Riverside Veterinary Care on Columbus
4.8 (368) 428 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Riverside Veterinary Care on Columbus
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:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | AKC | 895 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 12,067 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,675 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,109 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,814 |
| 4.5 | Hartville | 179 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,919 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 819 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,413 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 7,195 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,418 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 120 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 14,554 |
| 4.8 | Pumpkin | 2,913 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 10,498 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 58,886 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,601 |
Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.
Thinking of insuring your pet?
Get Quotes & CompareGetting 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
I was bracing for exorbitant costs for a routine mature lady cat checkup. Dr Ball was really nice, patient, and reasonable. She is also a very good educator and I think all pet parents would benefit from all her helpful advice and care. The staff, as usual, were kind and friendly. I was quite pleased with the appointment. The experience made me want to come back and have Dr Ball keep taking care of Mochi to provide the best quality of life for the cat. Thank you!
posted: 02/13/2026
Dr. Ratcliff and the staff at Riverside Vet Care are absolutely incredible. I highly recommend them for your pet! I have two medically-challenging cats, and Dr. Ratcliff has gone above and beyond to brainstorm, test, and discover the best ways to treat their complex issues. The office is very clean and has a separate cat waiting room in the back. The staff is very responsive both by phone and email. When I needed to take one of my cats to Blue Pearl in an emergency, RVCOC immediately sent my cat’s records and followed up with Blue Pearl directly to get all the information they needed to treat him after he came home. They also recommended an at-home service to come check my cat’s blood pressure because the trips to the vet are so tough for him. They have always been upfront with me about cost - no surprises, although I know that can happen sometimes. After the past few years, I now trust Dr. Ratcliff implicitly and look forward to continuing my cats’ care with her!
posted: 01/09/2026
Very happy to make Riverside Vet Care my new vet. They took great care of my cat, I was in the room with him the whole time, and they explained everything very well and were extremely gentle with him.
posted: 12/25/2025
Dr. Ratcliff is excellent and provided thorough care. Over the course of one month, I saw two other vets at this clinic for exams and blood work, but significant findings were missed. When I took my cat to an animal ER and soon she was diagnosed with cancer, and the veterinarian in the hospital was able to palpate tumors in her back legs. The staff is kind, but accurate diagnosis requires careful examination.
posted: 01/16/2026
Brought my dog Bruno today for an ear infection. We have a vet upstate where we live most of the time, but I had never gone to a city vet before. Everyone here was so friendly - the front desk, the 2 techs Mackenzie and Elizabeth, and the vet herself Dr Toll, who has the kindest demeanor and quiet intelligence , ie not a braggart- I wanted her to take care of me! They were excellent with Bruno. Much appreciated!
posted: 12/17/2025
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