Papaya Veterinary Care - Pacific Highlands Ranch

4.1 (25)
5980 Village Way B104, San Diego, CA 92130, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Papaya Veterinary Care - Pacific Highlands Ranch

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 2024
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 & Compare

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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Theodor Lupu

For what it’s worth I haven’t went back after they closed down for months due to not having a vet recently. But I just wanted to list my experiences here. The staff is super nice, the facility is clean and modern and well thought out for nervous or anxious dogs. That being said, of my three appointments there I only saw a vet for part of the first, and they were nowhere to be seen for the rest. Everything is a bit too laid back, I’ve been told my dog doesn’t need any vaccinations but I’ve been called back while we were driving home from that very appointment. I’ve had to call in to see if anything was due cause they don’t notify you in time. While there for checkups they don’t really look too hard at the dog and miss things that I later found on my own. Lastly they seem to dismiss a lot of concerns and don’t offer many solutions or treatments. Recently just got a mailer for treatment recommendations and the due dates are 2 years back…. Overall it was okay but I didn’t feel like they actually cared.

posted: 08/29/2023

Jordanna White

I have never found a vet that I leave feeling so happy after an appointment. I found an injured feral and brought her into Papaya. The way they treated her was so kind and genuine, they were so patient with this sweet baby and gained her trust. Front desk and the vet techs were very kind, but Dr. Tindall I have to say is amazing. You can tell she genuinely cares for these animals, and their owners and is very thorough when explaining what exactly is wrong and the treatment plan. Also let’s not leave out how cute this vet office is!!! Sweet feral girl is healing up perfectly and is very happy! Thank you to everyone at Papaya! It’s safe to say I will be bringing my two house kitties here from now on :)

posted: 05/22/2023

Pauline France

Exceptional staff and care! The new ownership and crew that took over from previous management is amazing. I know their sudden/abrupt closure was a shock for many (including myself), but if you’re willing to give the new team a chance, you’ll be glad you did. My dog had major oral surgery along with other routine care, and I would highly recommend this clinic to anyone if you’re looking for superb care.

posted: 08/03/2023

Sarah Verduzco

I first came across Papaya pet care at an outdoor event for dogs, Barks and Brews, where I visited the booth for a pamphlet and I loved everyone's energy and what they shared. Even though we weren't in an office, I could tell that this staff cared for animals and provided a different level of care. Then it came time to actually use their services. I had a scare with my pup, vomiting, etc and had taken her to urgent care. They told me to follow up with my regular vet to make sure nothing was wrong with her bloodwork, liver or anything else. That visit was my first visit to Papaya and I was beyond impressed with their level of care. Dr. Tindall told me that my dog was underweight and she was concerned at what her bloodwork might show. Although this was awful to hear, Dr. Tindall was so gracious and caring with me and my dog, Athena, when I was feeling guilty and vulnerable. We switched her diet to hopefully make some progress with her weight and had another follow up shortly after. I am confident to leave this amazing review now after having two visits to Papaya. Everyone on staff is caring and enthusiastic, you can tell they are willing to treat your pet like one of their own. I got to go back into the exam room with my dog which I know helped her level of anxiety. Everyone who interacts with your pet is caring and compassionate with animals, it's a great feeling as an owner to know that they have your pet's best interest at heart and they will do their best to help them feel comfortable through every part of the exam. I cannot refer this place to enough people, its worth the trek from East County for me.

posted: 08/19/2023

Lo Se

Let me start by saying, I have been to quiet a few vets so far unfortunately, especially the past few weeks. We adopted two kittens from a shelter who turned out to be really sick. Not only did they provide me with the uttermost kindness, they made every effort to help me through the whole process until they got better. Though, that wasn’t the end of it. My kittens got too rowdy recently and one scratched the other in the eye causing terrifying corneal scratches, I called to see if they can see him not expecting much, they went above and beyond. Not only did they take him in right away, but the impeccable kindness from the front desk/assistants and the doctor (Stephany, Aidan, Alexandria, and Dr. Brooke) was rare. My poor furbaby also had an accident in my carrier due to fear and high stress and they were so kind to help me clean it up for me as I was distraught and worried about my kitty. Dr. Brooke was very reassuring and honest. They are not out for your money. They actually have humanity. You walk in, they ask if you need anything or want anything I.e. snacks, water, etc. When you enter the treatment room, they actually let your furbaby roam around in a pet-safe room, it’s relaxing, quiet, snacks nearby, pet toys. They do their best to make your furbaby feel at home in such a scary face. I was treated with quick, exceptional service and I hope I never move as I worry I’ll never find a vet like this again. And TRUST ME, I have been to one too many trying to save my kitties. They showed me humanity during a very hard time and I will always be grateful and thankful.

posted: 09/02/2023