Balsam Veterinary Office

4.4 (33)
20 Balsam St unit #1, Collingwood, ON L9Y 4H7, Canada

Hours:

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Balsam Veterinary Office

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:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2025
Rating Provider Total Review
4.9 Fetch Canada 166
4.9 Furkin 348
4.1 Pets Plus Us 862
4.3 PHI Direct 31
4.8 Spot Canada 149
4.8 Trupanion Canada 25,888
1.0 Desjardins 1
5.0 OVMA 1
3.3 Peppermint 3
2.5 Petsecure 226
0.0 Sonnet 0

Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.

Thinking of insuring your pet?

Get Quotes & Compare

Getting 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

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Kristin Gorteman

Went for the first time today with our new cat. Very attentive, very thorough, no rushing, very interested in the animal. We just moved to Collingwood, so we will be taking our 2 dogs to this office as well.

posted: 05/14/2024

Maddie St Amand

So, so, so happy with my first visit to Balsam Veterinary Office! The receptionists here are second to none - friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, and so caring (Lauren and Lauren, you guys were the reason I decided to book here over any other clinic in the area. You two are phenomenal at your job and certainly go over and above, it is so appreciated! Can't believe how much you KNOW! You answered so many questions I had about my sick cat Cheddar and about Ace's sore toe.) Since I have moved cities quite a few times, I've dealt with many different vet clinics and have often found front desk staff to never be overly friendly or caring, so thank you for changing that for me. Dr Ardiel was kind, punctual, and very thorough with Ace. They took him in right away and we were in and out in about 30 minutes. When I got my bill, I was pleasantly surprised as well. We will definitely be making this office our home vet now that we have moved to CW. Thanks guys, for the advice, friendliness, treats, and exceptional care. You guys are the best!

posted: 08/12/2021

G. Spencer Ritchie

My wife Cindy and I have been clients with Balsam Veterinary in Collingwood for over 7 years now with our Labrador Retriever, Riley. They are consummate professionals and have always treated all of us with respect and compassion. We always say we never worry about Rileys' health due to the wonderful capabilites of Balsam Veterinary and Dr. Ardiel and her entire staff. We are always confident Riley is in excellent hands as a patient of Balsam Veterinary office and highly recommend them to take care of any of your pets. They also offer excellent grooming facilities so go ahead and work with them you are in "Great Hands".

posted: 09/07/2023

Deborah Finbow

I want to share my experiences with my elderly dog and our 7 month old puppy. Dr. Ardiel is so thorough and clearly really loves animals. My Poppy gets so excited when I say we are going to see Lauren, the Dr’s assistant. My animals are so precious and I know they receive the best and kindest attention when they are unwell or just for checkups. 🐾❤️ Definitely the extra mile!

posted: 07/20/2021

Nancy Ball

Wonderful .. Wonderful experience with Balsam Veterinary Office. Had been searching and searching for a groomer for our cat, and am so grateful to Balsam. The grooming experience for our cat was so good..and absolute positive experience..and the groomer was very knowledgeable and very skilled .. We are so pleased .. everyone at this office is absolutely lovely. Highly recommend.

posted: 08/16/2023