J M Ritchie Veterinary Hospital

4.9 (50)
1335 N Atherton St, State College, PA 16803, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at J M Ritchie 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 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 889
4.7 ASPCA 11,414
4.9 Embrace 14,242
4.9 Fetch 2,055
4.4 Figo 2,580
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,156
4.6 MetLife 493
4.8 Nationwide 21,393
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 110
4.5 Pets Best 7,196
4.3 Pumpkin 1,163
4.7 Spot 5,275
4.9 Trupanion 60,301
4.8 Prudent Pet 125

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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Shin Eva Solji

Extremely helpful and attentive. My constipated cat was cured in just five days. The waiting was long, but it was worth waiting. Their service was even better than human hospitals. Five stars!

posted: 07/21/2023

Bethany Haddock

The staff here is really nice, but I will not be returning. I adopted a kitten in December and brought him in January with signs of an upper respiratory infection. The vet, for some reason, administered a vaccine that he didn’t need, and “prescribed” lysine supplements for $28 that I can get on chewy or any pet store for significantly cheaper (the exact same brand). They charged me $30 for a stool sample, to which they did nothing with, so I ended up dishing out so much money on things that weren’t necessary, and asked me to provide another stool sample at the next visit. Lastly, the vet told me that my cat should be eating 1/3 cup of food a day, maximum. That’s unacceptable for a growing kitten. I had high hopes for the place, but was sadly disappointed. However, the staff was very nice, so my stars go to them. This place might by a good match for others, but not for me and my kitty.

posted: 03/06/2023

Lee Denny

I can't say enough good things about Dr Ritchie and her team. I have a 1 year old Basset Hound that has had to see Dr Ritchie for several various things in his short life so far, and every time has been so easy. He LOVES going to see them almost as much as going to the park. Even when he was neutered about a week ago, he still came out tail wagging and happy. Anytime I've had a question, or was being a bit of a helicopter dog mom, Jess and Dr Ritchie were absolutely on top of it and reassured me. I did quite a bit of research before bringing home my dog as a puppy and hands down I can say Dr Ritchie is the best Vet in the area. Veterinary medicine is an intensly stressful calling but Dr Ritchie and her team handle it with grace and a smile. Gus and I love them! ❤

posted: 11/01/2021

Jules Loesch

Dr. Ritchie is the best! My dog loves going to the vet (he might be defective). Dr. Ritchie is very calming as well as Jess and the rest of the staff and I believe that is what contributes to my dog actually wanting to go to the vet. He is excited to go in. I have been fortunate that he has not had any major concerns but the ones that this overreactive dog dad has they quickly address and relax my mind. I’ve used them for dental cleanings as well and their rates are very competitive. So glad I made the switch!

posted: 10/25/2019

Laura Van Velsor

Doctor Ritchie is basically a part of my family at this point. I’ve been taking my dogs and cats to her for 8 years, plus the occasional stray I find. She has helped my fur babies not just medically but also ease their worries around nail trims. She is so extraordinarily supportive in difficult times and I feel so lucky to have her amazing care for my dogs and cats!!

posted: 05/31/2019