Vets Near Me > California > San Leandro > Washington Avenue Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital (WAVES)

Washington Avenue Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital (WAVES)

4.6
14790 Washington Ave, San Leandro, CA 94578, USA

Best Pet Insurance in San Leandro, California 2026

Hours:

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 Washington Avenue Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital (WAVES)

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 2026
Rating Provider Total Review
4.9 Adoro 24
4.5 AKC 1,801
4.4 ASPCA 12,250
4.9 Embrace 20,008
4.9 Fetch 5,987
4.1 Figo 2,876
4.4 Hartville 183
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,406
4.8 Lemonade 834
4.6 ManyPets 2,416
4.7 MetLife 11,560
4.7 Nationwide 25,788
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 15,492
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,884
4.7 Pumpkin 3,624
4.6 Spot 11,666
4.9 Trupanion 55,033

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

Thinking of insuring your pet?

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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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DA Costales

If you want an emergency vet where you actually feel heard and respected, go to WAVES in San Leandro. They took us in immediately late at night. The receptionist was so pleasant and greeted us with a smile the moment we arrived. The vet tech, Tai/Thai, was incredibly professional, kind, patient, and attentive to my concerns. Later in the day, I called with follow-up questions, and a second tech, William, provided wonderful assurance and guidance. In the past, the emergency facility in Oakland (right off the freeway) has been incredibly rude, dismissive, and rushed on the phone. WAVES is the exact opposite. They actually listen!

Chelsea Williamson

I am a new client and I had to unexpectedly bring in my senior cat yesterday after noticing some changes. From walking in to checking out, the process was awesome for both me as a stressed out pet parent and easy on my cat. I really appreciated the kindness each staff member showed and the time Dr. Legallet took to go over the options and pricing with me. Hopefully I won’t have to be back, but I’m grateful to know this locally owned clinic is there for my pets in case I need it.

Andrew Lawrence Clinard

Appreciated these vets so much! Brought in our cat with a puncture wound late Sunday night - regular vet was not open. Bianca at the front desk was lovely. Jesus, vet tech, was incredibly kind and supportive, got us through the whole process. Dr. Nomura knew exactly what was needed. Felt like they were really trying to care for us, not make money off us! And prices were better than other ER vets we have been to, even gave us a refund on the way out.

Lewis Liu

WAVES has an incredible staff and team of caring doctors and technicians. They truly put the care of the animals as their top priority. I would trust them again with any complicated procedures or emergencies our little ones encounter in the future. Thank you!

Isabel Rodriguez

First time here. Had to bring my pup in for an eye issue. I called around to see where I could get in near me in Oakland and these guys had a way shorter wait time; intake cost (just to be seen) was way better than some Oakland emergency vets I called; and (once here) the staff and doctors were SO kind! They were super sweet to my dog. Extra plus for having parking right outside and free coffee since we raced out the door this morning before having ours. He’s being seen now so I’m still waiting but would definitely recommend this spot if you have the unfortunate need for an emergency vet nearby.

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