La Cueva Animal Hospital

4.5 (144 reviews)
8000 Paseo Del Norte Blvd NE Ste C11, Albuquerque, NM 87122, USA

Hours

Monday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday Closed Sunday Closed

How to Save on Veterinary Costs at La Cueva Animal Hospital

Preventive care

Routine wellness exams can help identify health issues early, often before they become more serious or expensive to treat. Regular checkups are one of the most effective ways to manage long term veterinary costs.

Compare prescription pricing

Some pet medications prescribed at veterinary clinics may also be available through local or online pharmacies. It can be helpful to compare pricing when appropriate to reduce ongoing medication costs.

Consider pet insurance

Pet insurance may help cover a portion of eligible veterinary expenses depending on the plan, including accidents, illnesses, and in some cases preventive care. Coverage details, reimbursement levels, and deductibles vary by provider.

Why Pet Insurance Information Appears on This Page

Looking for information about La Cueva Animal Hospital? This page also includes pet insurance resources to help pet parents understand how to prepare for unexpected veterinary expenses.

Veterinary care costs can vary widely depending on the type of visit, treatment, or emergency. Many pet parents explore pet insurance before they need it so they are better prepared when unexpected situations arise.

How to Choose a Pet Insurance Provider

Pet Insurance Review helps pet parents compare insurance providers using verified customer reviews and real-world experiences. Our tools make it easier to evaluate providers based on claims experience, service quality, and overall satisfaction.

We have collected more than 220,000 reviews from pet parents, creating one of the largest independent databases of pet insurance feedback available.

How rankings are determined

Unexpected veterinary expenses can happen at any clinic. The providers below are ranked using verified reviews submitted by real pet parents through Pet Insurance Review. Results reflect overall satisfaction, claims experience, and value based on real world feedback. Rankings are updated regularly as new reviews are submitted.

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2026
Rating Provider Total Review
4.8 Adoro 19
4.5 AKC 1,801
4.4 ASPCA 12,241
4.9 Embrace 19,993
4.9 Fetch 5,953
4.1 Figo 2,872
4.4 Hartville 183
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,393
4.8 Lemonade 833
4.6 ManyPets 2,416
4.7 MetLife 11,391
4.8 Nationwide 25,758
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 15,384
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,878
4.7 Pumpkin 3,592
4.6 Spot 11,639
4.9 Trupanion 55,033

Compare Pet Insurance Plans

You can compare coverage options from multiple providers to find a plan that fits your budget and your pet’s healthcare needs.


Getting to Know Your Veterinarian

Choosing a veterinarian is an important decision for pet parents. A strong vet relationship is built on trust, communication, and understanding your pet’s individual needs.

Experience

Ask whether the clinic has experience treating your specific type of pet, since care can vary between dogs, cats, and pocket pets.

Emergency Care Procedures

It’s helpful to understand how the clinic handles after-hours emergencies, including whether they provide emergency services or refer to nearby emergency hospitals.

Communication Preferences

Ask how the clinic communicates with pet parents, including updates, test results, and follow up questions.

Breed Specific Health Considerations

Some breeds may be more prone to certain health conditions. Early awareness can help with prevention and early treatment.

Facility Tour

If available, touring the clinic can help you and your pet feel more comfortable before the first visit.


Final Note

Pet care decisions often involve both medical and financial considerations. Having access to trusted veterinary information alongside pet insurance comparisons can help pet parents feel more confident when planning for their pet’s health and wellbeing.

Explore Topics

Reviews from Google

4.5

144 reviews

To add to my initial review after the response from the vet. Dr. Chalfant, I’ve read your response to my Google review and feel compelled to address several issues. Clearly, you and your supervisor, Bryan, have not been truthful. Bryan refused to fill the Semperico Trio for my dog unless I brought him in to be weighed, regardless of what the video shows. He never provided any other alternative and I, therefore, told him I wanted to speak to you. The client in the lobby couldn’t possibly have heard our entire conversation, at least not my end of it, but I know exactly what Bryan said and how he communicated with me. His dismissive attitude and tendency to talk over me mirrored your behavior during our phone call. I canceled my appointment for my dogs before seeing your response on Google. During our call, you made it clear that you considered me a nuisance rather than a valued client, showing no interest in resolving the issue or addressing my concerns. Your swift response to my review suggests that you had the time to engage but chose not to handle the situation properly when it mattered. Your actions today have made it evident that you and your clinic are not suited to care for my animals. The lack of respect, poor customer service, and absence of empathy have raised serious concerns about how you might treat my pets under stress. I will never return to your clinic. As a veterinarian, you set the standard for your team, and your handling of this situation reflects poorly on your ability to manage stress and communicate effectively. Your approach has not only failed to address my concerns but has also set a poor example for your staff. .......................................................................... No matter how short staffed or busy, it gives no right for the Supervisor and vet to be dismissive, rude, and condescending. And then, when I complained to the vet, she told me I was the one being difficult. Now my dogs will have to go without medicine they need bc I couldn't continue my conversation with the vet bc she was so disrespectful and rude. It is clear now why her Supervisor acted the way he did. It comes from the top. They just lost a great client.

Aug 22, 2024

This sweet girl was found on the streets and ended up in my home. The girl that was able to capture her took the doggie to a fire department to be scanned and no chip came up. She posted flyers, posted on FB lost and found and literally went house to house trying to find the owner. This sweet girl was emaciated only weighing 5 lbs. had been breed, mouth full of rotten teeth and had one blood shot eye where it should’ve been white. I enrolled her with pet insurance because she was in such bad shape. I’ve been going to La Cueva for 10 years and made an appointment to get much needed care for her. They scanned her and there was a chip. Michele at the front desk called the chip company and located the so-called owner. Mind you, she was never reported to the chip company as being lost, nor was she posted on any lost and found pages on FB. They literally took her away from me, my husband and I were not given the opportunity to say goodbye to her. I don’t understand how a veterinarian facility could give a dog back to a so-called owner in this shape. The picture only shows a portion of the state of health she was in. Now she will go back to being breed, a mouth full of rotten teeth and horrible care. Michelle should’ve filed with the city for neglect and not put her back into a horrible situation. The disgust I have for this faculty and Michelle is beyond any words that I can describe. I will now be looking for a different vet after 10 years.

Sep 1, 2023

I've been taking my fur babies here for 7 years now. This clinic is the best! Before here, we went through 6 different vets in Albuquerque. Our goal was to find the right care, love of animals, and honest, straightforward pricing balanced with necessity. Not just making each visit the most profitable with unnecessary tests/procedures, but being honest with absolutes. They may cost a smidgen more than the cheapest in town. However, you get what you pay for, and they won't charge or proceed with anything that is not a must. 5* +

Oct 24, 2023

Dr. Chalfant and the entire La Cueva team are phenomenal! They have quite literally save my dogs life and didn’t even hesitate to have us come in just 30 minutes before they were scheduled to close. They take their time with your pet and ensure they are giving the best care possible. We are so sad to be moving, but feel so lucky that we have been able to have La Cueva as our dog and cat’s vet.

Sep 6, 2023

I took my daughter and her boyfriend's puppy for her first round of shots as she is two months old. The girls at the front, the assistant in the waiting area for the vet to join us and the vet herself were pleasant and easy to understand. The offices were clean and had a few homemade keychains you could buy that were nicely done.

Aug 6, 2023