Black River Veterinary Hospital

4.8 (339)
114 US-206, Chester, NJ 07930, USA

Hours:

Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Black River Veterinary Hospital

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 2025
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 894
4.5 ASPCA 12,057
4.9 Embrace 20,305
4.9 Fetch 27,409
4.1 Figo 2,786
4.5 Hartville 177
4.9 Healthy Paws 10,736
4.8 Lemonade 815
4.6 ManyPets 2,428
4.6 MetLife 5,637
4.8 Nationwide 21,417
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.4 PetPartners 117
4.3 Pets Best 14,113
4.7 Pumpkin 2,549
4.6 Spot 9,855
4.8 Trupanion 62,914
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,445

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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David Baldwin

So far so good, this is my first dog but they make me feel sure and confident when I'm in there. They made a sweet little sign on the way in for our first visit.

posted: 06/30/2025

Heather Steinberg

Brought my Great Dane Ozzy to see Dr. Zeliff who is an absolutely wonderful human being & Doctor ! She was so good with him, he was nervous & warmed up to her quickly. She truly has a gift that we are blessed to experience with our pets! Thank you Black River Vet & Dr Z !!!

posted: 06/19/2025

Andrea Varughese

For over 20 years, the doctors and staff at Black River Veterinary Hospital (BRVH) have been an essential part of our lives, caring for our two beloved dogs, Santiago and Murray, through every stage of their lives. Their compassion, professionalism, and unwavering dedication have made all the difference in the health and happiness of our pets. From routine wellness visits to more complex medical care, we have always felt that our dogs were in the best possible hands. The veterinarians take the time to explain conditions and treatment options with clarity and patience, never rushing through appointments and always showing genuine concern. The support staff is equally outstanding—kind, knowledgeable, and always ready with a comforting word or helpful advice. It’s rare to find a place where the people treat your pets like their own family, but that’s exactly what BRVH has done for us time and again. We are deeply grateful, especially during the times we said goodbye to both our furry friends. We wouldn’t trust anyone else with our animals. Thank you.

posted: 06/04/2025

Samantha Merton

My family has been bringing our dogs to Dr. Tack my whole life and he has always been amazing. I've since moved out and have three dogs of my own who I continue to bring here, despite now living 30 minutes away and having several vets much closer to where I live. I have a rescue pitbull who does better with females so we began seeing Dr. Gano and I can't find the words to express how amazing she's been. After a middle of the night trip to an emergency vet, we discovered he was in heart failure and left that vet thinking we were going to have to let our baby cross the rainbow bridge. We decided to come see Dr. Gano for a second opinion and it was the best decision we've ever made. She truly cares about your pet and you feel that the moment she walks in the room. I could write an entire book with examples on why she's so amazing. I know my babies are in good hands when I bring them here.

posted: 04/23/2025

Garry Del Greco

Always a pleasure to bring out Jack Russel to be cared for here. The Vets are caring and professional as well as the staff

posted: 05/28/2025