high-quality, low-cost
Pet Wellness Services
Affordable veterinary care is difficult to find, which often puts pet owners (and their pets) in a difficult position. At Hill Country Animal League, we offer low-cost spay & neuter surgeries and pet wellness services to the San Antonio and Greater Hill Country area community.
limited services, unlimited expertise
We are not a
full-service veterinary clinic.
While our clinic is staffed with licensed veterinarians and trained veterinary technicians, we only provide treatment for a limited number of conditions. The services we offer are preventive and will keep your pets healthy, but we do not have the equipment or supplies to diagnose or treat sick or injured pets. If needed, we are happy to refer you to a veterinary clinic in the area.
Services and Pricing
A $20 non-refundable deposit will be made at time of appointment and may be applied to appointments that are rescheduled.
*Discounted pricing is available for those who qualify.
Dog Wellness Services
Office Visit - $20*
Rabies Vaccine - $10
What is the recommended age?
All dogs between 12-16 weeks of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Administered as early as 3 months (16 weeks) of age. A booster is recommended 1 year after the first vaccine. A vaccination is given every 3 years.
Rabies is 100% fatal to dogs. Keeping your pet current on their rabies vaccination ensures protection for the dog (and its owner!) against the disease if bitten by an animal carrying rabies.
What are common side effects?
Mild fever, mild loss of appetite and mild to moderate loss of energy for 24 to 36 hours after vaccination. It’s also possible for dogs to experience soreness and mild swelling at the injection site.
DHLPP Vaccine - $15*
The 9-in-1 Distemper Vaccine
What is the recommended age?
All dogs over 8 weeks of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Administered at 8-10, 11-13, and 14-16 weeks. A booster is recommended annually after the first vaccine. DHLPP is a 9-in-1 vaccination to protect dogs from 5 different medical conditions: Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza, that can seriously hurt your dog’s long term well-being and, in some cases, lead to death.
What are common side effects?
Soreness, stiffness, lack of energy (lethargy), oral ulcers, sneezing (nasal discharge), loss of appetite or refusal to eat, swelling or inflammation at injection site, and conjunctivitis.
DHPP Vaccine - $10
The 5-in-1 Distemper Vaccine
What is the recommended age?
All dogs 6-8 weeks of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Administered at 8-10, 11-13, and 14-16 weeks. A booster is recommended yearly after the first vaccine.
DHPP is a combination vaccination that prevents distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and two types of adenovirus (hepatitis). These diseases can seriously hurt your dog’s long term well-being and, in some cases, lead to death.
What are common side effects?
Hives, facial swelling, itching, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and collapse.
Bordetella Vaccine - $15*
What is the recommended age?
All dogs over 6 weeks of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Administered between 6-8 weeks of age. A booster is given four weeks later, or between the ages of 10 to 12 weeks. A vaccination is given every year.
The Bordatella vaccine protects against kennel cough, a highly contagious upper respiratory condition in dogs. Due to how easily Bordetella is transmitted from dog to dog, many boarding facilities, daycare centers, kennels, and groomers require dogs to be vaccinated.
What are common side effects?
Sneezing, nasal discharge, coughing, vomiting or diarrhea, and swelling at the injection site.
Heartworm Test - $12*
What is the recommended age?
All dogs over 6 months of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Dogs that are 6 months of age and older should be tested for heartworms once a year, even when dogs are on heartworm prevention medication. Results of heartworm tests are obtained within 24 hours.
Heartworm disease is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of affected pets causing severe lung disease, hear failure and damage to other organs in the body.
What are common side effects?
There are no side effects.
4DX Heartworm Test - $20*
What is the recommended age?
All dogs over 6 months of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Dogs that are 6 months of age and older should be tested for heartworms once a year, even when dogs are on heartworm prevention medication. The 4DX Heartworm Test tests for 3 tick borne diseases as well as heartworms.
Heartworm disease is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of affected pets causing severe lung disease, hear failure and damage to other organs in the body.
What are common side effects?
There are no side effects.
Microchip - $25*
What is the recommended age?
All dogs over 8 weeks of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Dogs can be microchipped at any age. We recommend that puppies be at least 8 weeks old before being chipped.
A microchip is a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder, about the the size of a grain of rice. It is injected under the skin using a hypodermic needle. Microchips only contain ID numbers to identify your dog if it gets lost. We use Home Again microchips and register your pet the day of the injection.
What are common side effects?
Microchipping is no more painful than a vaccination. Side effects from a microchip injection are extremely rare.
Anal Gland Expression - $12*
What is the recommended age?
As needed.
When is this recommended and why?
Anal glands can be expressed on an as needed basis, usually once a dog is over a year of age.
If your pet’s anal glands don’t express naturally when they poop, the glands will become overly full and painful. Signs that your dog’s anal glands are full include: scooting on their rear end, biting their back end, excessive bottom licking, limping or having trouble defecating.
What are common side effects?
Expressing the anal glands when there is not a problem can potentially lead to inflammation and anal gland sacculitis in an otherwise healthy dog. Our vets are trained and certified to recognize when an anal gland expression is needed.
Nail Trim - $10*
What is the recommended age?
As needed.
When is this recommended and why?
Trim your puppy’s nails from around six weeks of age and every 3 to 4 weeks after. Overdue nail trimming can result in painful ingrown nails.
What are common side effects?
Cutting your dog’s nails too short can cause considerable pain for your pup and can result in bleeding. Our vets and techs are expert nail trimmers.
