El Cerrito Veterinary Hospital
4.7 (222) 6911 University Ave, La Mesa, CA 91942, USAHours:
Monday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at El Cerrito Veterinary 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 | 889 |
| 4.7 | ASPCA | 11,392 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 14,179 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 1,995 |
| 4.4 | Figo | 2,561 |
| 4.7 | Hartville | 164 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 7,475 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 781 |
| 3.2 | ManyPets | 2,145 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 487 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,391 |
| 4.3 | Pet Assure | 12 |
| 4.7 | PetPartners | 110 |
| 4.5 | Pets Best | 7,194 |
| 4.3 | Pumpkin | 1,131 |
| 4.7 | Spot | 5,194 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 60,280 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 124 |
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
This is me favorite vet office ever! They have great prices while also taking great care of my pups. I feel like they really take the time to hear what my concerns are and then make excellent recommendations to help support my dogs health. Honestly I am always impressed at the level of care the staff gives especially considering all of the difficultly surrounding the pandemic and the huge pet boom that came with it!! I will be a life long fan and patron of El Cerrito and highly recommend it to everyone who is seeking quality care.
posted: 10/31/2022
I brought my cat here for the first time a few weeks ago and it was a lovely experience. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, and I appreciate that they provide regular updates on how your pet is doing while you wait. The prices are reasonable as well. I’ll be going to El Cerrito from now on!
posted: 05/16/2023
I have a difficult time putting into words how sad, angry, and generally heart broken I feel about the treatment we received from El Cerrito Vet Hospital today. Our dog has been seen many times by El Cerrito since he was 2 months old, and we’ve been nothing but courteous and respectful clients. He had an emergency today where he ingested a latex balloon, and we rushed to El Cerrito to have him be given solution to throw it up before it made its way into his digestive system. The receptionist at the front desk gave us an eye roll and said they were too busy to see him. When we pleaded, she said too bad and to go to another vet because they have too many appointments this afternoon. The fact we’ve been going here regularly for a year now, and they’d rather let our dog die before mildly inconveniencing their appointment log is absolutely unacceptable and heartless. Thank God we were able to find him care with another vet in time. When you truly need help, even when you’ve been a loyal patient since the first day you’ve had your dog, El Cerrito will NOT be there for you. I am absolutely heart broken by the lack of compassion and attention for Biscuit today, shame on you.
posted: 04/04/2023
After moving to O'side, the toughest thing I had to do was to find a new vet. I have taken pets to El Cerrito for nearly 30y. The staff were wonderful, the docs were great. They are truly there to give your pet the best quality of life. It took me quite a while to find a vet I was comfortable with up here.
posted: 02/14/2023
I have known these beautiful people for years. All our dogs have been to them even my daughters dogs. We just love how caring ❤ kind &,professional they are. The best in all of California. !!
posted: 02/17/2023
Veterinarians in La Mesa, California
Eastridge Animal Hospital
7750 University Ave suite a, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA(619) 465-4600
El Cerrito Veterinary Hospital
6911 University Ave, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA(619) 466-0533
Feathers and Fur Animal Hospital
7750 University Ave STE A, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA(619) 465-4600
Fletcher Hills Animal Hospital
8807 Grossmont Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA(619) 463-6604
Kristi Freeman DVM Inc
3755 Avocado Blvd #438, La Mesa, CA 91941, USA(619) 741-5366
Our Pet Vets - University Pet Hospital
7134 University Ave, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA(619) 463-9861
Pet Emergency & Specialty Center - La Mesa
5232 Jackson Dr Suite 105, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA(619) 462-4800
Pet Hospital of La Mesa: Espinosa Miguel DVM
5336 Jackson Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA(619) 469-0138