VCA Care Specialty and Emergency Animal Hospital
3.8 (89) 301 E Haley St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USAHours:
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
How to Save Money at VCA Care Specialty and Emergency 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:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | AKC | 891 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 11,713 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 16,627 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 10,616 |
| 4.2 | Figo | 2,598 |
| 4.7 | Hartville | 164 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 9,975 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 805 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,332 |
| 4.0 | MetLife | 625 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,404 |
| 4.3 | Pet Assure | 12 |
| 4.5 | PetPartners | 112 |
| 4.3 | Pets Best | 12,053 |
| 4.6 | Pumpkin | 1,425 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 6,829 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 67,550 |
| 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 & CompareGetting 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
Mikky, a semi-feral tabby cat, became ill and was in pain from an abscess. It was determined that he would not survive. Dr Wayne and her support crew at VCA Santa Barbara are all very compassionate people and were very reassuring to me, the human side of the pet parenting equation. Mikky and I were fortunate to contact/meet such nice/competent people on that cold February morning. From first phone contact, to a follow-up letter of condolence received from the Doctor, everyone was very supportive. This is greatly appreciated as I was out of my league. Thank you for compassionately and professionally facilitating our transition. If I had to do it over again I would definitely return to VCA Santa Barbara.
posted: 02/16/2023
SUCH compassionate care...we were treated with respect and compassion. They allowed our other dog and two humans in with us. I loved that they made our dog feel loved during her last moments on earth. I thought the price was reasonable for our last-minute needs. Their protocol was impeccable. Thank you, Dr. Wayne. You were so present, as were your staff.
posted: 04/24/2023
we had to put our dog down suddenly. we had never been to VCA Animal Hospital before...they were WONDERFUL. They gave us a private room, allowed 4 of us and our 2nd dog to be there while we said good bye to our sweet dog. they were warm, professional, courteous and sensitive to our needs. It was a very sweet experience...we originally wanted to do this at our home, but this was better and exceeded our expectations. I would highly recommend them any time. And the prices were WAY better than other facilities in town- super reasonable. and they are open 24 hours... they did not gouge us ...we spent half of what we were quoted from mobile vets. Highly recommend this place..
posted: 04/24/2023
I just spoke with a woman on the phone. She provided a great screening, was very clear on what is an emergency and next steps. I really appreciate her taking the time to be thorough and clear!
posted: 09/13/2023
Sometimes there is a bit of a wait, but what a relief to get vet care in the middle of the night! Very reassuring to know they are there 24 hours. They are compassionate. I don't like that they take the dog away from me to go to another room. I came in for an ear infection, and although I know they needed to clean her ear, it was pretty clear she was in pain when they did it . She was returned to me with a very, very sore ear, (albeit clean and plucked) with medicine. My dog was clearly shaken. Again, I don't like the idea of going into another room to treat my dog. I would rather be there to see what is happening. Bottom line, she is better, and I'm grateful for the treatment and care. Thank you VCA
posted: 12/16/2021
Veterinarians in Santa Barbara, California
Adobe Pet Hospital
3230 State St # A, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA(805) 682-2555
Advanced Veterinary Specialists
414 E Carrillo St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA(805) 729-4460
Artemis Animal Clinic
3433 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA(805) 569-5997
Cat and Bird Clinic
101 W Mission St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA(805) 569-2287
Cat Doctors
1333 De La Vina St # G, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA(805) 899-2944
Dr. Christine Sellers, DVM
101 W Mission St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA(805) 569-2287
Foothill Pet Hospital
675 Cieneguitas Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, USA(805) 967-0119
Greek Jean DVM
3022 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA(805) 687-3376