Pet Hospital of Penasquitos-Veterinary Specialist

4.6 (96)
9888 Carmel Mountain Rd Ste F, San Diego, CA 92129, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Pet Hospital of Penasquitos-Veterinary Specialist

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 11,714
4.9 Embrace 16,675
4.9 Fetch 11,124
4.2 Figo 2,598
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 9,976
4.9 Lemonade 805
4.6 ManyPets 2,335
4.0 MetLife 626
4.8 Nationwide 21,404
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.5 PetPartners 112
4.3 Pets Best 12,058
4.6 Pumpkin 1,425
4.6 Spot 6,848
4.9 Trupanion 67,964
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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Yana B

I had a very positive experience with this hospital. Doctor Caron is amazing. I took my hamster and my guinea pig there. It is very hard to find proper care for exotic pets when they need it. Every exotic hospital in San Diego is always fully booked for a week ahead. Usually I have to take my animals to the emergency hospital because of the lack of veterinarians around. I was so happy to discover this hospital! I am very confident taking my pets to this veterinary hospital. The doctor is very knowledgeable and very detail oriented. She looked very closely in both cases of my animals. Highly recommended.

posted: 05/11/2023

Stephanie Heinrich

I wanted to like this establishment more. My tortoise was a patient of the Pet Hospital of Penasquitos from September 2022 through January 2023 when he passed away. I’ve delayed on making a post because I was very frustrated with my experience and the outcome, but wanted to provide a review that is helpful to others. Without going into every detail of my experience, my word of caution is to make sure you request every document from the vet including their post visit summary because I truly believe a lack of communication led to the death of my tortoise. More than one time there was information that was withheld and that I learned only due to reading the reports, and I addressed right away. Yet again information was not shared as time progressed, and decisions were made on his condition without discussing the differential diagnosis with me. I believe the doctors care, but are not spending the time to communicate all possibilities with patients. Please make sure you advocate for your pet if you choose to see this hospital. There is also only one reptile specialist at this establishment, be aware that Dr. Caron is new and in training as a reptile resident. I saw another vet to get a second opinion in January 2023, and believe there are better options in San Diego and wish I had taken this step sooner. After discussing my concerns with Dr. Caron I was provided a refund for services that were not in alignment with appropriate care for his condition. I hope this information is helpful in finding the proper veterinarian for your pet.

posted: 06/02/2023

Apollo Poole

I took my corn snake, Calcifer, here. He wasn't well and I knew deep down that he most likely wouldn't make it. Dr. Charon was the most gentle vet I've ever spoken to. She broke the news to me, told me he was way past help at this point. He was euthanized that day. Everyone here at this pet hospital is kind, empathetic, and they really do care for both you and your pet. Today I recieved a letter from the Pet Hospital with everyone's condolences. Thank you all. It hasn't been easy, but knowing you all care makes so much of a difference. Much love to everyone.

posted: 03/16/2023

Joshua Rehkopf

Their knowledge and expertise of exotic and domestic animals goes above and beyond words. Been taking my colorful buddy Gottfried in for a few years now and they have kept him on the path to a healthy happy life.

posted: 11/10/2022

Jason PErnst

Amazing Little pet hospital. From Liz at the front desk to Dr Caron everyone was very friendly and professional. I found them to be very affordable too. $79 for the exam plus extra if you need to treat. I hope to not need to go back however if I do This will be my place. They took great care of my Iguana too which is exotic and hard to find vets that will see him. They even trained me to administer antibiotics Love this place feels like a small town vets office with lots of love in a big city. Thanks Guys Jason

posted: 10/18/2022