VCA San Carlos Animal Hospital

4 (45 reviews)
718 El Camino Real, San Carlos, CA 94070, USA

Hours

Monday 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Tuesday 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Wednesday 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Friday 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

How to Save on Veterinary Costs at VCA San Carlos Animal Hospital

Preventive care

Routine wellness exams can help identify health issues early, often before they become more serious or expensive to treat. Regular checkups are one of the most effective ways to manage long term veterinary costs.

Compare prescription pricing

Some pet medications prescribed at veterinary clinics may also be available through local or online pharmacies. It can be helpful to compare pricing when appropriate to reduce ongoing medication costs.

Consider pet insurance

Pet insurance may help cover a portion of eligible veterinary expenses depending on the plan, including accidents, illnesses, and in some cases preventive care. Coverage details, reimbursement levels, and deductibles vary by provider.

Why Pet Insurance Information Appears on This Page

Looking for information about VCA San Carlos Animal Hospital? This page also includes pet insurance resources to help pet parents understand how to prepare for unexpected veterinary expenses.

Veterinary care costs can vary widely depending on the type of visit, treatment, or emergency. Many pet parents explore pet insurance before they need it so they are better prepared when unexpected situations arise.

How to Choose a Pet Insurance Provider

Pet Insurance Review helps pet parents compare insurance providers using verified customer reviews and real-world experiences. Our tools make it easier to evaluate providers based on claims experience, service quality, and overall satisfaction.

We have collected more than 220,000 reviews from pet parents, creating one of the largest independent databases of pet insurance feedback available.

How rankings are determined

Unexpected veterinary expenses can happen at any clinic. The providers below are ranked using verified reviews submitted by real pet parents through Pet Insurance Review. Results reflect overall satisfaction, claims experience, and value based on real world feedback. Rankings are updated regularly as new reviews are submitted.

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2026
Rating Provider Total Review
4.7 Adoro 11
4.5 AKC 1,798
4.4 ASPCA 12,182
4.9 Embrace 19,907
4.9 Fetch 5,691
4.1 Figo 2,852
4.4 Hartville 182
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,260
4.8 Lemonade 831
4.6 ManyPets 2,414
4.7 MetLife 10,344
4.8 Nationwide 25,431
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 15,132
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,811
4.7 Pumpkin 3,393
4.6 Spot 11,341
4.9 Trupanion 55,033

Compare Pet Insurance Plans

You can compare coverage options from multiple providers to find a plan that fits your budget and your pet’s healthcare needs.


Getting to Know Your Veterinarian

Choosing a veterinarian is an important decision for pet parents. A strong vet relationship is built on trust, communication, and understanding your pet’s individual needs.

Experience

Ask whether the clinic has experience treating your specific type of pet, since care can vary between dogs, cats, and pocket pets.

Emergency Care Procedures

It’s helpful to understand how the clinic handles after-hours emergencies, including whether they provide emergency services or refer to nearby emergency hospitals.

Communication Preferences

Ask how the clinic communicates with pet parents, including updates, test results, and follow up questions.

Breed Specific Health Considerations

Some breeds may be more prone to certain health conditions. Early awareness can help with prevention and early treatment.

Facility Tour

If available, touring the clinic can help you and your pet feel more comfortable before the first visit.


Final Note

Pet care decisions often involve both medical and financial considerations. Having access to trusted veterinary information alongside pet insurance comparisons can help pet parents feel more confident when planning for their pet’s health and wellbeing.

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Reviews from Google

4

45 reviews

Wow. I cannot express how thankful I am to have this hospital. They were very attentive and was able to see my pet the same day I called! When I wasn’t sure if it was urgent, they were able to ask thorough questions to help determine if my pet should be seen now or wait for an appointment. The appointment was an easy process for me. All I had to do was wait in my car and wait for a phone call. Everything was contactless which obviously is important to me given covid. Even when I arrived my pet did not hesitate to go with the nurses, you could tell she trusted them! Thanks VCA San Carlos for going above and beyond!

