What is the cost of a visit to San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care? The current fee for an office visit, which includes a full physical examination and consultation with our veterinarian, will be provided when you call ahead or upon your arrival. Following examination by our veterinarian, recommendations for further diagnostics and treatment are discussed and all additional fees for care are approved by you prior to proceeding.
Do I need an appointment to visit San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care? While we do not set appointments, it is best for you to call ahead to ensure there is availability for your pet to be seen. Feel free to call ahead with questions, to obtain directions or to advise of your intent to visit. We are immediately ready and willing to help you and your pet.
Does San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care offer routine care services? In an effort to focus our resources on pets requiring immediate attention, San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care does not offer primary care services. We ask that clients maintain a relationship with a family veterinarian for this routine care.
What services does San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care provide? San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care offers comprehensive urgent care services to dogs and cats in our state-of-the-art facility when your primary care veterinarian is unavailable. We are fully equipped to perform a wide range of in-house testing – including bloodwork, urinalysis, blood pressure, EKG, intraocular pressure, ultrasound and Digital X-rays – to quickly diagnose and treat your pets’ illness.
Can I use San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care as my primary care veterinarian? In an effort to focus our resources on pets requiring immediate attention, San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care does not offer primary care services. We ask that clients maintain a relationship with a family veterinarian for this routine care.
What forms of payment do you accept? We accept cash and all major credit cards and CareCredit. San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care is unable to accept personal checks for payment.
Can you bill me or set up a payment plan? San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care is currently unable to provide billing services or payment plans. A detailed, written estimate is provided and approved by you prior to any diagnostics or treatment being performed. This approach prevents unexpected costs of care and allows for ample time to arrange for payment at the time services are rendered.
Can you provide an estimate for care over the phone? We are unable to provide estimates for care over the phone. An accurate estimate for services to be provided at San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care requires an on-site discussion of your concerns with our staff and a thorough examination of your pet by our veterinarian. The current fee for an office visit, which includes a full physical examination and consultation with our veterinarian, is provided when you call ahead or upon arrival. A detailed, written estimate based on the veterinarians’ recommendations for care is provided and approved by you prior to any diagnostics or treatment being performed.
Can you perform x-rays, bloodwork, and other tests on site? We are fully equipped to perform a wide range of in-house testing – including bloodwork, urinalysis, blood pressure, EKG, intraocular pressure, ultrasound and Digital X-rays – to quickly diagnose and treat your pets’ illness.
Do you provide overnight hospitalization and care? The vast majority of pets presenting to San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care can be treated on an outpatient basis during our daily operating hours. Critically ill animals can be temporarily admitted to our facility during our hours of operation to receive diagnostics, treatment and stabilization with IV fluids or oxygen when indicated. When necessary, pets are referred to a 24-hour care facility for continuation of care overnight.
What are your hours of operation? San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care is open four nights a week to serve the after-hours urgent care needs of your dog or cat.
Is San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care open 24 hours? San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care is open four nights a week to serve the after-hours urgent care needs of your dog or cat. Does San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care accept pet insurance? Yes, we accept all pet insurance policies. All currently available plans require that the pet owner pay the provider for care and apply for reimbursement based on selected coverage. San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care does not participate with any membership discount plans or programs, such as Pet AssureⓇ.
Do you perform surgical procedures? San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care is equipped to perform minor surgical procedures such as wound repair and abscess treatment under sedation or general anesthesia. We also perform other anesthetic procedures such as oral, ear and orthopedic examination, ultrasounds and X-rays. Pets requiring immediate major surgery, and the overnight recovery care necessary following such procedures, are referred to an appropriate 24-hour care facility. Pets requiring non-emergent procedures such as tumor removal, bladder stone removal, orthopedic surgery or dental care are referred to the appropriate care provider.
Why does my pet need sedation or general anesthesia for x-rays or wound treatment? Most pets requiring orthopedic x-rays or wound treatment, and some pets with general illness, are painful, distressed or uncooperative. For proper restraint and positioning for diagnostic x-rays and safer, pain-free, comfortable treatment, sedation or anesthesia may be necessary. Occasionally, a simple injectable or oral sedative/pain reliever may be enough to facilitate care in certain pets. Often, short-acting or reversible sedation can be utilized for rapid outpatient care. A thorough physical exam and diagnostic evaluation prior to a procedure greatly reduces the potential untoward effects of sedation and general anesthesia.
Is sedation or general anesthesia dangerous for my pet, especially if elderly? While the age of a pet helps guide care, it is not considered an independent risk for anesthesia. All pets, regardless of age, especially those with medical illness, require careful consideration of the risk and benefits of anesthesia. Quite often, due to a pets’ pain, distress or lack of cooperation, the risks of attempting treatment awake outweigh the risk of utilizing sedation or anesthesia. In certain instances, full general anesthesia can be safer than light sedation. A thorough physical exam and diagnostic evaluation can greatly minimize the potential untoward effects of sedation and general anesthesia.
Do I need to bring my pet's medical records to San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care? Previous medical records are not required for care. However, records or lab work from your primary veterinarian, if available, may aid in your pets’ care at San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care.
Do you provide end-of-life care? Our staff is here is to assist you in your decision to say good-bye to your beloved pet. We provide a gentle and compassionate transition from this world with full euthanasia and cremation services. Fees for these services are based on decisions made at the time of your visit. A general estimate range only is available by phone for these services.
Are you able to see and treat exotic pets, such as birds, reptiles, and small mammals? The proper care and treatment of exotic pets requires specialized staff training, equipment and facilities. San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care currently limits its’ care to dogs and cats. Exotic pets are referred to a facility properly equipped to provide care to such pets.
Does San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care provide any services for wildlife, including those that appear sick or injured? San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care is not equipped to provide care to wildlife. The safe and proper handling of all wildlife requires specific training and appropriate facilities. Inexperienced handling of wildlife can result in human injury and promote the transmission of wildlife infectious diseases to both humans and pets. Additionally, attempting to aid wildlife perceived to be injured or in distress can be more harmful to the animal or others nearby. Concerned citizens are encouraged to contact local animal control services, either directly or through local law enforcement, for instructions on aiding wildlife.
What do I do if I think my pet ingested something toxic or a foreign object? We will always recommend bringing your pet in to be seen. To aid in proper treatment of your pet in the case of toxicity, we may ask you to contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-844-492-9842. You will be provided with a case number which permits discussion between our veterinarian and a veterinary toxicologist regarding your pets’ care.
Can you offer advice over the phone for the care of my sick dog or cat? San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care does not offer any advice over the phone for pets we have not previously treated in our facility. Appropriate and safe advice regarding the care of your pet, requires an on-site discussion of your concerns with our staff and a thorough examination of your pet by our veterinarian.
Can you contact my family veterinarian regarding my pet's care while at San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care? San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care provides care to pets when your veterinarian is unavailable, and we have no direct affiliation with any other veterinarian facility. We are unable to contact your veterinarian to discuss care while your pet is being treated even if you have been referred to us by them. Rest assured by recommending you to San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care, that your veterinarian has confidence in our care of your pet. Your veterinarian will receive a complete report of your pets’ care, including available results of all tests, usually by the morning following your visit.
Where are you located? San Diego Veterinary Urgent Care is conveniently located in the North Park area of San Diego, right off University Avenue between Utah Street and Granada Avenue. The address is 2860 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92104.