Steamboat Animal Hospital

4.5 (583)
6531 Sexton Dr NW, Olympia, WA 98502, 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: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Steamboat 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 5,697
4.9 Embrace 10,255
4.9 Fetch 174
4.4 Figo 587
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,475
4.9 Lemonade 781
3.2 ManyPets 11
4.6 MetLife 424
4.8 Nationwide 21,391
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 98
4.5 Pets Best 7,194
4.3 Pumpkin 54
4.7 Spot 160
4.8 Trupanion 55,007
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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Linda Rebitzer

Steamboat Animal hospital was awesome with my cat. I just moved nearby and needed somewhere close for my cat as she completely has a meltdown on car rides. Dr. Ripka and the staff were very kind and gentle with her as she was having nothing to do with any of it and was all feet out trying everything to make her way off the table and back into the carrier. The exam was as thorough as it could be. They were able to call my old vet and get all of her records sent over and explained everything very thoroughly. Glad to have a great vet nearby. Prices were reasonable for the wellness exam and vaccines.

posted: 08/05/2023

Alice King

We have been using the Steamboat Island grooming for our dog for years. They are ALWAYS so great to work with and treat our dog wonderfully. We have gotten to know the groomers and we have full confidence in their services and abilities.

posted: 07/26/2023

Mark Devlin

A busy place with many doctors and I've met several, seeing a different one almost every visit. Fortunately the visits are for my pets and I'm just the chauffeur and payee. Wishing it was the same each time but with their busy schedule one comes to the rescue and gets my loved one seen. I never feel rushed and my questions are always answered. They seem to have good follow-through and concern for my pets. The office communication is also very good amongst themselves and with me. I wish they were a little closer and less expensive but I can't think of any other reason that I would not go there.

posted: 04/04/2023

Rebecca DesLauriers

Dr Ripka and his assistant McKenzie(unsure of spelling) were both very friendly and helpful. We took our rescue to her initial appointment and, even though it took a few months to get in, I was very satisfied with the time they took to answer all our questions and give our girl a thorough evaluation. They are not pushy and don’t price gouge. Our pup had a great first experience with them and we look forward to having a caring team that will help us give her the best life possible!

posted: 03/22/2023

Dawn Warren

Dr. Warbington has always treated my 4-legged baby with extra care and love. She stays on top of all her shots for me which takes away one less thing I need to deal with and let's me know if anything that I may or may not be doing to make her life enhanced. She and her staff are very professional and knowledgeable with all they are doing. I highly recommend this place, and others do too, obviously, since booking an appointment on short notice is never a good practice with this place.

posted: 03/21/2023