College Animal Hospital

4.7 (297)
5653 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at College Animal Hospital

Schedule Regular Vet Visits

One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.

Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions

Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.

Pet Insurance

Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.

How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?

Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 891
4.5 ASPCA 11,757
4.9 Embrace 17,158
4.9 Fetch 18,571
4.2 Figo 2,602
4.7 Hartville 165
4.9 Healthy Paws 10,008
4.9 Lemonade 805
4.6 ManyPets 2,343
4.0 MetLife 652
4.8 Nationwide 21,407
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.5 PetPartners 113
4.3 Pets Best 12,232
4.6 Pumpkin 1,473
4.6 Spot 7,033
4.9 Trupanion 73,743
4.8 Prudent Pet 125

Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.

Thinking of insuring your pet?

Get Quotes & Compare

Getting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask

Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:

Tell me about your experience with [pet type].

Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.

How do you handle emergencies?

You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.

How do you communicate with pet owners?

Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.

Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?

Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.

Do you have any questions for me about my pet?

This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.

Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?

Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.

Reviews from Google

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Kathryn Williams

I had one of the first appointments on a Saturday morning, so we were in and out pretty fast, but the vet was thorough! The waiting room is a tad small. The whole staff was nice and friendly. We had been to a few different vets with our last cat, so we could tell they knew their stuff! They were compassionate and seemed to actually care about the well-being of my kitten. Their prices are the cheapest nearby that was recommended by the San Diego Humane Society. The only downside I could see is the small size of the facility, which I imagine could be a potential issue with larger pets because even the exam room I went in was small.

posted: 09/05/2023

David Schwartz

Our cat had a minor surgical procedure performed this week. The doctor and staff were friendly, efficient, informed, communicative, and a pleasure to deal with. One of the best veterinary experiences we’ve had in a lifetime of pet ownership.

posted: 05/23/2023

Angel Brock

Absolutely amazing! They took great care of my baby and kept me updated throughout his entire dental procedure. Everyone who works there is extremely nice, professional, and patient. They are thorough in explaining health concerns and aftercare procedures, and I highly recommend taking your pets here. Their clinic has good vibes, and I trust them to take care of my Brutus and make sure all his health needs are met.

posted: 07/12/2023

Aaron Yeip

Very helpful with the travel health certificate for my move to Hawaii. Thought it was a bit expensive for just a piece of paper to be signed but it is what it is. They communicated with me (I was already in Hawaii) ahead of time before the appointment to knock out the administrative stuff so when my aunt brought my dog it was quick and easy. Mahalo for your help!

posted: 09/20/2023

Christine

This place is awesome! The vet who examined my Sadie was excellent! (I’m blanking on her name but she’s the only full time vet…) She was so kind and gentle and actually sat on the floor to give Sadie her exam. Sadie was happy and relaxed the whole time because she just thought a nice lady was loving on her. Sadie is a new rescue and has been traumatized so the fact that the vet was so kind meant the world to me and meant that Sadie didn’t have to go through the traumatic lift onto the cold metal table. I will be forever grateful to this vet and College Animal Hospital and this will be the only place I will be taking my Sadie for medical care if I can help it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

posted: 05/28/2023