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    Helix Pet Hospital

    4.2 (100 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Services - Helix Pet Hospital

    Pet physical or wellness exam

    Pet vaccinations

    Helix Pet Hospital Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Helix Pet Hospital

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    Reviews With Photos

    Booboy . June 2010 - September 23, 2025

    Dr Lorber and his staff are very caring and gave our little Booboy three extra years he wouldn't have.

    Lauren A.

    Truly wonderful staff, you can tell they really care about animals and aren't just trying to squeeze as much money as they can out of you. We took our dog to be examined by Dr Powers today as one of his nails looked broken. She informed us he would have to be sedated to remove the nail, and to our surprise was willing and able to do it that same day. They always keep in touch thru text message to let you know how your animal is doing, when they will be discharged, and I've received messages from a previous surgery Lando had with them to check on how he is doing. What really went the extra mile (and made me teary eyed) was the "L" (for his name, Lando) and a heart they added to his cast. That's too sweet. Never had such a positive experience at a veterinary office. Thank you!

    King of the bagel toy
    Cara D.

    Dr. Lorber and his team are the newer owners of this wonderful pet hospital. Despite living 45 minutes away now, we still drive to see Dr. Lorber. We tried to switch, but received a mis-diagnosis on a lump and realized trust was at the foundation of our decision to stay with Dr. Lorber. Trust is so important when it comes to our pets. We need to know the doctor has or will find accurate information and will be able to explain it thoroughly so we can make the best decisions, emotional and financial. We currently have five dogs and two bunnies, and have had many others over the years (dogs, cats, chickens). We have five grown children and they have always added animals to our lives (with and without permission!) Dr. Lorber has helped us with so many issues from upset tummies, to diabetes, to severe heart murmur, to injury, to passing from life. He provides comprehensive information about each option with clear pricing, and will share what he believes to be the most compassionate and helpful route. He does not recommend over-treatment but recommends what he would do if it was his pet, and it is always what we are thinking as well. I saw a review that said HPH's pricing was high, but that could not be further from the truth. I laughed out loud. We are 30-year pet owners and provide the best for our pets. We know his prices are as low as they can be, as compared to other vets where even simple things are up-charged. He once helped our daughter's cat at 7:30 a.m., showed our daughter how to help her cat with a distended tummy, and charged less than $200 for the one-hour visit, the treatment, a flat of medicated food, and another medication. He consistently provides overly fair pricing. Another time he only charged us for one of our new rescue dogs for the initial exam when he easily could have charged for both. Another time squeezed us into an already full schedule for an echocardiogram when we found out our new dog had a 5 out of 6 grade heart murmur--and charged $400 instead of the $2500 - $3000 we were being quoted at three cardio vet specialists in San Diego (who also had a 6 to 10-week wait which we could not endure). It included a phone debrief and a detailed written report from the cardiologist that we were able to use to make decisions after. We weren't expecting either of those. More importantly than that is his, and his team's, commitment to customer service. They are kind people who care about their customers, even when having so many of them and surely having customers who are more challenging than others. Of course they have a cancellation policy--that is how you run a successful business. Mutual respect, not just one way. Thank you for all you do for our family. It is a breath of fresh air and a feeling of confidence knowing you are in our lives to help us with our beloved pets.

    Sid and Queenie
    Marcellia M.

    This review is definitely long overdue. I have been going to Helix Pet Hospital for a few years now. We trust them with all of our pets and appreciate there love for animals. I cannot begin to thank Dr. Lorber and his staff for everything they have done for my dogs. This year, Dr. Lorber found a life threatening condition for my dog Queenie, stabilized her the best he could while trying to help me find a hospital that was able to do the serious surgery and take me immediately. My dog is alive because he found the issue and acted quickly. He provided me options for assistance as well since I did not have pet insurance. As luck would have it shortly after Queenie's medical emergency -- my other dog, Sid was having issues and not acting himself. Since it was late at night I had to take Sid to the emergency and only got anti-nausea and fluids because they were so expensive to do any of the tests. I called Helix Pet Hospital when they opened and asked if there was anything they could do to see him because I was worried and going to ER for the tests were costly. Even though Helix was booked they were able to squeeze me in the following day. Dr. Lorber found the issue right away and gave him antibiotics and in a couple days we are seeing him back to life already. In addition to their attentiveness and care Helix Pet Hospital has always been very reasonable with their treatments and suggestions for dogs whenever we have taken them in. They never push anything that is out of the ordinary or extensive. Thank You Helix Pet Hospital for Everything!

    Anna H.

    I love love love this place. As someone who's never had to find a cat vet before - I'm relieved this place was easy to find. The atmosphere is friendly, and the veterinarian is sweet and explains things very clearly. Parking is out front for the office. My cat Winter really appreciates everything you guys do for him!

    Hammy check up
    Celeste M.

