Commencement Bay Animal Hospital
4.5 (202) 3511 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98406, USAHours:
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 – 4:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Commencement Bay 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:
| 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 & CompareGetting 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
Been to this vet for my 4 animals (2 cats, 2 dogs) a total of 3 visits thus far. I adore the staff. They care, they are kind, funny, friendly, all around wonderful people. 3/4 of my pets hate going to the vet on principle alone. Even those 3 hate this place a little less. My male dog is talked to so sweetly while he shakes and poops on/near them out of nervousness. They're so gentle with my senior cat. My female dog is skittish with anyone who isn't me and I love that the vet who she nipped at scolded me for scolding her. He told me she was a tiny baby and couldn't help being scared. They made a great impression. Their website is also easy to use and you can schedule appointments on it.
posted: 08/24/2023
Initially chose this vet for our 16-week-old puppy because of the proximity to our house (it's a 5-minute walk away) for some vaccinations and microchip insertion, but they are also incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and just overall wonderful. We didn't have any sticker shock at checkout either -- great value, excellent care. Highly recommend!
posted: 08/24/2023
Had a great 1st time visit at Commencement Bay Vet. The office was very clean and such a friendly receptionist that welcomed us as we walked in. Our appt was on time and the vet tech was very attentive to Rayna and friendly. Dr Sullivan was absolutely wonderful, hands-on doing a thorough health check on Rayna as this was a wellness visit and vaccines. I did not feel rushed, doctor answered my questions and gave suggestions as well. I highly recommend this clinic.
posted: 08/24/2023
I went to Commencement Bay Animal Hospital to get my golden retriever puppy his first set of vaccinations. The staff was extremely nice and detailed when it came to my pups care Dr. Sullivan was very detailed about puppy care/prevention. I recommend coming here!
posted: 08/15/2023
Just wanted to share this. This is not my regular vet but I called them today because my dog had a strange looking bump that I thought might have been a tick. My vet is on Mercer Island and so I wanted some place closer to have it checked out if possible. They were so kind and patient and thoughtful and let me send a photo in to look at it for me. Honestly this was so kind and appreciated.
posted: 07/14/2023
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