VCA Albemarle Veterinary Health Care Center

4.6 (90)
445 Westfield Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22901, 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 – 1:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at VCA Albemarle Veterinary Health Care Center

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 11,414
4.9 Embrace 14,242
4.9 Fetch 2,055
4.4 Figo 2,580
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,156
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 5,275
4.9 Trupanion 60,301
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

hand swipe
Jeremy Pelter

My dog has been suffering from anxiety since last December. Long story short - my wife and I had a baby and then moved. When Seth was born, Oscar (my Beagle) didn't get the attention he was used to. Every time it thunderstorms, Oscar shakes, drools, and hyperventilates. I'd wrap a towel around him and hold him for hours. I was hopeful it would go away on its own or get better over time. I found VCA on Google based on the reviews, location, time availability, and the fact they accept Care Credit. Dr. Freedman lit up when he saw Oscar! Come to find out, he loves Beagles. Dr. Freedman was really great - he spent valuable time with Oscar, and once he checked him over, Oscar was diagnosed with anxiety. No surprise there! But based on his age and ability to get around, Oscar doesn't have anything wrong with his legs. Freedman answered all my questions and told me a few things I wasn't aware of before. He prescribed Oscar two medications for his anxiety and gave him two shots - rabies and distemper. Oscar can be a big baby, but he's always my baby. VCA accepted a $20 coupon online for first-time customers, which was really cool, and the service from the vet (Freedman) felt genuine...so I'll definitely bring Oscar back when he needs to be seen again (I just wish they were a little bit closer). Thanks, guys! :)

posted: 12/07/2022

Cynthia Zazakos

My dog's Vet Dr. Heather Washburn is great with my chihuahua dog. She always give him treats that he loves and the staff is wonderful too.. Every one there is very caring and helpful to all

posted: 06/26/2023

Lisa Devine

The absolute BEST veterinarians and vet techs/assistants you can find. They are always courteous and kind and a wealth of knowledge. My fur kids are always seen on time and are handled with tons of TLC. I can’t imagine taking my animals anywhere else. I have complete confidence in the care they provide. The peace of mind I have bringing my pets here has kept me returning for over 14 years. Thank you Dr. Freedman and your amazing assistants! You are appreciated beyond measure.

posted: 06/28/2022

lauren nicole

Best vet experience! Everyone was so nice and knowledgeable! I learned so much. We got so much info and two vaccines. They sent us home with prescriptions and all the info we needed about them. Noodles made some new best friends. Will definitely be back.

posted: 07/22/2022

Allan Paurillo

The staff were very friendly and super helpful! Vanessa made us feel so welcome right away. Becky was was very patient with us when we asked so many questions, she walked us through everything we needed to know and was very patient with our pup when he tried to escape during his shots. Dr. Freedman was very good with our newly adopted 5 month old lab, Bear. Bear loved being with him, and we really felt comfortable with discussing our concerns with him. We feel so fortunate we found this place and we highly recommend!

posted: 10/15/2019