26 Jul Why One Knoxville Dog Owner Chose PetWellClinic For Vaccinations

Poseidon and Mushy. Photo by Tiffaney Lawson Photography.

Melissa Van Kirk, of Knoxville, is an experienced dog owner, usually owning two or three at any given time. She and her husband have an adult Snorkie named Mushy, and, following the death of their 14-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, Elsa, earlier this year, they added a new Sheltie puppy, Poseidon, to their family.

Last year, when the time came for vaccinations, Van Kirk began to wonder if there were other, less expensive alternatives for routine preventative care services. After researching options online, she found PetWellClinic, and took her two dogs there for their annual vaccinations. She was very pleased with the service and the savings, so this spring she began Poseidon’s vaccinations at the clinic as well.

Van Kirk says, “I like that I can go in and get just the shots my dog needs and that I‘m not required to pay for an exam. It always seems there’s an automatic fee when you go to a full service animal hospital—for the vet’s time or for a required exam. I don’t want to pay extra fees for routine things like shots. It adds up. Shots for three dogs at a full vet service clinic would be over $200, but at PetWellClinic it’s around $120.”

She says, “PetWellClinic gives me the option of getting what we need a la carte, without the extra fees for services I don’t need.” She also appreciates that option based on past experience with a dog that was allergic to the rabies vaccine.

“My vet at the time gave her all the vaccines at once, she had the reaction, and we didn’t know what caused it. So the following year, we actually had to pick apart the vaccinations in order to find out she was allergic to the rabies vaccine. Therefore, when I took Poseidon, I chose to do his regular shots only, and then went back for the rabies a month later.”

In the event of a more serious illness with one of her dogs, Van Kirk has a vet that comes to her house. She feels it’s important for her to see how the dog acts in its own environment, plus she doesn’t want to take their dog who is already not feeling well to a clinic where he or she could potentially be around other sick dogs.

Comparing the services of a full-service vet to the vet care at PetWell, Van Kirk says there’s no loss of quality at PetWellClinic, noting that the service is always professional and friendly. “The staff was so great playing with my puppy the last time I went in so much so that he didn’t even realize he was getting his shots,” she says. “Plus it’s always quick, about 10 or 15 minutes.”

“I’m totally and completely sold on PetWellClinic,” Van Kirk says, adding, “I just wish someone would have told me about it years ago.”

Just as walk-in clinics serve as an affordable and convenient option for people, clinics focusing on wellness and preventative care for cats and dogs save pet owners like Van Kirk valuable time and money. PetWellClinic® can be considered a “minute clinic” for your pet—walk in with no appointment necessary for quick in and out service at discounted prices. You can save even more time by pre-registering and pre-paying online for our walk-in clinics.

PetWellClinic® has three locations: 10549 Kingston Pike, Knoxville; 7329 Kingston Pike, Knoxville (currently “easyvetclinic”; and 228 S. Calderwood Street in Alcoa. Learn more about how PetWellClinic® can exceed your expectations for affordable, top quality pet care by visiting our website at www.petwellclinic.com.