South Congress Veterinary

4.7 (169)
3300 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 2:00 – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 2:00 – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 2:00 – 5:30 PM

Friday: 8:00 – 11:30 AM, 2:00 – 5:30 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at South Congress Veterinary

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 11,411
4.9 Embrace 14,234
4.9 Fetch 2,051
4.4 Figo 2,579
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,153
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 5,260
4.9 Trupanion 60,297
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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Sutton Giese

Honestly, everyone here could not be nicer. Betsy is just amazing to my boy Lloyd. This place keeps their prices low by not getting fancy or new equipment. Also, I would pay a little more just to make sure that they stay in business. They’re so great, and keep prices reasonable so that everyone can afford to take great care of their babies. They really do care about your dog and are not interested in recommending things just to drive up the price. They do only what’s right for your little buddy.

posted: 02/21/2024

shannon viscardi

The outside of course looks old and rundown but I figured I would give it a chance. The inside waiting area wasn't the best but not too horrible. When we were brought into the exam room, I felt grossed out. The chairs are stained and tore up looking. The table looks old and dirty, floor boards dirty..basically everything looked gross. I didn't want to sit down. How hard is it to clean up and make it look somewhat decent. I def don't feel comfortable leaving my dog with them for dental cleaning based off the unsanitary conditions I don't care how much cheaper they are. Lady in front was really not that friendly either like everyone says..vet was nice though. Not sure if the thermometer was clean because I saw them put it back in the drawer after use but I'm not sure if they cleaned it after but I don't think they did.

posted: 09/30/2021

Angela Hall

Would give more stars if I could. This place is a no frills/all love Austin institution. Dr. Bruce and his amazing staff have been taking care of my dogs for years now. They have the best prices in town. My dog's dental appointments at South Congress cost about $150 and we're always pleased with the results. (My senior Yorkie's teeth have literally fallen out over the yrs, which is why her tongue hangs out. But after her latest cleaning and extraction of some very rotten teeth, she can give us fresh kisses again! This is her after excitedly eating kibble mixed with soft food right after surgery. She's not used to soft food and managed to get it everywhere!) Her big brother was happy to lick up the mess.

posted: 03/29/2019

Brandon Dennin

Dr. Hardesty and his staff love nothing more than your fur babies. Any other review that says less is lying. He went to vet school at Texas A&M (though I’m a longhorn) which is one of the best vet schools nationwide. Yes, the clinic may not be all fancy but they care for your pets and will not charge you stupid fees. He does amazing work with my 80lb pitbull. If you want good service and care for the best price go to Dr. Hardesty.

posted: 09/08/2023

E C
E C

I definitely recommend Dr. Hardesty!! As we all look for a Vet to care for our fur babies, we look for someone that is compassionate and truly cares about your baby/babies. Dr. Hardesty has been our Vet for a few years now and we just love him!! He is amazing with our pets and is very caring! The place may not seem like a fancy Vet office like some of the others, they have been around for a very long time. I was skeptical at first, but once I gave them a chance I knew I would be going there as long as I lived in the Austin area. The prices are great and like I said before, Dr. Hardesty is a very caring and loving doctor. He truly cares about my babies! I recently had to take my dog in for a hematoma on his ear. He was seen and was told the cost and to my amazement it was 99% much cheaper then the first time he got one on his other ear and the quote we got from another Vet! I have to also add that Betsey and Arlene are amazing, caring and very sweet! Like I said I know the building and the inside doesn't look appealing to most, but if you can look past that you will find a Vet and staff that really does care about your pet/pets as they do. My advice to those not so happy at not being able to get in right away! Make sure you have a back up plan. As with all other Vet offices they too can't always get you in when you want. We need to find a back up just in case. You never know when emergencies arise and sometimes these Vets are completely booked and have no appointments when we need one. Thank you Dr. Hardesty and your staff for always caring for our fur babies! We really do appreciate all you!!

posted: 02/12/2021