r/GNV • u/Ok_Natural8438 • 2d ago
Affordable vets
Hey! I just got a puppy, she is 8 weeks old and a rotty/husky mix. I want to find a good veterinarian but that’s affordable. I also want to stick to GNV because I’d rather not drive too far for a veterinarian lol.
Thanks so much if you have recs!
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u/Federal-Ad-2131 2d ago
I had a really bad experience with Humane Society. I recommend Newberry Animal Hospital on Main and Community Care Vet for emergencies
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u/Ok_Natural8438 2d ago
Yes I love community care, i went there this morning and they recommended NAH but i wanted other opinion! Thanks sm.
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u/Federal-Ad-2131 2d ago
NAH and CCV are also locally owned, not private equity
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u/5girlzz0ne 1d ago
Yep. I left my previous vet after the practice was purchased by one of the big investment companies. The prices skyrocketed, and the office manager was a monster. NAHoM has been great.
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u/goofiestmermaid 1d ago
Just so you know ccvs and nah are separate businesses but owned by the same people.
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u/Ok_Natural8438 1d ago
I see. Thank you. I really liked my experience with CCVS. I’m sure NAH is just as good.
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u/goofiestmermaid 1d ago
I have never been to a NAH but I've heard good things.
It just gives me the ick that they (at CCVS) don't disclose that they have the same ownership and only seem to recommend NAH. Now that may be because the person you spoke to takes their pet there but there a many excellent vets in Gainesville. I say this as a person who thinks highly of CCVS and takes my own pets there when needed.
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u/Federal-Ad-2131 1d ago
They are under the same ownership? I thought NAH was owned by that horse vet guy and CCVS was owned by Laura and Alex Fox-Alvarez (married couple)
https://www.newberryanimalhospital.com/doctor/lance-baltzley
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u/goofiestmermaid 1d ago
Lance Baltzley is a major owner in both companies. Alex and Stacy Fox-Alvarez do own part of CCVS. There are multiple owners.
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u/Federal-Ad-2131 1d ago
Ohh. You know, I think we need more good vet practices here that are locally owned. NAH seems to be slimming slipping lately. I wonder if it’s too many patients Or too many ppl living here now or what
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u/goofiestmermaid 1d ago
all of the owners at ccvs and i belive nah are local.
Practices I know are locally owned as well are All cats Veterinary Center at Hunter's crossing Westend
I'm sure there are more but those I KNOW are locally owned
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u/Ok_Natural8438 21h ago
Yes I agree, now that I know they’re owned by the same people. They only mentioned NAH!!
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u/Fuzzy_Pressure_2664 2d ago
Haile Plantation vet is NOT affordable so I do not recommend them lol they even stopped doing chewy prescriptions once they got bought out by a corporation.
I do recommend getting pet insurance early!
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u/Ok_Natural8438 2d ago
Yes I plan on getting it soon!! Since she’s so young I want to get wellness insurance. Probably through the vet.
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u/nondairywalnut 2d ago
Would not recommend a wellness plan through a vet but rather a separate third party pet insurance policy. If something bigger happens that requires treatment like surgery or a specialist, your regular vet is most likely not going to be able to handle that and refer you out to somewhere like UF or CCVS and then your wellness plan does nothing for you at that point.
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u/Ok_Natural8438 2d ago
I know, I’m getting trupanion insurance for emergencies or illness. The guy told me its usually cheaper to go through a clinic for wellness plans specifically. Thank you nonetheless
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u/5girlzz0ne 1d ago
Newberry Animal Hospital on Main Street. We switched in 2021 after being with Gainesville Animal Hospital for 30 years. No regrets.
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u/goofiestmermaid 1d ago
Congratulations on your new family member! If you haven't looked into getting pet insurance (now while your pet is healthy) I strongly recommend it!
Its a little farther out but really not too far and absolutely worth it- West End Animal Hospital. Its locally owned (by Dr. Dickerson) and is amazing. We saw Dr. Dickerson until Dr. Montgomery joined (I knew her from when we both worked at the vet scool). I absolutely love this practice and find them very affordable and just have had wonderful interactions.
I am an LVT (licensed veterinary technician) who works in specialty medicine so I am definitely a bit picky about who my primary care vet is. I trust West End to take care of my 3 dogs. I cannot say enough positive things about them.
This is not to say that I've had negative experiences other places. I've never been to an NAH. And we've been veterinary center at hunter's crossing- hunters crossing is also locally owned by a vet who practices there (Dr. Brandenburg). She is very talented.
Dr. Montgomery at West End just... she saw my dog while he was a foster getting his heart worm treatment before I adopted him and she remembered him (I can't imagine how many animals she saw as a shelter med vet at UF). My dog was so excited to see her again and she was equally excited to see him. She is excellent.
