Paws Purrs & Exotics Animal Hospital

3.8 (139)
5838A N Kings Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22303, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Paws Purrs & Exotics 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 11,411
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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Vanessa L.

One thing that stands out about this place is that staff always answers their phones and is always friendly and great at responding to emails and voicemails. I really appreciate that they ensure to maintain great communication. One other thing is that this is the only vet that sees small exotic animals in the area which is great for those of us who cannot drive far away to see an exotic vet. I also appreciate ample availability for appointments and flexibility in rescheduling appointments. Very accommodating office. I had a rat tumor removal on an elderly rat which was a risky procedure which I was unsure if she would survive. So far 24 hours later she is running around and happy as can be like nothing happened. And this was a huge invasive tumor on her belly. I’m impressed with the doctors precision and expertise to perform such a surgery on a tiny fragile animal. Update: Came back in for post surgery update and Deanne was very friendly and helpful and let me sit inside since I mentioned I did not have a car to wait in. I found this very considerate since it was freezing today. The doctor gave great post care advice and was very pleasant to speak to today. Love this vet, been here years ago at the Old Town location and glad to be back again years later.

posted: 05/26/2023

Elizabeth Lingafelt

I have had several incredibly positive experiences with this vet regarding a bizarre growth my daughters leopard gecko had. Everyone who answers the phone is very nice and helpful, the techs are knowledgeable, personable, genuinely care, and Dr. Vyfhuis is fantastic! I am beyond grateful they have taken such good care of our 🦎

posted: 08/07/2023

Roy C

After seeing the review regarding the bad ear cropping I was afraid that I won’t be satisfied by the ear cropping, until I saw a great end result!! This is my dog Indica with her ear cropped the exact way I wanted it to be. Thank you PPEAH team! You did a GREAT job!

posted: 03/13/2023

W Rivas

Horrible place they butchered my dogs ear crop!! They’ll take you money and treat your pet horribly, and not take responsibility for their action. Dr. V was suppose to crop my cane corso’s ears but he butchered them and gave me Grimlin, Bat, Gargoyle, dumbo ears .. I’ve added 2 picture after taking my puppy to a real vet and paying again to have them redone, This time professionally, I asked to get a partial refund. But got offended and DR. V said they were “perfect”. You can be the judge, the pictures don’t lie. Save your money and the headache, Drive the extra mile and go else where!!

posted: 02/24/2022

Jordan Reabold

They take such good, attentive care of my rabbit. They’re communicative and transparent, whether I’m talking to the receptionist or the doctor. They charge less than other vets and provide higher quality care than I’ve experienced elsewhere. I trust them completely.

posted: 04/11/2023