    The staff was so amazing! They treated my Hamm like a Queen and were so nice to her. She can be a little wild child at the vet and they were not phased one bit. They totally included me in her treatment plan and I appreciated them working with my budget. They were very respectful and professional and I was super impressed with how clean the office was too. Appointments book out a little far, but I'd say it was worth the wait. I'm a really happy camper. It was an A+ experience all the way around. Thanks for helping to take great care of my little one. We will be back soon with fur child #2.

    Bosco

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    Knowledgeable, caring Doctors and Team. We've been going to them with all our dogs since 2006. Great staff and excellent care.

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    Love them, the front desk is wonderful the doctor is wonderful. Will never use a different vet.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Helix Pet Hospital

    Review Highlights - Helix Pet Hospital

    Lorber talked to us with a calm demeanor and gave us common sense advice and we both appreciate that so much.

    Mentioned in 35 reviews

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    Pet Urgent Care

    Pet Urgent Care

    3.8
    (53 reviews)

    If you spend 1k per hour you should get a professional opinion backed up with action to resolve a…read moremiscalculation on their part. Instead I sat in the lobby waiting for them to charge me and decided to go across the parking lot to Pet Emergency. I would not recommend Pet Urgent Care to anyone. Long story below....... Came in to get a wound stitched for my dog Henry and spent almost 1k with Urgent Care for less than an hour of work. Fine, that's what a professional Doctor charges. Before I left they told me that the stitches would come out in 10 to 14 days. I got a call from Urgent Care this morning on day 10 and took Henry in to check to see if the stitches were ready to come out. I specifically asked to have him checked to see if they were ready to come out. The Doctor at Pet Urgent Care said that the wound was healed and removed the stitches. I took Henry home and went to work. When I got home from work and checked on Henry his wound was wide open. All of this is understandable. The Doctors response was not. When the doctor came out to speak with me she was suggesting that we spend more money on a wound cleaning and more antibiotics rather than replacing the stitches. I asked "why would I be charged if the stitches were taken out earlier than the 14 days" and the doctor replies " well we can't leave the stitches in too long" I asked "how could the stitches be being left in too long if we are at day 10, the earliest day in the healing recommendation to get the stitches out. I was told that it was a 10 to 14 day healing cycle" she responded with "what are you trying to do here, have a go at me" I said "no, you simply contradicted yourself, the wound obviously would have benefited from the extra 4 days of healing, but it was your professional opinion to take them out on day 10 rather 14 and now you want to just leave my dog with a gaping open wound" she got upset and said that I could go to Pet Emergency and that she would come back with a Manager. She came back, but with a staff member who thank god could witness the doctor getting upset again. So now she starts telling me how the wound would heal on its own, it would start to grow back together, they only use stitches so that it heals faster. And that was just another contradiction to taking the stitches out too early. This could have been an opportunity for the Doctor to take some responsibility; instead she got confrontational again..... I have been in customer service since 1998 and I have never even considered asking a customer "Are they trying to have a go at me". Thanks Pet Emergency. I'm glad you shared the same parking lot.

    I can't say enough great things about this Urgent Care. Dr. Clark and team did such a wonderful job…read morewith my Chloe. Most vets are closed or completely booked on weekends, so when a friend suggested this place, I knew it was my last hope. They were also booked. However, I was placed on the cancellation list and (Thankfully!) a spot opened up. To my surprise, the cost was actually less than what I would have paid for my regular vet. It feels great knowing I have a place to take my fur babies for urgent matters!

    Rancho San Carlos Pet Clinic

    Rancho San Carlos Pet Clinic

    4.4
    (214 reviews)

    As we all know finding the perfect place to keep your pets healthy can be a daunting task. I've…read morenever been a fan of facilities that bring out the dreaded clip board with invisible $ signs floating in the air. I have never experienced that at this clinic. Options are given with estimated costs. Treatments are discussed. I rescued 2 cats ten years ago. Each with their own trauma. I have trusted Dr. April Rodriguez to assist with their physical and mental health. Most recently she helped my beautiful Flora cross the rainbow bridge. Having her be the one to do it meant so much to me. There's so much to love about Rancho Carlos. The front-desk staff is consistently friendly and accommodating. Cats may not love vet visits, but they have a wonderful "cat whisperer" (if I'm remembering correctly, her name is Sam). And Dr. Rodriguez truly does this work out of love--she's intuitive, selfless, and always thinking about the best next step.

