Helping Great Pets Find GreatVets
Helping Great Pets Find GreatVets
Showing top 40 Clinics available for booking
Whether you're brand new to pet ownership or brand new to Minneapolis (or both!), finding a quality veterinarian for your pet is crucial. Just as you would take the time to find your own primary care physician, you should do the same for your pet. Researching local vets before your pets face any health problem will save you time, energy, and peace of mind down the road.
Naturally, all pets have different needs, and not all veterinarians are alike. With about 50 clinics in the area, each with unique care values, hours of operation, specialized services, and emergency offerings, there are countless factors to consider to find the best vet for your furry friend. It can seem daunting when faced with so much information, especially if you're new to the Twin Cities and still getting acclimated yourself. To help you find the most-suited vets as per your preferences, we've curated a list just for locals: Top 20 Vets in Minneapolis.
In the meantime, get started by researching the following preliminary questions.
You may be a new citizen in the city or a long-time resident, you understand the importance of having a designated network of businesses in your neighborhood or near your work that takes care of your everyday needs. Finding a veterinarian to add to that network will make both your and your pet's life much easier when it comes time to take that necessary trip.
The first thing you need to consider is how you will be traveling with your pet. If you deped on public transportation as you don't own a car, finding a vet within walking distance might seem like the easiest choice, but you also need to consider a possible emergency situation. Will you be able to transport your pet easily and quickly without a vehicle in that scenario?
The current Metro Transit Policy allows pets on local bus routes if they are secured in appropriate pet carriers. In Minneapolis, it's essential to consider the extreme weather changes. Your pet may inevitably need care in the middle of December amidst negative temperatures and heavy snow. Will your commute to the clinic keep both of you safely out of the cold?
A happy compromise is finding a vet office that is both along a simple public transportation route and would also be a short drive or rideshare ride away from your home. Use GreatVet to get started; just type in your area code and browse through all nearby veterinary clinics, adjusting your search radius. We've highlighted two conveniently located clinics in the metro area:
Oak Knoll Animal Hospital
Oak Knoll Animal Hospital in St. Louis Park is an excellent destination for both residents in Minneapolis's suburbs and downtown neighborhoods. Located near Minnetonka Boulevard and Colorado Avenue, this clinic is just a 20-minute drive from downtown. If you're taking the bus, you'll arrive right on the corner with only a short walk through the parking lot to get to the door. There's also a spacious parking lot - no need to fret about street parking! Plus, rideshares are generally inexpensive, even if you're coming from the downtown area.
Lyndale Animal Hospital
For city dwellers, Lyndale Animal Hospital on Lyndale Avenue is an excellent veterinary clinic location. Anyone living in Loring Park or downtown neighborhoods can get to this clinic by car in just 5-15 minutes. Public transportation and rideshare are also a breeze. You can also walk with your pet enjoying the entertaining scenery along the way.
Make a list of several nearby clinics that cooperate well with your preferred method of travel (and budget to do so). Next, you need to consider the hours of operation and the option of emergency services for your pet.
Now that you have a handful of relatively convenient nearby clinics to choose from, consider your personal schedule. If you need to make an appointment for your pet, what days and times of day would you really be able to get them there? Consider your weekly obligations, including your required work schedule and your commute time.
Many vet clinics operate for limited hours on Saturdays, which is an essential factor to look for when choosing your desired location. The regular hours of operation blend seamlessly with your daily schedule. Yet, there is always the possibility of an emergency.
First, check with the clinics you've already found to see if they offer emergency and after-hour services at the exact location. If not, inquire about which emergency hospitals they may be affiliated with. Chances are they'll be able to recommend several options for you. Take a look at a featured veterinary hospital offering emergency pet care:
University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center
For after-hours emergency care for your pet, the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center is always available to meet your needs. Unlike other clinics that close between 5 PM and 8 PM (and are often closed all weekend), the University of Minnesota has more than 60 professional veterinary specialists at your disposal to diagnose and treat any of your pet's ailments 24/7. For specialized care, you can make an appointment online. If an emergency comes up, call them anytime.
Broadway Robbinsdale Animal Hospital
If your pet requires any emergency care, you can make an appointment and take your vet to Broadway Robbinsdale Animal Hospital on Broadway Avenue. This facility offers holistic pet care along with emergency care. You can call their 24-hour support number to get additional information on any pet health issues and fix an appointment. This hospital has four specialist veterinarians to take good care of your pets. Thus, any ailment in your pet would be diagnosed and treated here with utmost care.
Use GreatVet's website to screen office hours for the clinics in your area. There is also an easy-to-use filter option that will quickly show you a list of offices that operate 24/7 and/or provide emergency and specialized care.
By taking an extra moment to plan for an emergency ahead of time, you'll be able to stay calm and provide the best support you can for your pet in any unexpected scenario.
The next natural step is to make sure that the clinics you're considering offer everything that your pet will need.
Once you determine your pet's basic needs and whether or not it will need specialized care, screen the locations you've chosen to make sure they can provide the necessary care. Look out for specialists, like dentists, dermatologists, pet behaviorists, and cardiologists in your area.
The GreatVet Filters can also help you quickly screen for the services that match your pet needs.
"Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a Board-Certified Behavioral Specialist in Chicago and founder of Insight Animal Behavioral Services, helps explain the differences. "General practitioners are excellent at providing wellness and preventive care services, treating common conditions, and many perform routine surgeries and dentistry services. Veterinary specialists, with their additional training and ongoing education in a specific area, are helpful when a pet's condition is unusual, complex, or severe."
Veterinary Ophthalmology Specialty Practice, Inc. is an excellent example of a specialty clinic in the Minneapolis area. While the previously mentioned Oak Knoll Animal Hospital is available to provide general pet care services, this animal eye clinic specifically treats pets suffering from eye disease or those who need surgery.
Whatever the case may be, knowing your pet's specific needs will help you find the most appropriate veterinary clinic. Using GreatVet, you can find out what services and equipment are offered on-site at each location in your 'Area Filter' to find specialists in areas like cardiology or oncology.
Now, as you have fine-tuned your search for the right vet, it is also essential to gauge the veterinary practice's online reputation. Most businesses today have an online presence. This means that any and all consumers can quickly post a review of the business's services, care, hours, and anything they feel may be necessary for their community to know. Naturally, there are pros and cons to online reviews. While searching online, ensure that you consider the following factors:
It can be tempting to make your final decision after one quick skim through Yelp reviews. However, you should take the extra time to look through at least 2-3 social media platforms, such as Facebook, Google, and other review forums, to get a more comprehensive view of the service your desired pet clinic provides.
GreatVet profiles help you see scores from all review sources to ensure you have complete visibility into each practice's online reviews.
To get as much of a balanced perspective as you can, be sure to read both 5-star and the lowest rating reviews.
Do not be scared away from a clinic-based on just one negative review. Bad situations are sometimes unavoidable. Plus, everyone has different standards by which they rate a business; make sure you know your own values and priorities before getting swayed by someone else's.
The total number of reviews for a pet hospital can be a good indicator of the quality of service and longevity within the community. For example, a location with hundreds of reviews has likely been practicing for quite some time.
With longevity also comes more experienced staff, a more comprehensive network of affiliations for referrals if you need them, and more experience to make customized choices for your pet's care.
When considering veterinarian reviews, GreatVet's Reputation Score can give you the comprehensive view you need to make an informed decision.
This next factor to consider is a big one, but it may be one of the most important. For you and your pet to truly get the most out of going to a veterinary clinic, you both need to be comfortable there. Often, going to the vet is not a pleasant experience. It can be incredibly anxiety-inducing if your pet is ill or injured. Feeling safe and comfortable at your clinic of choice will help make any uncomfortable situation that much better. Use an initial trial visit to...
Start by making a phone call to see if the vet is available for a consultation or preliminary visit. It can be beneficial to chat with the physician in person and get a sense of their personal values and care philosophies to see if they line up with your own.
It's wise to evaluate and feel the space at the clinic. If your dog or cat is highly anxious or gets aggressive around other animals, walking into a tiny waiting room on your first visit may taint the entire experience. Being prepared for the conditions at the office will give you peace of mind and a heads up when planning how to comfort your pet while you wait.
How the staff communicates with you is also extremely important to consider. Upon your first phone calls, were the people you spoke with friendly and understanding of your questions? Did they do their best to make you feel comfortable?
Make sure you ask them any and all questions you have about how they work with their patients. Many practices have online chat functions, texting, or after-hours methods of communication available to work with pet owners when they have quick questions or are unable to make it into the office.
"Payal Music of VCA Lakeshore explains how vital communication is between the pet owner and the hospital. "Effective communication with the clientele matters to us. We have a text messaging system called VCA text messenger, which allows our clients to communicate more easily. All clients who download our VCA messenger app have immediate access to our veterinarians and staff and can get the feedback they need within minutes."
In short, you will need to establish a long-term relationship with a vet clinic to provide the best care for your pet. Making sure that you'll feel comfortable enough to do so well in advance will save both of you the stress of switching care in the future.
With all these factors to consider, it's no wonder why pet owners find the process of choosing a veterinarian overwhelming and confusing, not to mention time-consuming. That's where GreatVet Verified Profiles come in. Every GreatVet Verified Profile is vetted to ensure pet owners have the best data to make an educated decision on choosing a new veterinarian.
GreatVet Verified Profiles are considered a stamp of approval for any vet practice. It indicates to pet owners that the clinic in question has quality, accurate information and is regarded as a top veterinarian in the city. GreatVet Verified Profiles are exclusively built to highlight the most critical information and make that data practical, functional, and, most importantly, personalized to your every need.
The GreatVet Score also makes it easy to compare the differences for each veterinary option in your city. Using the GreatVet Score and other filters described above on hours, services, and location can save you time and energy when making a conscious decision.
Finding a veterinary practice in your neighborhood can be challenging enough. Finding one with hours that fit your schedule, the exact services your pet needs, and an excellent reputation to boot makes your search that much harder. Luckily, GreatVet is here to help you find the quality care provider your beloved companion deserves.
If you are unable to find the vet clinics in Minneapolis let's make your search simple. You can use best veterinarians near me option.
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