VCA University Veterinary Clinic

4.4 (80)
10681 Braddock Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032, USA

Hours:

Monday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at VCA University Veterinary Clinic

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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gimena salvatore

I can’t ever thank Dr.Van Sickle enough. This woman is the most professional, patient and caring vet iv ever encountered. Not to mention she’s a beautiful human inside and out. Iv been coming here since my pup was a bit over a year old and I have NEVER had anything but a perfect experience. We all know It all starts with the front desk costumer service and Crystal has that DOWN! Not only is she always super kind and supportive to me but she acknowledges my pup tobes and greets him with the biggest smile every time. It’s so reassuring to know my pup is cared for from the beginning. Unfortunately toby got sick this past Sunday and after two ER visits with some recovery (but not much) I took him in to see Dr.Van sickle yesterday (WHICH SHE MADE EXTRA TIME FOR HIM EVEN THO SHE WAS BUSY WITH SURGERIES ALL DAY) and I am so grateful to say he is FINALLY all better. I spent a lot of money and was given meds and fluids that didn’t stop the symptoms fully but Dr.Van Sickle saw him and gave him a med combo that had him back to normal in literally an hour from getting home! She genuinely looked worried and sad for Toby and took the time to give some extra tests and explain everything to me so I didn’t feel so helpless. She even had her super sweet vet tech Amber show me how to properly give tobes his meds and re explain everything to me just incase. We had to get a fecal sample from Toby which unfortunately came with lots of blood and Amber took the time to wipe him after (very soft) and reassured him that he was okay the whole time. It was so sweet and I couldn’t thank her enough for the support she gave my tobes the whole time during testing. I also want to give a shout out to Tatyana because she has also helped tobes in the past and has also been super sweet and soft with him. I’m so thankful I was recommended to this veterinary clinic by Maria Victoria because it truly is the best veterinary clinic in the area! They have the sweetest kindest most caring staff and I genuinely can’t ever thank them enough for everything they do for tobes. Being a first time fur mama can deff be scary at times but this team has always made me feel so supported that at this point I consider them Toby’s aunties. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart to the whole team at VCA for getting my fur baby back to health. I appreciate you all so much. I wish I could give more than five stars.

posted: 02/01/2023

Kyle Stanislawski

Friendly staff! Dr VanSickle is awesome and takes great care of my pup. Won't take him anywhere else.

posted: 09/11/2023

Margie Melquist

If I could give 6 stars I would. Since we moved from Florida 9 years ago, we have been trusting the wellness & care of our beloved pets Kevin (RIP), Lucy and Eli to our family at VCA. Yes, I call them family because that is what we have become. In good times and bad times they have been there for us and our pets. From the front desk to the staff that work behind scenes big THANK YOU for your kindness, gentleness and love you always show for all of us. We love you all! And I must add that we moved about 30 miles away from Fairfax and we don't mind driving back to VCA University Vet Clinic for a wellness visit or a bath.

posted: 05/03/2018

Mya Vasquez

I’ve always had great experiences here with the staff at VCA University Clinic. They make sure you feel welcomed, and answer any questions you may have while you wait to be called. They even went out of their way and sent me a text message to see how my pup was doing the day after. Would definitely recommend!

posted: 12/04/2022

Aditi G

We are first time dog owners and have been taking our little baby Scottie to this vet since we got him. The client service here is outstanding, the friendly receptionists are very easy to talk to and remember the little things we share with them in good times and bad. VCA University is not just Scottie's vet but an extended family to us! Dr. Watson and his staff does an outstanding job at making Scottie feel comfortable during his visits. We know he can be a little hard to manage at times but they have always given us compliments on Scottie's behavior and are able to keep him calm during his visits. Thank you for treating us like a family and taking such great care of our baby!

posted: 03/16/2018