Big River Veterinary Service
Hours
How to Save on Veterinary Costs at Big River Veterinary Service
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 Big River Veterinary Service? 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.
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | Adoro | 19 |
| 4.5 | AKC | 1,801 |
| 4.4 | ASPCA | 12,239 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,987 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,940 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,870 |
| 4.4 | Hartville | 183 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 11,382 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 833 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,416 |
| 4.7 | MetLife | 11,354 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 25,736 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 121 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 15,366 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,873 |
| 4.7 | Pumpkin | 3,564 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 11,610 |
| 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
156 reviews
Dr. Cardozo and his team are the best. My dog went through TPLO surgery and I couldn't recommend them enough. Affordable compared to other vets for this particular surgery. My dog is back to her self and happy. Lola and I thank you!!
Sep 29, 2023
My pup Valak destroyed his knee. At 3 years old and extremely athletic I went for a consult at Big River. It was clearly explained which method would be the best fit and why by Dr Cardosa. A TPLO surgery was done and went very well. My pup is a shy guy yet at each visit he LOVED the staff because they met him where he was at. Now at 9 weeks post op I couldn't be happier! A big thank you to the entire team.
Mar 3, 2024
Wow! Dr. Cardosa and his staff are truly wonderful. They really love your pets as if they were their own. My boy Killer had a great experience having his knee surgery done at this hospital, and I look forward to using them for all of my pets future ortho needs (including Killer’s other knee!). They’re compassionate, affordable and can definitely be trusted with your furry friends
Aug 4, 2021
Our dog Ares had suddenly lost the use of his back legs and after countless visits to other vets and emergency services with no ability to diagnose, Big River immediately welcomed us in and within minutes knew exactly what was wrong! Not only that, but they checked in with us to see how he was doing on medication, and recommended we not go through the very expensive and risky procedures we thought we’d need due to his progress! With their help, our dog was able to heal fully and quickly, and is a healthy boy. They’re warm, welcoming, and so friendly. I’d never trust my babies with anyone else or go anywhere else! Well worth the drive from Johnston for me!
Mar 18, 2023
Our pup Mr. Bingley got both of his CCL's repaired here. Dr. Dan and his staff were AMAZING. When going over our options they never pushed the more expensive one--which is generally recommended for dogs Bingley's size and were understanding that even the cheapest option was tough for us to pay for. When we ended up choosing that cheaper option they asked many questions to ensure that it would work for our guy (luckily he's a couch potato) and supported us in that decision. Their prices are the best in the area and I found so much solace in the fact that I got to know the surgeon who would be operating on our boy. I trusted them all with Bingley's life and even though it was scary leaving him there, I knew he was in the best hands. Bingley does not do well waking up from anesthesia so each time we had to pick up him up soon after he woke up. Before we got there they loved on him and tried to comfort him as best they could. Bingley struggled a bit (I did to) for the first few days after his surgery and they always answered my multiple phone calls a day with kindness, calm voices and a wealth of information and comforting advice. When Bingley needed his other knee done we called them to set it up without hesitation. Big River Vet will always be my first phone call if any of my dogs need surgery in the future and I cannot say enough good things about them.
Jan 5, 2019