    I am disgusted. My dog Frenchi had to be put to sleep this weekend and our other dog, Jacaranda had…read morean epileptic seizure and was in emergency for a few days - had to be seen again a this morning. Mind you, notices were sent to her vet. Our vet here is Dr. Rodriguez. We followed her from another vet. She is an outstanding and caring vet. Jacaranda had been seen by Dr. Perry because our regular vet was not available. She had a seizure right in the waiting room, there were quite a few people working on her. Over $1,000. For her episode. She had a seizure at home and it was just the two of us and she took a pill and was fine. Dr. Perry had said dogs have seizures all the time there, which I thought was strange, I have been to a lot of vets over the years and not seen a seizure. Ever. I've mentioned this to other vets who don't seem to know what she's talking about and suggest I go elsewhere if dogs are having seizures all the time in the waiting room. Maybe it's something environmental? Today, after putting Frenchi down over the weekend, she was old and had lived a long life and was not doing great, jacaranda had a seizure and we took her into VCA Mission Valley. We took her to Kearny Mesa and we left after many hours of them not caring for her, it's a real circus there. Don't ever go there. The Mission Valley team got jacaranda back on track and I needed to take her in first thing this morning. Then I get this AI generated message that seems like I'm texting with a person saying that Dr. Perry think she should schedule a T-4 test. She just had one in Jan and it was normal. And dr. Perry is not her doctor. They received messages from VCA about what had gone on, so why harass us about anything right now? Heartless, right? I don't know what's going on there, or why the urgency for billing is happening from a vet that is not her regular vet, but I am sickened. Just crestfallen that we need to change vets because we love Dr. Rodriguez, but if this is what happens when she is out of the office - no thanks! Be aware. I just want to vomit. This is not how a vets office should be dealing with someone who just had a dog die and the other at emergency just days before. I should probably post the heartless conversation I had with two real people. Dr. Rodriguez is out of the office. She should know what is going on there. I am so sickened by this whole situation. We love you, Dr. Rodriguez, but we just can't deal with whatever is going on there. Alaura, whom I spoke with, said she would let them know that Dr. Perry is not her vet. Dr. Perry has never been her vet. She saw Dr. Perry out of necessity. Not for any other reason. Personally, I am just so disgusted. It's not bad enough all of this other stuff happened with our other dogs? It's been a bleak few days - that they were notified about - and I'm at a loss about how I even got texted about this test that the avma says should be done once a year if the last one was normal and it was done in January all of a sudden pops up. Alaura (who has always been very nice, I explained to her I do NOT want a call from management, I am just done) said someone new was working that contacted me (the original text had been AI and contacted me about this random test that doesn't need to be done right now). I should just post the conversation, it was completely mindless even when another person with more experience took over. I'm sure you would see why I am so upset. I've never had any of these random texts about tests before, why now? Why from Dr. Perry when she is not our vet? This is just about the most uncaring thing I've ever seen from a vet, mind you, we have experienced much worse from VSH. At least Rancho isn't performing unnecessary surgeries. So, there's that, at least. I'm just having a really, really bad, terrible time and this was the very, absolute last thing I needed. We won't be returning.

    University Pet Hospital

    University Pet Hospital

    4.2
    (184 reviews)

    Every time I've taken my dog to this veterinarian they are right on time for the time they've…read morescheduled me for. From the front desk to the assistants and nurses and doctors they all make you feel special and especially make my dog special. My dog actually wags her tail when we're going in there. I want to say that they give you a written estimate for the day's charges and you have the option to decide exactly what you want and don't want. they're not at all pushy. I highly recommend them.

    If I could give zero stars, I would…read more Although I was initially grateful that this veterinary hospital squeezed my dog in last minute, my overall experience was beyond disappointing -- and downright frustrating. I brought my dog in with a swollen, red, bleeding paw and explained that I suspected a foxtail was embedded and had caused an infection. The vet agreed it was likely a foxtail and said he'd need to put her under anesthesia to flush and remove it. Fifteen minutes later, they brought her back from sedation and told me they couldn't find anything. They wrapped her paw in a boot and sent her home with antibiotics, instructing me to come back in a week for a recheck. A week later, we return. They remove the boot, and while the swelling had gone down from the antibiotics, the wound was still bleeding and not healing at all. I expressed my concern -- asking if they were sure there wasn't still a foxtail inside and whether leaving it unwrapped would risk infection or her messing with it. They brushed off my concerns, saying it was "most likely not in there," but offered to repeat the whole sedation process again (for another round of $$). As an alternative, they gave me a prescription powder to stop the bleeding and prevent infection. Here's where it gets worse: I asked if the powder was safe if my dog licked it. The vet tech didn't even know -- she had to Google it -- and then told me it wasn't safe. Only then did they finally offer to send us home with a cone. Over the next few days, the powder did nothing. My dog's wound kept reopening and bleeding, ruining my carpets and making no progress. Finally, I took matters into my own hands, cleaning the wound daily with povidone (iodine) -- something I've safely used on my dogs before. Within 2 days, the wound started improving, and to my shock, I pulled out the foxtail myself -- the same one they said wasn't there. So after paying $500 for anesthesia, antibiotics, and "treatment," we ended up diagnosing and fixing the issue at home. How do you sedate a dog, "flush" a wound, and miss the actual problem? Not only did my poor dog suffer longer than she needed to, but this whole ordeal felt careless and dismissive of my valid concerns. I would not recommend this clinic to anyone who wants thorough, competent care for their pet. Extremely disappointed with this entire experience.

    Helix Pet Hospital - vet - Updated July 2026

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