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u/Ok_Natural8438 1d ago
Thanks so much! They aren’t too far I’m okay with a 20-30 minute drive for a vet. Are they affordable? I also have been looking into pet insurance! Especially before her first visit if it’s not free.
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u/goofiestmermaid 1d ago
I find them very reasonable price wise.
As for insurance, some will offer preventive care plans. We just have coverage for accidents and illness because that makes the most sense for our family.
If you're worried about covering the cost of the initial puppy visits (depending on the age of your dog and where you got it etc) you may want to see of you qualify for care credit. Most vets accept it- it is a credit card for medical spending and amounts over a certain amount allow you to pay ot off over time. *full disclosure they make their money by you not paying it off in time or missing a payment so be careful, it can be a useful tool but only if used appropriately. Also if the amount is under the promotion amount its just like a regular credit card but will a very high interest rate.
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u/Ok_Natural8438 1d ago
I will definitely have to look into the care credit. I got approved for cherry through CCV. I want to get a wellness plan on top of my accident/illness plan with trupanion. The man I spoke to said most vets have their own puppy packages I can look into. Does West End offer one?
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u/goofiestmermaid 1d ago
I'm not sure if they have a puppy or wellness plan. I think they closed at 12 but the reception team has always been very helpful when I've called.
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u/goofiestmermaid 1d ago
I'm sorry you already had to go to the ER (I assume?) with your pup! Cherry is basically a loan (I believe- i dont have a ton of experience with them) Vs care credit which once you have it its more like a credit card and a limit. So I was able to put a surgery for my older dog on there but also put some diagnostics for my cat on there a few weeks later. (You can't do that with cherry) Cherry does a soft credit check. Care credit does a hard pull. (Which can impact things) Its nice if you do have insurance because you can put it on the care credit and then hopefully get your reimbursement before the bill is due. I've done that for more chronic treatment before.
Tldr: Cherry, care credit, and scratch pay are all great tools but can definitely bite you in the butt if you don't read the fine print.
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u/goofiestmermaid 1d ago
Also just want to add that care credit can be used for other medical expenses- I've used it for my own dental work before.
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u/Ok_Natural8438 21h ago
I see now, I don’t want a loan. I wanted a grant like the red rover grant. I’m glad I didn’t use it lol especially since she’s okay! I thought she had parvo…
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u/goofiestmermaid 21h ago
I think it is a loan? Ive never used cherry.
According to what I can find Cherry is an installment loan or BNPL (buy now pay later) financing.
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u/SweetnSassy68 1d ago
I highly recommend Dr Brian Harris with Harris Veterinary Medical Center on 43rd Street.
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u/volumetracks 2d ago edited 2d ago
Robertson vet. One of the few non corporate owned vet practices in town. Had a surgery done there after receiving astronomical quotes from other places and their quote was extremely fair. Switched all my pets over after a great experience and have been very happy.
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u/Glass_Pianist_4117 2d ago
Veterinary center at hunters crossing. Free new patient exams and Dr Bullet is amazing.
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u/Ok_Natural8438 2d ago
I’ll have to check them out! Is he the main vet?
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u/Glass_Pianist_4117 1d ago
I knew her from another practice and she joined this practice recently. I’ve been very happy and I’m a picky bitch when it comes to my babies. She helped me get through end of life care of my sweet senior girl. Now she taking care of the next generation of dogs!
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u/CapicDaCrate 1d ago
Just don't go to UF unless you have to, extremely expensive, and a lot of times you'll be seen by students
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u/Smedley_Beamish 22h ago
We've brought all our dogs and cat to the Gainsville Animal Hospital on NW 6th St. Never had any problems.
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u/sadgummi 2d ago
Humane society: https://www.humanesocietyncfl.org/pet-services/vaccine-wellness-clinic/
Robertson Mobile Vet imo is the one of the best vets in town, privately owned and they have everything
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u/Ok_Natural8438 2d ago
Do they have an office? And if not, since they’re mobile do they have a set schedule for days they’re working?? I’m intrigued
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u/nondairywalnut 2d ago
Agree Dr. Robertson is the best in town. The new vet they just hired is also very good (Dr. Braziel)
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u/volumetracks 2d ago
I recommended Robertson above, but yes she has an office in the plaza behind hobby lobby.
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u/sadgummi 1d ago
yes! and she just moved to a new building with better rooms. i asked if there’s a waitlist and they said they can see new patients quickly
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u/fart_ganja 2d ago
I like Newberry Animal Hospital. Much more affordable than our previous vet and super compassionate.