Sterner Veterinary Clinic

4.7 (1016)
575 Apple Tree Dr, Ionia, MI 48846, USA

Hours:

Monday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Sterner Veterinary Clinic

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 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 889
4.7 ASPCA 11,411
4.9 Embrace 14,234
4.9 Fetch 2,051
4.4 Figo 2,579
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,153
4.6 MetLife 493
4.8 Nationwide 21,393
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 110
4.5 Pets Best 7,196
4.3 Pumpkin 1,163
4.7 Spot 5,260
4.9 Trupanion 60,297
4.8 Prudent Pet 125

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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Kate Bek

The entire staff - from the front desk to the vet tech and Dr. Montgomery - was warm and friendly; and that makes a world of difference when you have stressed pets. The brand-new facility is welcoming, not overcrowded and impeccable. Pricing is incredible affordable. We’ve recently moved to West Michigan, and it’s taken us awhile to find an unpretentious vet team accepting new patients. This experience is definitely worth the quick drive to Ionia. Thanks for making our first visit a great one!!

posted: 01/01/2023

Sunny Tennant

I have had the pleasure of working with the wonderful individuals at Sterner Veterinary Clinic for nearly fifty years. I have been able to count on their honesty and excellent care for animals. It has been a blessing to work with individuals who understand that my animals are not just pets, but actual family members.

posted: 08/10/2023

Aimee Charles

I have been going to Sterners for as long as I can remember. I’ve had many pets and always trusted Sterners. The service for my pet is and always has been above expectations. But I’m sad to say a simple phone call interaction may have changed my opinion. I called to have someone send my pets vaccination record to a local boarding place so my pet could be boarded next month. The woman who took the call asked very shortly my name and pets name (I have multiple). She found the information and I requested it to be emailed and I can give the email address when ready. She then said with a very unfriendly tone “We have that”. I said perfect and asked if she needed anything else from me she said “no, I’ll take care of it” and immediately hung up the phone. No goodbye. No thank you for calling. Nothing. Very disappointed.

posted: 03/02/2023

Courtney T

This isn't our family vet, but we had to bring our dog here a couple of months ago to be put down (cancer 🥺) because our vet was shorthanded and didn't have availability. They were so sweet about everything. I've never had to put a dog down before and it was a super last minute appointment because she turned so bad overnight. They got us right in and I was so thankful for them and the kindness they showed us!

posted: 04/18/2023

Emily Myers

Dr. Scott has been amazing with our new addition! Very informative and knowledgeable!

posted: 07/20/2023