St. Francis Hospital for Animals
4.8 (244) 1430 Montauk Hwy, Oakdale, NY 11769, USAHours:
Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at St. Francis Hospital for Animals
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 | 889 |
| 4.7 | ASPCA | 5,697 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 10,255 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 174 |
| 4.4 | Figo | 587 |
| 4.7 | Hartville | 164 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 7,475 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 781 |
| 3.2 | ManyPets | 11 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 424 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,391 |
| 4.3 | Pet Assure | 12 |
| 4.7 | PetPartners | 98 |
| 4.5 | Pets Best | 7,194 |
| 4.3 | Pumpkin | 54 |
| 4.7 | Spot | 160 |
| 4.8 | Trupanion | 55,007 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 124 |
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
Dr. Tom Polehinke and his entire staff have the most dedicated and compassionate team I’ve ever seen. You can tell everyone at Saint Francis has a deep love for all animals and will go beyond to ensure you and your furry family member(s) have the best visit possible. And can make even the most nervous animal feel safe during their time there. They provide great advise, recommendations, and services so your pet(s) live a long, healthy, and happy life. Cannot recommend them enough. My little menaces and I will never go anywhere else!
posted: 09/16/2023
My senior girl has Addison disease so we are at st Francis once a month for her injection, Denise is always so friendly and kind to Mollie! The staff is amazing I get to see them often
posted: 06/15/2023
We have been going here for a long as I can remember. With the original vets retirement (Dr.S and Dr.I) I still have that great confidence in Dr. P. The staff is always great and helpful. Well worth the ride for us and we live on the north shore. My wife has been in animal rescue for over 20 years and loves St. Francis as much as do. We always have multiple animals, and they are all treated amazing.
posted: 08/22/2023
Saint Francis is by far the best vets office on the island, I bring all of my animals here for 4 years now. One of my pups is a Dog Meat Trade survivor who is extremely fearful of people and can be difficult to deal with and they are always super understanding, handle her with care and make sure she's as comfortable as possible. The vet will never recommend anything she wouldn't use to treat her own animals which I always appreciate. They even sent us a sympathy card with our senior kitties paw print after she passed🥺 10/10 great people.
posted: 05/25/2023
Friendly staff, prices not bad..They have a separate dog entrance and cat entrance to the building so they don't have to be in the same waiting room! The doctor took her time and explained everything and was very gentle and understanding of our nervous puppies. They are kind and always ask how they are when I call for prescription renewals or if I have a question. The doctors and staff are just wonderful, caring people that you can tell love the animals they care for! I highly recommend this vet!
posted: 01/22/2023