Veterinary Specialty Services

4.3 (1490)
1021 Howard George Dr, Manchester, MO 63021, USA

Hours:

Monday: Open 24 hours

Tuesday: Open 24 hours

Wednesday: Open 24 hours

Thursday: Open 24 hours

Friday: Open 24 hours

Saturday: Open 24 hours

Sunday: Open 24 hours

How to Save Money at Veterinary Specialty Services

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 12,100
4.9 Embrace 19,757
4.9 Fetch 5,327
4.1 Figo 2,831
4.5 Hartville 179
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,028
4.8 Lemonade 822
4.6 ManyPets 2,413
4.7 MetLife 8,294
4.8 Nationwide 24,771
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 8,891
4.8 Pumpkin 3,077
4.6 Spot 10,830
4.9 Trupanion 55,032
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,671
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

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Lucas Beard

I had to make the unfortunate decision to say goodbye to my best friend last week. Every single person I interacted with from the appointment all the way to picking up her ashes were fantastic, and beyond compassionate. I’m sure, unfortunately, this is something the staff must handle relatively frequently but they made sure to give me every option, the full transparent details and made my last moments feel special.

posted: 04/04/2024

Kristin Hagedorn

So thankful I had a place to take my sick Puggle late at night when my vet was closed! My Nellie was in so much pain, I thought I was losing her. The vet that helped us, forgot her name, was so understanding and explained things so well. She got down on the floor with my Puggle to be on her level when she wanted to see her walk. I thought Nellie had sprained her back when it was a disc issue. The vets gave her the diagnosis of intervertebral disc disease. I'd never even heard of it. When I brought her in, she was unable to lift her head, she had muscle spasms on each side of her neck and her head would twitch, she was panting non stop and wouldn't lie down. After a two day stay in the care of VSS, she came home a different dog! I know if you've ever had a dog in extreme pain, you'll do just about anything to ease their suffering.... This is the place to go for great care. The communication was above average as well. I did not expect them to automatically reach out to me and give me updates. This also told me that Nellie had multiple people helping her, alas different opinions and practices. It just couldn't have been better for Nellie. I feel very badly for the people that can't afford their vet bills, I would have been one if not for our recent tax refund. My bill was alot, but not extraordinary and not even as much as the estimate. I have to agree with the poor attitude from behind the counter though. Another review mentioned it and I agree, could have been nicer and more welcoming and compassionate. But I won't take anything away from a prefect review because of them. Maybe they were just tired. My Puggle is on the mend and almost back to her normal self (she has to rest for 4 to 6 weeks). So grateful. Many thanks to all the vets and techs that took care of my Nellie. ❤️💕

posted: 05/05/2024

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Outstanding care rendered. Dr. Allison and staff were extremely welcoming, gentle and compassionate with my mom’s dog. They could not have been more accommodating, and we were treated like family. I had gotten lost en route, and Kayla guided me to the building via the phone. Thanks to Jamie as well for her compassion. Truly amazing service! The facility was well organized and immaculate in appearance. Highly recommend!!

posted: 02/22/2024

Jennifer Orton

I was in town for a dog show, when one of my Poodles began acting unwell. We rushed him 40 minutes to VSS after calling to say he was bloating. When we arrived, they were ready for us, they took immediate X-rays and labs and got him ready for surgery. He is alive and well and home with his family because he received excellent and immediate care.

posted: 04/27/2024

Robin Breen

I took my dog in Sunday night. The staff was very nice and Dr. Abby Whiting was absolutely amazing. However, as I was leaving I spoke with a young woman that was crying. As she and her dog were going outside, I saw that her dog left a trail of blood and was bleeding rectally. I asked her what was wrong and she stated that the clinic wouldn't care for her pet because she didn't have the money and she was denied care credit. I thought how terrible is it that they would refuse an animal in such terrible condition. I took her back inside and asked how much the dogs care would be. It was a mere $284, I asked if it could be discounted in any way and they also refused that. I was also told if they saw everyone who came in and couldn't pay the clinic would go broke. How often do you think this really happens? I was extremely taken back by the lack of empathy or concern that they had for this sick animal and it's owner. I paid for the pet to be seen and taken care of and asked for nothing in return. I was thankful to God that I could help, It's the least I could do in such a harsh world that we now live in. I give this clinic a 3 stars for this reason.

posted: 04/23/2024