Spay & Neuter Surgery
Hill Country Animal League offers low-cost spay & neuter surgeries at our clinic. Fees are based upon the species, gender and weight of the animal. For a complete listing of all spay and neuter pricing, please visit our spay and neuter services page.
Cat Wellness Services
Office Visit - $20*
Rabies Vaccine - $10
What is the recommended age?
All cats 12-16 weeks of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Administered as early as 12-16 weeks of age. A booster is given 1 year after the first vaccine. A vaccination is given every 3 years.
Rabies results in death. Keeping your cat current on their rabies vaccination ensures protection for the animal (and its owner!) against the disease if bitten by an animal carrying rabies.
What are common side effects?
Your cat may exhibit mild symptoms of an adverse or allergic reaction to the rabies vaccine. Common side effects may include vomiting, swelling at the injection site, pain at or near the injection site, fever (low grade), diarrhea, appetite loss, lethargy, and itching.
FVRCP Vaccine - $10
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia
What is the recommended age?
All cats 6-8 weeks of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Administered between 6-8 weeks of age. Three booster shots are given once a month. A booster is given every year.
This vaccine protects against three potentially deadly airborne viruses.
What are common side effects?
Side effects are generally minimal but can include fever, decreased appetite, and sluggishness.
FVRCP/FeLV Vaccine - $16*
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia AND Feline Leukemia
What is the recommended age?
All outdoor cats 8-12 weeks of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Administered between 8-12 weeks of age. A booster shot is given 3-4 weeks later. A booster is given every year, as needed.
This vaccine protects against three potentially deadly airborne viruses, including Feline Leukemia. Outdoor cats are more at risk for contracting Feline Leukemia.
What are common side effects?
Side effects are generally minimal but can include fever, decreased appetite, sluggishness, and localized swelling.
3-Way Combo Test - $20*
Feline Leukemia, Feline heartworm, and Feline immunodeficiency virus
What is the recommended age?
All cats 8 months of age or older.
When is this recommended and why?
Administered when cats are 8 months of age or older.
This test allows us to screen cats for three very harmful feline diseases in just one blood sample.
What are common side effects?
There are no side effects.
Microchip - $25*
What is the recommended age?
All cats over 8 weeks of age.
When is this recommended and why?
Cats can be microchipped at any age. We recommended that kittens be at least 8 weeks old before being chipped.
A microchip is a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder, about the the size of a grain of rice. It is injected under the skin using a hypodermic needle. Microchips only contain ID numbers to identify your cat if it gets lost. We use Home Again microchips and register your pet the day of the injection.
What are common side effects?
Microchipping is no more painful than a vaccination. Side effects from a microchip injection are extremely rare.
Spay & Neuter Surgery
Hill Country Animal League offers low-cost spay & neuter surgeries at our clinic. Fees are based upon the species, gender and weight of the animal. For a complete listing of all spay and neuter pricing, please visit our spay and neuter services page.
Pet Wellness FAQs
Do I need an appointment?
Yes! The best and most convenient way to request an appointment is to complete the appointment request form. We’ll respond to your request and get your pet scheduled. You can also give us a call at (830) 249-2341. Appointments may be requested for any time between 8am – 4pm, Monday – Thursday.
If you’re a rescue organization, you can work directly with our team to register your organization and schedule appointments for multiple animals.
What do I need to do to prepare for my appointment?
Once you’ve requested an appointment either online or by calling (830) 249-2341, be on the lookout for an email from our team to confirm your appointment.
If your pet is scheduled to receive any vaccines, you’ll need to complete the appropriate forms. You can bring these with you the day of your appointment.
What is the recommended vaccination schedule for puppies?
Your puppy’s first vaccination will normally be at about eight weeks of age, with a second dose at 10-12 weeks. Your puppy won’t have full protection until two weeks after the second vaccination takes effect. After that, annual booster vaccinations are needed to maintain your dog’s immunity.
| Puppy Age | Shot #1 | Shot #2 | Shot #3 |
| 5 – 7 Weeks | DHPP (Optional) | Parvovirus (Optional) | |
| 8 – 10 Weeks | DHPP (1) | ||
| 11 – 13 Weeks | DHLPP (2) | Bordetella (Optional) | |
| 14 – 16 Weeks | DHLPP (3) | Bordetella (Recommended) | Rabies Vaccine |
Do I need to bring my animal in a pet carrier?
Yes, please bring your pet in a carrier. If you’re bringing in multiple pets, please put them in separate carriers. This is the safest bet for your animals and our staff.
How much does each service cost?
Good question! You can see a complete list of prices above. For spay & neuter surgery pricing and details, please view the information about our spay and neuter services.
Why aren't your services free?
Although Hill Country Animal League is a nonprofit organization, we have a team of full-time employees and veterinarians. It is a common misconception that nonprofits receive all revenue in the form of donations. While we greatly appreciate and value our donors, we still charge for our services. An advantage of relying on revenue from our clients is that we can better serve them when our financial success correlates to client satisfaction. We offer tiered pricing to assist those who qualify to help reduce the financial strain that might come with veterinary care.
Do I qualify for any additional discounts?
You might. Read more about our requirements to receive discounted pricing to see if you qualify. While our spay & neuter and pet wellness prices are lower than most full-service veterinary clinics thanks to donations, we do offer a deeper discount to those with an annual family income of less than $49,000. Removing as many barriers as possible for ALL pet owners is an important part of our mission to reduce pet overpopulation in our community.
Do you perform spay & neuter surgeries?
Hill Country Animal League offers low-cost spay & neuter surgeries and pet wellness services at our clinic. If you’re looking for spay and neuter services, take a look at all of the services we offer.
