The Rapids Veterinary Hospital

4.5 (124)
1403 Michigan Ave, Sarnia, ON N7S 0B1, Canada

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at The Rapids Veterinary Hospital

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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Jess Robitaille

We have been going to the Rapids since we got our first dog in 2015. The vets and vet techs have always been great. But what happen last week still has me so thankful for the service we received. We called the vet needing an emergency visit with our senior boy. They got us in right away, and unfortunately Dr. Iacobelli delivered that devastating news every pet owner dreads. The time had to come to say goodbye to our handsome boy. We were beside ourselves with grief but were both very certain we wanted the deed to happen at home. Dr. Iacobelli informed they were fully booked that day, but he would be willing to come to our house on his lunch break to make our boy’s passing more comfortable for him and us. Just after noon him Amelia showed up and our boy passed comfortably at home. They also gave us a couple minutes with him after to have our other dog come and say goodbye to her brother. Making his passing also easier on her. We truthfully cannot thank Dr. Iacobelli and Amelia enough for making such an absolutely horrific day, just a little bit easier on everyone in our family. Their compassion and professionalism are unmatched. Thank you to the Rapids for always taking such good care of Bayne over the years and making his last moments on earth peaceful.

posted: 10/04/2024

Chris Seager

Highly recommend this clinic! Very caring vets and staff. Special thanks to Dr. Iacobelli for his awesome patience and experience when we had to put our Golden down recently. Very sad, but Dr. Iacobelli made a difficult time much easier. We are grateful for this clinic's care over the years.

posted: 07/26/2024

Erica Chisholm

Very thankful to have my boys be patients of this clinic. Dr. Tanya has been extraordinary with my sick complicated boy, always completes a great assessment and makes a worried dog mom feel very comfortable that he is getting the best care. My boy has seen many vets in this clinic and have always had great experiences. Highly recommend!

posted: 04/25/2023

Amanda L

I have been with this veterinary since I moved here 6 years ago. They took care of my two dogs, and when both sadly passed away I received cards with their paw prints, and signatures with condolences from the whole office. You have no idea how much that meant! I now have a puppy and love the time they spent explaining everything and making sure I was given the upmost care. They also do a courtesy call to make sure your pet was feeling OK after their visit especially if they've had shots.

posted: 04/06/2023

leonard Boy

Took my cat Lenny in for an an emergency visit today. The vets and staff couldn't have been more accommodating, and I'm pleased to announce my boy seems to have made a full recovery.! Thank you so much to everyone at The Rapids vet hospital!

posted: 06/06/2024