Pet Care Specialists

4.7 (127)
3618 Howard Blvd, Columbus, NE 68601, USA

Hours:

Monday: 7:45 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 7:45 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 7:45 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 7:45 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 7:45 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Pet Care Specialists

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 11,414
4.9 Embrace 14,242
4.9 Fetch 2,055
4.4 Figo 2,580
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,156
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 5,275
4.9 Trupanion 60,301
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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Amanda Jonson

Our usual vet was out of town, and our ferret needed fluids to save his life. Pet Care was the only place willing to help. My family is so grateful for the wonderful staff there. They also board our business of ferrets every summer, and the staff is awesome. They play with them daily and look forward to seeing them every year.

posted: 06/21/2023

Sharayah White

Being a new resident of Columbus, NE, I was in need of a groomer for my dog. I asked for recommendations on where the best place in town was to get your dog groomed and more often than not, I was referred to Pet Care Specialists. The first time I called to ask questions about their services, I spoke to 3 different employees (2 of which were groomers) and no one could give me direct answers to my questions about pricing and grooming packages. Despite that negative experience, so many people swore that they were the best groomers in town, so I went ahead and scheduled an appointment. His first grooming appointment was in April. His haircut was okay. I wouldn't say it was bad, and my experience with the staff was way more positive than the first time I had spoken with them. So I went ahead and scheduled my dog's next appointment 3 months out, considering they get booked fairly quickly. Fast forward 3 months... No schedule reminder. I am luckily organized and had the appointment on my phone calendar and remembered so I called to make sure my appointment was still on, which it was. So I go in to drop my dog off for his appointment at about 7:50am. The woman at the front desk was very short in her demeanor and barely took any time to make sure we were both on the same page about what was being done. 8 hours later... I still had not received a call that my dog was finished. Getting worried that maybe my phone number was not correct on their end, I called and asked about getting phone calls when grooming appointments are complete. The answer I got was that I have to specify that I want a phone call when my dog is done.... Completely absurd response. They tell you to drop your dog off between 7:45am-8:30am on the day of the appointment and that is it. There is not a scheduled "time" for the grooming, just a scheduled day; therefore, how are you supposed to know when to expect to pick up your animal? So I rush to pick up my dog, not knowing how long he has been done. I walk in, and there are a couple of customers that were waiting on the bench for their pet and then me. I was not greeted ONE SINGLE TIME. When the receptionist is finally ready for me, she tells me my total and it was higher than the time before, so I thought that maybe my dog had some difficult mattes and therefore got charged for the extra time it took (which is customary at most groomers). Once she gives me the official receipt, I see that my bill was higher because my dog received a vaccination - WITHOUT my consent. When I questioned the receptionist about this, I was immediately greeted with an attitude that suggested that I was bothering her, but to be honest, I don't care! I asked if they had my correct phone number on file, and they did, and then wanted to know why I didn't receive a phone call to inform me that he needed a mandatory bordetella vaccine. Just to clarify, I am not against my animal being up to date on his vaccinations, however, they did not know if he truly needed the vaccination. The medical records I provided from my previous vet did not specify if the vaccination was a 6 month or 12 month bordetella vaccine. Therefore, why would you not to call to clarify?! Regardless, they refunded me for the vaccine and apologized, however, his haircut was uneven and there were pretty large spots that were missed on his legs and hind end. In short, I will be finding a new groomer that respects me and my pet and will be consistent with communication and information.

posted: 07/08/2019

Tamj Ligenza

Dr. Tracy Schultz is awesome. She always explains everything and asks if you have any questions for her. I trust my beloved animals care with this office, and not just with Dr.Schultz, all the vets here are great.

posted: 12/04/2022

David Grey

There was a dog hit by a vehicle on the Blvd. I called them for help and they rushed to my aid. They are awesome.

posted: 05/18/2023

Charles Case

Great people and Vets taking care of my pet.

posted: 06/02/2023