VCA Santa Margarita Animal Hospital
4.5 (87) 30052 Santa Margarita Pkwy, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USAHours:
Monday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
How to Save Money at VCA Santa Margarita 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 | 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
I visited on 7/14 and had a great experience. The vet and staff were very helpful, especially the vet tech; I would definitely come back to this office.
posted: 07/17/2023
REVIEW THE CHARGES. they wanted to charge $64 to soak my dogs foot in a disinfecting solution and $110 to shave her foot. no thanks, my dogs doesn't need a $64 pedicure on one foot and overpriced haircut. i gave them 3 stars because they had good availability and i could bring her in the same day. the vet explained things well and gave me info to take home which was very nice. i would not come back though unless i had an emergency.
posted: 11/22/2022
I was able to get a vet appointment the same day I placed the call, unlike my old Vet which could never seem to get me in that day or even within several days. The staff was very professional and the doctor I saw took his time examining my dog and explained everything to me. I would recommend this VCA to anybody searching for a great veterinarian to take care of their pet. They have a great staff and I give them all five thumbs up. Vicki Yoder
posted: 12/08/2022
Dr. Kelpe has been our veterinarian for seven years, and my dog, Rocco, wouldn't be alive without him. When Rocco needed immediate surgery in a life-threatening situation, both Dr. Kelpe and his partner worked on him over the July 4th holiday. They performed the surgery during the day, went back to check on him at 11:00 pm that night (!!!), and basically treated both of us like their own family. All that, plus friendly staff and a clean facility. As far as price goes, no vet care is cheap. I've had four Goldens, and the prices at this facility are commensurate with others in the area. Even though I live in Irvine now, I still bring my dog back to SMACC for check-ups and boarding. Two thumbs up.
posted: 04/02/2018
Just want to say I feel sorry for people have to go to this place for their loved pet. They force you to unnecessary doctor visits, test and exams. I was going to this place for years and I must say my pet is healthier stay away from them. If you have to go here just fight for what you think is good for your pet. Every single time I was there for a Vaccine or nail trim they push us to the doctor room and guess what coming out with $400 bill. Also they refuse the service when I decided not to have a doctor visit, So they are forcing us to see the doctor, not an option.
posted: 02/08/2022
Veterinarians in Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Antonio Animal Hospital
22461 Antonio Pkwy a120, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USA(949) 858-0949
Banderas Pet Hospital & Boarding
29772 Avenida de las Banderas B, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USA(949) 766-4449
Banfield Pet Hospital
30515 Avenida de las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USA(949) 635-9765
VCA Santa Margarita Animal Hospital
30052 Santa Margarita Pkwy, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USA(949) 858-3181
Wagly Veterinary Hospital & Pet Campus | RSM
30202 Esperanza, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USA(949) 709-4600