Griffin Animal Hospital

4.6 (208)
1510 Barnwell St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA

Hours:

Monday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Griffin Animal 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 11,392
4.9 Embrace 14,179
4.9 Fetch 1,995
4.4 Figo 2,561
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,475
4.9 Lemonade 781
3.2 ManyPets 2,145
4.6 MetLife 487
4.8 Nationwide 21,391
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 110
4.5 Pets Best 7,194
4.3 Pumpkin 1,131
4.7 Spot 5,194
4.9 Trupanion 60,280
4.8 Prudent Pet 124

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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Justin Kier

I would recommend Dr. Griffin and her staff to anyone looking for first rate veterinary care. Dr. Griffin has always demonstrated deep care and thoughtful diagnosis for our pets. It's clear she wants the best diagnosis and treatment for your furry family member. Her team was beyond wonderful in caring for our two dogs during their lives and assisting them across the Rainbow Bridge at their journey's end. My family will always be forever grateful to Dr. Griffin and her excellent team.

posted: 07/02/2023

Kaitlin Maroney

I am so, so grateful a friend recommended Griffin Animal Hospital. I use them for everything: normal vet appointments, "emergencies", and boarding, and I have always had the BEST experience. Dr. Griffin is the best - she's knowledgeable, friendly, kind, and caring. She has even called me herself to give me updates on my boy while boarding. Genise is the sweetest, makes me feel so comfortable, and always makes sure Bodie is well taken care of. My Australian Shepherd has had epilepsy since he was a puppy, and they went out of their way to give me a great referral and always make sure his needs (medicine 3x a day) are accommodated when boarding. It's safe to say, I HIGHLY recommend using them for your pet's needs :) I've recommended friends here and they all love them too. Thank you to the entire staff for everything you do and for taking excellent care of our fur babies. - Kaitlin and Bodie

posted: 06/15/2023

Nickolas King

I really appreciate the level of care Dr. Griffin, Sarah and team provided Stella, who underwent successful surgery. The team is professional, knowledgeable, and most of all caring. I wouldn’t imagine taking Stella anywhere else.

posted: 04/14/2023

Amanda Stewart

I highly recommend anyone that is in need of a vet to bring their dog or cat here! They have an amazing staff as both the ladies and gentlemen are absolutely amazing! they are simply one phone call away anytime I ever need them, and I could not trust anybody else around my dog like I could trust this place! I’m very thankful and blessed that my dog gets to be around all these kind people !! Thank you Dr. Griffin, and all the wonderful staff !

posted: 03/22/2023

Kaitlyn Speiser

My dog had been acting strange and clingy and shaking and I called Griffin Animal Hospital to get her seen and they insisted it was anxiety. I made an appointment anyway because I knew something was wrong, but I got a call the morning of my appointment telling me that I shouldn’t take my dog in because it was just anxiety. I took her in anyway and found out she had a double ear infection. My dog was in pain and sick for days and the staff made me feel like I was doing something wrong by wanting to take her in. I shouldn’t have had to beg the doctors to see my dog when I knew something was wrong with her. Throughout the whole experience, the staff acted annoyed when I called and tried to get help for my dog. I will be going somewhere else that takes better care of my dog and trusts me when I tell them that something is wrong.

posted: 08/05/2023