Animal Emergency Clinic of San Diego

Reviews

• EM

  Erin Middlemas

  Nov 1, 2025
  5.0
  It is obviously a stressful experience having an animal in dire need of emergency care. We are first time pet owners and our cat was showing signs of having a blockage and just picked the closest emergency vet. We didn't know what was going on or how everything was going to go. I was so impressed by this clinic. Not only did they keep us well informed and showed empathy for our situation, they immediately brought up costs and let us discuss things. I felt like I could trust my cat in their care, and it doesn't hurt they seemed to be as reasonable as they could about the cost. Also our cat can be wary of new people at first, but when our cat was being released to us it was clear they treated our cat very well. He immediately went for pets from both the vet and the vet assistant when he saw them.
• RR

  Renee Resko

  Oct 8, 2025
  5.0
  My experience was extremely positive given the very difficult situation of having to put my cat to sleep due to an inoperable diagnosis. The vet (Dr. Drew) did an excellent job explaining everything going on and the entire staff was kind, compassionate and patient on a very difficult day. I would highly recommend this clinic for a pet emergency.
• SW

  Stephanie Woithe

  Sep 23, 2025
  5.0
  I had a wonderful experience taking my ill cat here. (Wasn't eating, drinking, or defecating/urinating for a couple of days after a food change.) It turns out she had a GI tract issue that they quickly resolved after taking care of a triage patient. She's been turned away by many vet clinics because of her demeanor when she's at the vet's office. (Get's VERY angry, aggravated, and stressed out.) But, they handled her beautifully and the Dr. gave me the confidence that she would be okay after the procedure which appears to be so. Thank you, Dr. Drew!
• CC

  Connor

  Sep 19, 2025
  5.0
  I recently brought my dog, Ronan, to this clinic after noticing he was experiencing some bleeding. From the moment we arrived, the staff was welcoming, professional, and attentive. The wait time was minimal, and they immediately asked thoughtful questions about Ronan’s temperament, even suggesting that I stay with him during the exam to help him feel more comfortable. The nurse was incredibly kind and patient, offering Ronan treats and creating such a positive environment that he warmed up to them right away—something that doesn’t usually happen since he’s naturally wary of new people. The clinic also made sure to provide me with an upfront estimate of the costs, which I greatly appreciated. At the time, I was far more concerned about Ronan’s health than the expense, but I was reassured by their transparency and professionalism. Later, they even called to explain the results and the care he received, which went above and beyond my expectations. I’m truly grateful for the level of care and compassion shown to both Ronan and myself. This experience gave me peace of mind, and I would highly recommend this clinic to anyone looking for a veterinary team that genuinely cares for animals and their owners.
• BC

  Brittanie C

  Sep 13, 2025
  1.0
  I Should Have Read the Other Reviews….Stay Far Away I want to be clear: the doctor and the techs who helped me were kind, and professional. My issue is not with the medical team — it’s with the way this place is operated and its predatory business practices. I called ahead, explained my dog had an ear infection, which was not critical, and he was already on medication. They said, “no problem, bring him in.” When I arrived, the waiting room was empty and the techs even joked about how slow it was. The woman I spoke with on the phone was helpful. As I arrived and was patiently waiting to get checked in, the man at the front desk greeted me by literally putting his finger up to the glass as if to say, “You need to wait.” Another team member saw his behavior and stepped in to greet me and check me in. The doctor was solid and helpful. He flagged a heart murmur and said treatment would take no more than 15 minutes once my dog got pain meds. But here’s where it went downhill: They quoted me $575–$700 for treating an ear infection. After I agreed and signed the estimate, then came the bait and switch. The same front desk guy came back and said it could take a few hours to treat my dog’s ear infection. I reminded him the vet had said the procedure itself would take 15 minutes, and by that point, I had already been there an hour, despite the clinic being empty. I asked if they could give me a 2-3 hour window of time, so I could get my toddler home for bedtime. They couldn't (which I totally understand is based on incoming emergencies). The troubling part was the front desk guy then requested me to pay upfront and leave my dog for treatment, suggesting I “go see a movie” while they got around to him. I was sitting there with my two-year-old — not exactly movie night material. That’s when I checked other reviews and noticed a troubling pattern: pet owners are often asked to leave their pets after paying upfront, only to be called hours later with additional their animals needing “surprise” treatments. Nope. I asked to take my dog back, and they sent another tech in to smooth things over, but by that point, I was done. They still insisted I pay the $80 exam fee before leaving. It’s obvious their business model is built on trapping desperate pet owners. Some staff were polite, but the overall experience was gross, exploitative and gave me the ick. I cannot imagine how much a real emergency would cost or how long it would take if they had multiple cases 🫣😭

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