VCA Central Animal Hospital

3.3 (171 reviews)
281 N Central Ave, Upland, CA 91786, USA

Hours

Monday 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

How to Save on Veterinary Costs at VCA Central 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 Central 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
4.8 Adoro 19
4.5 AKC 1,801
4.4 ASPCA 12,230
4.9 Embrace 19,973
4.9 Fetch 5,921
4.1 Figo 2,868
4.4 Hartville 183
4.9 Healthy Paws 11,375
4.8 Lemonade 833
4.6 ManyPets 2,416
4.7 MetLife 11,266
4.8 Nationwide 25,712
3.9 Pet Assure 15
4.3 PetPartners 121
4.9 Pets Best 15,353
4.8 Prudent Pet 2,868
4.7 Pumpkin 3,551
4.6 Spot 11,597
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

3.3

171 reviews

I have nothing bad to say about this place… They saved my boy!! In June, Panther ended up having Bladder stones. We had rushed him to an ER vet who charged us over 3k just for Exam, X-rays, a Catheter, and overnight hospitalization… they were quoting us 9k for surgery. We were devastated because we couldn’t afford that. We had him hospitalized overnight and the next day we began calling other vets to ask if they had space to take his case and how much it would cost. We had bad luck with over 30+ different vets in the LA Area. I was scared until I seen VCA Central. This was the last vet on my list to call, so I called. The receptionist was absolutely amazing and understood my stress about my baby. They were able to take Panther’s case. We immediately picked him up and transported him to VCA Central to which they took him in straight away. Dr. Falco was very informative about how things would go and reassured us that he would be in the best care. When it came to pricing, we knew it would still be expensive as frenchies need to be intubated a certain way, but their staff did the absolute best to work with us on the pricing. We knew our boy was in good hands. Within hours after dropping him off, we got the call that everything was successful. We were relieved, our baby boy was going to be just fine. The next day we were able to pick him up and the techs there were great and informed us on aftercare as well as a possible diet change for him to thrive. He is now almost fully healed and thriving. VCA Central saved Panther’s life and I can’t thank them enough for that.

Jul 16, 2023

I’ve been here twice and they are always professional, empathetic and overall an amazing staff. The first time was for my newly adopted kitten whose sutures from the spaying had opened up & she developed a hernia. The doctor who operated was very kind. The second time visiting was unfortunately because of our senior german shepherd, who was having trouble breathing. I called 5 hospitals and none of them were able to help. One of the hospitals didn’t even have oxygen available. Until I called VCA Central and they immediately told us to come in. Sadly, it was our dog’s time to go, she was 15. The staff was thee very best during this hard time & made our last moments very special. I highly recommend bringing in your furbabies! Thank you VCA Central.

Mar 21, 2023

The worst experience my family and I have ever had! Our dog of 17 years had a seizure and when he was stabilized they advised to let him walk over the rainbow. He had congestive heart failure and with our broken hearts we let him go. While there it was towards closing time we felt rushed to say goodbye to our furry guy! We paid to get his remains back! We had been calling for 3 weeks straight and finally received the worst answer. They cremated him in a group cremation and lost his remains! This was the worst thing we could have ever imagined! This hospital was too busy getting home than taking care of our family member. Now we don't have our sweet dear Bones and have to live with the fact that this hospital was extremely carefree with our beloved dog! I WILL NEVER EVER RECOMMEND THIS HOSPITAL! They are incompetent and extremely careless.

Aug 8, 2023

As someone who spent many years as a medical professional and greatly appreciates good medicine in all its forms AND never leaves reviews - THIS CONSUMMATE VET (Dr. Richard Johnson) & HIS AWESOME STAFF - are simply light years ahead of any vet I’ve ever taken my beloved pets to for care. Here is a place where a pet’s welfare far exceeds the almighty dollar and deplorable greed I’ve experienced in abundance up until now. Dr. Johnson is meticulous, detail oriented, brilliant and so willing to go the extra mile to ensure YOUR pet’s wellbeing and your clear cut understanding of the current medical situation you and your pet are facing. His staff is amazing (Kimberly, Liz, Eric, Jennifer, Angela, Isabel and the entire team are friendly, professional and top notch at what they do. I am so grateful for the incredible and personalized attention my dear little pup and I have always found the minute we walk in the door. If you are looking for nothing less than EXCEPTIONAL then look no further. VCA Central is outstanding.

Jun 30, 2023

We've unfortunately had A LOT of medical emergencies with our French Bulldog over the last year, and VCA Central has been there for almost every single one. He's had countless bouts of GI issues, including an episode of vomiting and diarrhea with severe abdominal pain that scared us both, but VCA Central was there to help us every step of the way. Dr. Johnson has always been kind, patient, and great at explaining everything to us, and helped our Frenchie get back to his health happy self. When our baby had a terrifying neurologic episode several months ago, we thought we might lose him, but everyone at VCA Central was so kind and helpful, even recommending a fantastic neurologist to us when they knew he needed more in depth treatment. They are our go-to hospital whenever one of our fur babies gets sick, and we are always going to be grateful for them. As far as cost, they are on the slightly pricier side, but I firmly believe you get what you pay for, and I have never felt pressured to spend money on anything unnecessary here. Everyone from the front desk staff to the technicians to the doctors are absolutely amazing.

Sep 10, 2023