Island Veterinary Hospital
Hours
How to Save on Veterinary Costs at Island Veterinary 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 Island Veterinary 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.
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | Adoro | 19 |
| 4.5 | AKC | 1,801 |
| 4.4 | ASPCA | 12,227 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,970 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,909 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,868 |
| 4.4 | Hartville | 183 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 11,371 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 833 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,416 |
| 4.7 | MetLife | 11,221 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 25,693 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 121 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 15,328 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,865 |
| 4.7 | Pumpkin | 3,539 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 11,570 |
| 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.
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Reviews from Google
108 reviews
Dr. Balbour has been taking care of my fur babies for a very, very long time. She is AMAZING. She is extremely knowledgeable, caring, and honest. She takes care of your pets the way she would take care of her own. And, she is large breed friendly which in my experience, is not always the case. I can not express enough how much I value her.
Jan 16, 2023
Best Vet I have ever used. The whole staff is amazing. Dr. Balbour always shows concern & takes her time. Best bedside manners Iv ever experienced. I would never trust my dogs with any other vet💓
Feb 9, 2023
Great place. Very friendly. They care about your pet as if it was their's. Very clean and convenient.
Jul 8, 2023
Wow. I can not believe it took me so long to find Dr. Balbour and her staff. I have a 12 year old Morkie Cutie, name Charles Crawford. He is my angel, my heart and goes everywhere he can with me. He is a cancer survivor and just one amazing little fellow. Unfortunately, he has some other issues that seem to be advancing with age such as Cushing's Disease and a collapsing trachea. After many years at another Vet, I decided that I needed to reach out to someone closer to where I live at the moment. I am a Graduate Student at Stony Brook University. So, after much thought I took little Charlie to Island Veterinary. After the visit, I was in tears from pure gratitude. Dr. Balbour was soooo affirming and knowledgeable. She countered certain things I had been told about what I can and can not do to give my pup life longevity. She helped me to change his diet, which actually has worked and so much more. She spent a very long time with us and I did not feel rushed. Dana at the front desk and the rest of the staff were just as amazing. I was so impressed and once again, grateful to them all.
Jan 27, 2023
Dr Balbour cares for both of our feline friends with care and professionalism. Her staff is wonderful. Today we made the difficult decision regarding our older cat, who was quite ill. Dr Barbour and her staff handled our sweetie and our grief with kindness and compassion.
Aug 21, 2021