absolutely phenomenal. She immediately calmed me down and went out of her way to find another doctor who could see Jack the same day. Leslie even called me back when an appointment opened up, which saved me the expense and stress of going to a hospital and making a long drive. The care Jack received from Nurse Joanna and Dr. Munroe was exceptional—they were incredibly gentle and patient, which meant a lot since Jack can be quite temperamental. I am beyond grateful to have Dirigo Vets nearby. Their professionalism and kindness truly set them apart. Thank you to everyone at Dirigo Vets for your outstanding care and support.
posted: 08/21/2025
Dr Townsend is absolutely wonderful. My cat had a very thorough wellness exam and throughout he did his best to make her comfortable. She didn't even twitch when he gave her the rabies exam. You can tell he loves animals. There was no hurrying throughout, and my cat was calmer at the end than at the beginning. The staff is equally welcoming and caring. I can't say enough about how happy I am!
posted: 01/24/2025
Love love love this vet clinic. I have taken all of my cats here, and they love Dr. Brion (unless he does clementines ears first which we have learned he hates haha) I couldn't recommend a better vet clinic who actually not only cares for your animals but also you. Their care, compassion, and detail to my animals heath goes above and beyond everytime I go in for a checkup or shots for the furbabies, like making notes to do ears last for my drama king.
posted: 10/26/2025
I’ve had animals all my life and this is by far the best experience I have ever had with a veterinary clinic. Dr. Townsend came with very high recommendations from my 90 year old dairy farmer grandmother who has known him as a vet for many many years. He is experienced and knowledgeable and has given the very best care to my dog and 3 cats through surgeries, regular check ups and emergency visits. Dr. Townsend and every person on staff at Dirigo genuinely care about animals and their humans. They listen to me and treat me with respect. Appointments are easy to make and prices are very reasonable. The office is always busy but they have a magical way of giving you all the time and attention you need. I can’t recommend them enough!
posted: 08/21/2024
Veterinarians in Waterville, Maine
Animal Hospital of Waterville
20 Washington St, Waterville, ME 04901, USA(207) 873-2759
Chiasson Tim
20 Washington St, Waterville, ME 04901, USA(207) 873-2759
Dirigo Veterinary Care
14 Waterville Commons Drive, Waterville, ME 04901, USA(207) 618-8232
New England Animal Hospital
2 Pleasant St, Waterville, ME 04901, USA(207) 873-4668
PetVet Vaccination Clinic
10 Jfk Plaza, Waterville, ME 04901, USA(800) 427-7973