Shirlington Animal Hospital

4.7 (157)
2770 S Arlington Mill Dr, Arlington, VA 22206, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

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 – 2:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Shirlington 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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Sara Ann Alepin (Hartenstine)

Knowledgeable, thorough, and truly love your pet. The team at Shirlington Animal Hospital is incredible! My dog is partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair. The entire team is knowledgeable and has been helpful at every turn since he was injured. From skin issues to ear infections to manually expressing a bladder/bowel, they have helped us through it all. And, every time we go in, they are excited to see Clouseau - and he's THRILLED to see them, too!

posted: 10/19/2022

Alex Diaz-Ferguson

Began taking my two dogs here when we lived in Arlington and continued to get our vet care here even after moving to Capitol Heights, MD. Service is always great and all the staff is professional and courteous.

posted: 08/30/2023

Melissa Balazinski

This vet has been amazing to my two dogs since moving here 2 yrs ago. I have an older Boston who’s recently had some health issues and they have been so helpful and accommodating in trying to figure it out. When my French bulldog had a tumor they were able to remove it right away. They are always very communicative and great at explaining step by step what should be done in caring for my pets. They are a genuine caring team and for that I’m very appreciative.

posted: 01/07/2022

Sedef M. Buyukataman

I had been bringing my dogs here for two years, since I moved into the area. The staff is professional, the doctors seemed nice, but they’re not gonna be there for you when you need the most. I had taken my 10-year-old dog to the groomers next door when I picked him up the groomer inform me but my dog had been much more listless than normal and that she struggled to actually brush him down fully. I took him outside and he peed bright red. Terrified I rushed into the vet, my vet, next door for help. It was 5:34 pm on a Friday evening, their hours are listed til 6pm. When I walked in I was confronted by three young technicians I tried to explain what was happening. The first question was are you a patient here, it struck me as odd since I was coming in with an animal in need, but I responded yes and then I had just been in two weeks earlier for his annual check up. They told me they were closed and there was nothing they could do. They shoved a piece of paper with five or six emergency hospitals listed and told me to get out. No advice on what to do, no concern as to my animal and his general state, just get out. They even refused to try and contact a doctor, they didn’t touch my dog they just sat at their desks with a cold stare that let me know that all they wanted to do was go out for the night, I was bothering them and my dog could die for all they cared. Oh and they didn’t have any time free to see him the next morning, I was on my own to figure it out. I finally found an emergency clinic who could take us. My dear angel crossed the bridge that evening. I called the next day to leave a message to speak to his doctor, they informed me she wouldn’t be in until Wednesday and they’d pass the message along then but couldn’t guarantee she’d call. I was later contacted by an office manager to weakly apologize for what she heard happened Friday - i assume she was worried when she saw my message for the doctor and I told her that no amount of I’m sorry could change what happened, I wanted to speak to the doctor about my dogs last physical not waste time with her poor excuses. I informed her that we would be finding another vet after getting such careless and heartless and uncaring behavior from her team. I have already gotten an appt with another vet for my remaining dog. I would never trust these callous heartless quacks with an animal again. If you’re not going to be there on someone’s worst day then what is the point. I deeply regret trusting them with my beloved animals lives, I won’t make that mistake again. They’re awful. I can’t say that enough. Maybe they should consider hiring staff that actually like animals. Might be a great place to start. Monsters.

posted: 08/07/2021

Dishi Aurora

I’m so thankful to have found Shirlington Animal Hospital. Everyone at this clinic genuinely cares for the health and well being of their patients. The staff is so helpful, caring, and knowledgeable. My questions are always answered and I know my dog is always in good hands here. I had a poor experience at a different vet clinic because they forced me to do things I wasn’t comfortable with and my dog ended up in a life threatening situation. I ended up rushing my dog to Shirlington Animal Hospital and they gave her Benadryl, made sure her reaction was completely gone, and made sure she was 100% okay to come back home. They even called me the day after to make sure she was okay! I’m so happy to have found them and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a vet!

posted: 01/23/2023