Animal Tales Veterinary Clinic

4.7 (205)
3302 S Belt Hwy, St Joseph, MO 64503, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Animal Tales 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 5,697
4.9 Embrace 10,255
4.9 Fetch 174
4.4 Figo 587
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,475
4.9 Lemonade 781
3.2 ManyPets 11
4.6 MetLife 424
4.8 Nationwide 21,391
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 98
4.5 Pets Best 7,194
4.3 Pumpkin 54
4.7 Spot 160
4.8 Trupanion 55,007
4.8 Prudent Pet 124

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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Gina Pennington

Animal Tales is my vet, has been for over 2 years. My first dog died on Christmas day 2022 😢. They were amazing and still remember him by name. (Bam) My new puppy just got spayed there last week. They did an amazing job! She is recovering beautifully. The ladies in the front are super sweet and the Vet Knows what he is doing 🤓 I would recommend Animal Tales to anyone who is looking for a nice place to take your fur babies.

posted: 04/09/2023

Melissa Buckler

Animal Tales is the best experience I have ever had with a veterinary team. They are super friendly, helpful, and always show so much care toward my fur babies. Dr. Jim is nothing short of amazing! He always takes time for my timid girl to warm up to him by giving her treats. I have taken my pets to him for everything from regular check-ups to surgeries to unfortunately having to put one of my babies to sleep. Dr. Jim and his staff are full of compassion and knowledge. I am very grateful for them!

posted: 03/02/2023

Kayla Taylor

Dr. Jim and his team are the absolute best! I am in the office frequently due to having three dogs. We’re always treated like family, and my dogs love the staff. From checkups to teeth cleanings to neutering, etc., Dr. Jim is very thorough and has always provided my dogs with the best care throughout the years. After having a horrible experience at another vet, I’m so thankful I found Animal Tales- a vet I truly trust. I’d like to thank Dr. Jim, Carol, Kinsey, Hannah, Jacob, Kaitlyn, and the rest of the AT staff for your hard work, kindness, and compassion towards my babies through both good days and heartbreak. You are greatly appreciated, and I will always highly recommend Animal Tales to anyone looking for a new vet!

posted: 03/02/2023

JoAnn Zynda

I love this vet! Friendly & knowledgeable staff. Reasonably priced. They are awesome to work with and genuinely care about our pets.

posted: 06/15/2023

Teri

HIGHLY RECOMMEND Had an emergency with my bestest friend The vet I had been taking her to has a front desk last week thinks she knows everything and damn near cost my girls life. After calling "close by" and desperately trying to find a surgical hospital to do her hysterectomy - and dealing with horrible judgemental uninterested receptionists at several other closer vets - I made the call to Animal Tales over an hour away I was greeted by a gal who actually listened, cared and made a spot for my girl as quickly as she could Her surgery went well and I'm so glad she's now ok and on the road to being herself and well Highly recommend - I'm so grateful to have found them

posted: 06/19/2023