Banfield Pet Hospital

4.1 (104 reviews)
490 River St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, 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 – 7:00 PM Sunday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

How to Save on Veterinary Costs at Banfield Pet 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 Banfield Pet 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
4.8 Adoro 19
4.5 AKC 1,801
4.4 ASPCA 12,227
4.9 Embrace 19,970
4.9 Fetch 5,909
4.1 Figo 2,868
4.4 Hartville 183
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,371
4.8 Lemonade 833
4.6 ManyPets 2,416
4.7 MetLife 11,221
4.8 Nationwide 25,693
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 15,328
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,865
4.7 Pumpkin 3,539
4.6 Spot 11,570
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

4.1

104 reviews

Jess is so helpful and friendly! She makes it easy to drop off my Oliver, as I know he’s in good hands. Everyone at this office is welcoming. Dr. Sugar is amazing! She is thorough and detailed, as well as knowledgeable and experienced. She listened to and addressed all my concerns, and gave me tips on how to handle behavior issues. Totally recommend!

Jul 31, 2022

Staff cancelled my appointment because one of them tried putting their leash to take one of my dogs to the back. I told staff that I was going to muzzle my dog but staff said " he looks friendly I don't think he needs a muzzle". My dog launched at staff when they tried putting their leash. So they cancelled his appointment. I had a second dog that had appointment as well but they cancelled the 2nd dogs appointment too.. why I don't know 2nd dog had nothing to do with 1st dog actions.

Aug 4, 2023

Called specifically for an “in-room” visit for my anxious dog (since every other visit, they just take her back and I can’t see what they are doing) and was scheduled for an “in-room” visit. Showed up and was told that the doctor doesn’t do “in-room” visits and they would take my dog back and then call me. I told them that I had specifically scheduled an “in-room” visit because my dog is anxious, and that I spoke AT LENGTH with the scheduler about it, and was told that there must have been a misunderstanding. A colossal waste of time, gas, and a dose of my dog’s anxiety medication just for this office to screw up yet again. The worst is the stress my dog went through - just to not be seen. I have hated this corporate hell hole ever since the beginning, but now we will never go back. There was a “misunderstanding” every single time and the staff couldn’t care less.

Jul 27, 2023

The vets at this location are great, but they seem heavily understaffed. They close early random days and leave you on hold for long periods of time. I would give them 5 stars but recently service has dropped. I have been using them for 2-3 years now i hope they get the recent staffing issue under control. When they have staff they are great but bandfield is burning this location.

Apr 28, 2023

Dr. Drexler is Amazing!!! Our boy, Olaf, gets very nervous about going to the vet. Dr. Drexler and her team came in and got everything done even with him acting a little aggressive. I am so appreciative of her and the staff at this location! We drove all the way from Monterey because we didn’t like the doctor in our area. 10/10 I highly recommend this one! Thank you Dr. Drexler and team!

May 22, 2023