St. Francis Hospital for Animals

4.8 (244 reviews)
1430 Montauk Hwy, Oakdale, NY 11769, USA

Hours

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 on Veterinary Costs at St. Francis Hospital for Animals

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 St. Francis Hospital for Animals? 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
4.7 Adoro 11
4.5 AKC 1,798
4.4 ASPCA 12,182
4.9 Embrace 19,907
4.9 Fetch 5,691
4.1 Figo 2,852
4.4 Hartville 182
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,260
4.8 Lemonade 831
4.6 ManyPets 2,414
4.7 MetLife 10,344
4.8 Nationwide 25,431
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 15,132
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,811
4.7 Pumpkin 3,393
4.6 Spot 11,341
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

4.8

244 reviews

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!

Sep 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

Jun 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.

Aug 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.

May 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!

Jan 22, 2023