Ark Animal Hospital
4.3 (462) 1011 6th Ave N, Surfside Beach, SC 29575, USAHours:
Monday: Closed
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 – 1:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Ark 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:
| 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 & CompareGetting 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
Shelly and Karen are excellent, but they work up front. Unfortunately, they aren’t the reason you go to the vet. Took my elderly dog for an overall check up and the vet couldn’t be bothered. She barely looked at her and when I requested she look at her ears because they seemed to be bothering her. She literally lifted each ear and said they were fine. I’m not a medical person, but shouldn’t you use an otoscope to check? Disappointing because it used to be such a great place.
posted: 08/02/2023
I appreciate the veterinarian and staff at Ark Animal Hospital! Friendly and caring! I feel that my pet is in great hands and well-taken care of!
posted: 07/13/2023
Had a great experience at Ark. After trying for 2 days and calling 5 vets, they were the only ones able to squeeze us into their already tight schedule, and on a Saturday no less. All other vets i would have to wait 2 weeks. I was warned i would have to wait since the vet was triple booked, but the wait was not even bad at all. Every person in the office was extremely friendly. Price was very reasonable as well, i was actually shocked.
posted: 04/01/2023
My elderly sick pet did not get the attention she deserved. We have been clients of ark for almost 25 years. We did not feel like a priority at all. I went to a different vet and they gave my pet the attention she needed. Ark was incredibly disappointing and contributed to my pets suffering. They saw our pet and did not properly diagnose her. They also did not keep her and give her fluids when she needed them. Do not go to them! Just because they’ve been here a long time doesn’t mean anything! We used to love them. They literally suck now.
posted: 06/19/2023
My dog has been going here for 6 years. We recently moved to another area, and I needed to get a prescription refill for her flea/tick meds. I called to see if they could send them or approve a chewy delivery as an exception. I was told she hadn't seen the vet within the past year. I had her there in August 2022, called yesterday (July 12, 2023). They said she didn't see a vet since 2021. When we took her in 2022, I made the appointment for her yearly visit, and shots. Husband waited in the car while they took her into the building. I was told over the phone yesterday that she saw the vet tech in 2022. She had her rabies shot, and other vaccines and tests. My understanding from my daughter in law who worked as a vet tech in SC is that only a vet can give a rabies shot. So how is it that she only saw the tech. I would not have approved an appointment without a vet checkup. Due to their mix up, Ark will not give her flea/tick meds even though they have been giving me her meds monthly for the entirety of the 6 years we've been going there. If they couldn't do it because she didn't see a vet since 2021 (even though she got all her shots and meds from them in 2022), how could they legally give us her meds for the past year? She cannot be seen in my current location for 2 months. Now my 14 yr old dog cannot get her needed flea/tick meds for 2 months. They do not care about the animal, they only care about the $.
posted: 07/13/2023