Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists

4.1 (323)
2585 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065, USA

Hours:

Monday: Open 24 hours

Tuesday: Open 24 hours

Wednesday: Open 24 hours

Thursday: Open 24 hours

Friday: Open 24 hours

Saturday: Open 24 hours

Sunday: Open 24 hours

How to Save Money at Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists

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

hand swipe
holly velez

Our girl was very sick, Dr Robison and team really took care of her to the best of their ability. Complete compassion and care was given to our cat Gypsy. We couldn’t thank the team enough for the service and care we were given through a very hard time. (They even let us have a private room to wait in) They also made all preparations for Gypsy to be put to rest, very simple and easy process. Thank you!

posted: 07/10/2023

Lauren Hancock

We were referred to Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists after our guy mass cell tumors grew after several attempts to remove the. Dr. Reich and her team of radiologist and staff have been incredibly reassuring for this crazy pug lady. Dr. Reich's approach to our family is with compassion, knowledge, and patience. Her bedside manner is exceptional. I've always felt she has the best interest of our pug. She takes the time to explain things, provide context, and she will call back! Anna is another that has been absolutely wonderful to work with. She never makes us feel rushed and she always, always, takes down information with a reassuring and caring tone- however large or small things seem she knows it's important for us and our guy. If you find yourself in a situation where you need Dr. Reich or Anna's services, they will take care of you and your fur baby. Thank you Dr. Reich, Anna, and the patient admin team at Pacific and Santa Cruz vet!

posted: 08/12/2023

icebrg24

Despite it being a holiday and not having the exact right rabbit savvy vet, the team was willing to try to help with my rabbit’s care. When it became obvious that my bunny needed a higher level of care the team called every vet in Northern California to help me find the right place to go to save my rabbit. I will mention that they DO NOT see rabbits at this time, but due to the urgency of my situation they did everything they could. My bunny is alive and thriving because of their early interventions.

posted: 06/07/2023

Lannette Lozano

I have been taking my cats to Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital and Specialist for the past 10 years. They have always taken very good care of me and I think the care given by all staff members to the animals is the best in the county. From the front desk, the techs, veterinarians and specialists. They truly care about the pet and their family. I am very grateful to all of them.

posted: 08/17/2023

Nijlan Rosalia Bastet

I have two beloved senior cats who have experienced multiple emergencies and there is no better place to go than PSVS. The front house staff are kind, grounded, knowledgeable and efficient. The vets communicate clearly and compassionately. The staff have patiently and kindly helped me in the wee hours of the night more times than I can count. Both my cats currently see Dr. Pressel. I have literally shared with tears in my eyes to friends, that after 15yrs of extensive and expensive care for these cats, Dr. Presel is the first vet who I trust 100%. Going to the vet has always caused major constriction in my belly. Part of that is because in the past, talking with the vet has left me feeling unheard, confused and fearful. Dr. Pressel and the staff at PSVS make it a point to listen, take into consideration my perspective as the companion of these cats for 15yrs, answer my questions, give digestible information / explanation that helps me to make discerning decisions, and work with me to overcome the limitations of my budget. I've never experienced such incredible care as a human in relation with a vet or a veterinary office. I am forever grateful for PSVS and Dr. Pressel for helping to give my cats the best possible chance for a peaceful, happy elderhood... I've written many words here, but ultimately no words can do full justice. To the staff of PSVS and to Dr. Pressel most especially: Thank you!...Bless your good work in the world!

posted: 05/28/2023