Sep 26, 2020

When my 17-year old cat became suddenly ill my regular Vet was unable to schedule an appointment with us and I tried Veterinary Wellness Center in an emergency. The staff was amazing, saw us right away, were so compassionate to our poor kitty, and she received immediate and quality veterinary care and attention. The fact that the Wellness Center is open 24 hours a day/night and 7 days a week ensures that all my pets are seen whenever they have a need and scheduling is not dependent on an 8-hour work day. Frankly, I don't know why anyone wouldn't want this care for their pet, especially considering the superior veterinary services provided at the Wellness Center.

Jun 25, 2014

One more update...the owner of the clinic was kind enough to contact me to discuss my concerns. She did address them with the staff. __ I will leave my previous, glowing review, but in recent months we have not been as pleased with the care. Our dog was unusually lethargic, and while we are grateful the VCA diagnosed her with hypothyroidism, there were two instances of tests we declined that they proceeded with and charged us. Additionally we are not receiving written summaries or itemized invoices. The thing that concerns us most is we strongly feel our dog is receiving too high of a dose of medication as we are seeing adverse reactions. Instead of investigating our concerns, we were assured that we needed to continue with the higher dose based on lab results (my dad was a medical researcher, I get this, but labs vs. symptoms, please be curious). I simply don't feel they are taking the time to care for our concerns and questions. __ 6 Years Earlier Thank you doesn’t even begin to express our gratitude for what Dr Haddad and staff did for our dog. Our dog sitter notified us that our dog Matilda had been sick to her stomach since our departure. First day we thought it was nerves, but by the 2nd day, we realized something serious was wrong. Our dog sitter took Matilda to San Carlos Pet Hospital (referral from a friend). We were 2000 miles away at a family reunion ( a short 4 day trip), and the staff kept in frequent contact with us on her condition. They were very practical with the tests which were run and reasonable with the charges. After a few inconclusive tests (important ones to rule out illness), the doctors felt it was likely there was an obstruction in her GI which wasn't showing up on x-ray. Having a father who was a medical researcher I understood how this was possible, so when they suggested ultra-sound, we proceeded. The staff moved forward with calling every possible resource for the ultrasound in the Bay Area. Once they secured an appointment, (but with only an hours notice and, again, being 2000 miles away), we were unable to transport Matilda to her ultrasound appointment. We called friends, pet taxi services and couldn't find anyone to transport her. So the owner took it upon herself to transport Matilda to the other clinic. (We are still so grateful for this!!!) Obstruction was found and Dr Haddad, came in after hours to perform her surgery. In total, 5 doctors attended to Matilda, kept us posted around the clock (literally we received a call at 3:30 am when Matilda was not doing well). With so much that happened in those few days, in the end, we feel the billing was also reasonable. Truly, we will never go to another vet. This is our vet clinic going forward. They are remarkable. Message to Dr Haddad and staff "Your treatment of Matilda was outstanding and to say you went above and beyond is an understatement. This sort of dedication to your patients makes you all exceptional vets. You saved our dogs life and provided her with affection and comfort in our absence. (Tearful) Our sincere thanks to all of you."

Nov 24, 2020

I had the misfortune of having the same doc for both visits for 2 different cats. It was like being at a car dealership... didn’t give me options at all . I realized later I paid the highest rate for both cats. I had to have one of my babies put to sleep yesterday and chose to go to another clinic in Redwood City. Now This is where I should have gone initially. Health options were discussed, pricing options... they were amazing.

Jun 18, 2020

I've been bringing my dogs here for years and have had only positive experiences. Recently one of my dogs swallowed an entire banana, with the skin and stem. I called the office and was told to bring him right in. He was treated almost immediately and was fine and ready to come home in around an hour and a half. The vets we've seen, Dr. Haddad and Dr. Stauber, are both friendly and professional. The nurse is wonderful. I'm happy they've become a 24 hour emergency center so I would no longer have to drive to Palo Alto for after-hours care.

Jun 24, 2014