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    Lake Balboa Veterinary Care

    4.4 (390 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

    Services - Lake Balboa Veterinary Care

    Dental care

    Dental cleaning

    Dental extraction

    5 More Services

    Mass or tumor removal

    Microchipping

    Pet physical or wellness exam

    Spay or neuter

    Pet vaccinations

    Lake Balboa Veterinary Care Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Lake Balboa Veterinary Care

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    Reviews With Photos

    This is Louas and Floyd. Would you make these little guys suffer?
    Sheryl H.

    I would still give it a one star review. I guess someone from his office posted a review that I did 8 years ago when his father was in practice in a different location. Just shows how low and shady their office practice is now.

    Final goodbye =(
    Sofia P.

    My parents took our cat here for a walk in emergency recently and they took her in. She wasn't breathing normally, she wasn't eating, she wasn't drinking any water. She couldn't use the litter box and could barely move. She's 15 years old and we knew this day would come counting down to the last second. They were helpful and we knew which hard decision we had to make. Sadly, there was nothing that can be done and stop her from suffering but to say our final goodbye. They were kind and supportive throughout the process. Rest in peace sweet girl.

    Family of ducks rescued by the staff at Lake Balboa Veterinary Care!
    Elle V.

    I've been taking my dog and cat here for a year now. While other vets are being bought by venture capitalists (which leads to higher prices and lower quality care), Lake Balboa Veterinary Care is still privately owned, and the prices are lower than other vets in the area. Yes, they require a deposit to book an appointment, but that helps them avoid wasting time on missed appointments. The staff and doctors are all incredibly warm and friendly, and it's clear that they all love animals. I live close to the office, and a few days ago, my husband spotted a mother duck and her ducklings walking on our street--several miles from the nearest lake. My husband ran to Lake Balboa Veterinary Care and told them about the ducks. The staff took action immediately, running outside with a net and a cage. They rescued the duck family and relocated them to an appropriate habitat. Not only is this a wonderful place to take your pets, they are heroes to wildlife!

    Ads Z.

    Dr. Moon has cared for my pups for years. He and his staff truly love your animals like their own. I can't Thank him enough for always taking good care of our pups. We love Lake Balboa Vet Care!

    Chris T.

    My baby Soleil was so lucky to be under Dr. Moon's care since we became neighbors. The professionalism, genuine care and unparalleled compassion we received from Dr. Moon, Ms. Karen and everyone we had encountered kept us coming back even after we moved 60 miles away. I called last-minute and Ms. Karen went above and beyond to squeeze us in the earliest available spot. Unfortunate, my baby boy couldn't wait and left me as I was on the phone with her. As heartbroken as I am, I want to express my most sincere gratitude. Soleil was 12 1/2 and hardly had any illness or discomfort. He left quietly and peacefully as though he was just asleep. You all are the best. I will always be in debt to you. Love from Soleil and his daddy 11.12.2024

    Checkup room :)

    Dr. Habib?? More like Dr. Habibi She loved my finny boy and expressed his anal glands + gave him 2 overdue vaccines all in about an hour. Super quick and truly everyone was so sweet there. I made the switch from VCA Chatoak because they take too long to book and I was super worried but they made the whole experience great for me and my boy. We'll definitely be coming back.

    Langston

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Doctors are caring and responsive. They're easy to reach via email and the office staff is very helpful.

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    1 year ago

    Excellent vet, named Dr. Habib, warm and efficient staff. Got my dog in the very next day.

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    1 year ago

    Everything! They're all fantastic, knowledgeable, sensitive ... their motto, animals first, people always, is true.

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    10 months ago

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    Ask the Community - Lake Balboa Veterinary Care

    How much for spaying 3y/o 6lbs?

    Is this location still open?

    Yes

    Does Dr Moon perform dental work?

    Yes

    Do they take walk-ins? I have an outside cat but I'm not sure when I can catch her so it's hard to make an appointment.

    Not anymore. Not during COVID. You have to make an appointment but only a week out, not too far in advance. They get booked fast!

    Do you guys accept pet insurance? I have the healthy paws insurance for my puppy

    They will fill out a claim for you if you bring one but you need to pay up front and then your insurance will reimburse you. They do not accept pet insurance directly.

    How much do they charge to spay/neuter a dog?

    in 2010, it cost me $60 for my cat. You may want to call to confirm.

    Does Dr. Moon's office sell Nexguard?

    Yes

    How much is the low cost cat spaying?

    Is there a different number? I have been calling for days now and it is always busy?

    They only answer the phone between 8am and 9am and then after 2pm. I got a busy when I called between 9am and 2pm - which is when they do surgeries.

    View All 15 Questions

    Review Highlights - Lake Balboa Veterinary Care

    Moon's client of over 20 years, and I wouldn't trust anyone else with the care of my cats and dogs.

    Mentioned in 261 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Southpaw Vets

    Southpaw Vets

    (206 reviews)

    Sherman Oaks

    This is truly the best vet I've ever been to. Dr. Chaing is amazing but so is the whole staff. They…read moremake everything so quick, easy, and painless. Prices are reasonable, appointments are never weeks out, and nobody is pushing extra, unnecessary services on you. When my dog was having seizures, they were with me every step of the way as I got specialized help (thanks to their referral) and kept checking in on progress. And when I have questions, I can send a quick email and they always respond ASAP with help vs making me schedule an appointment and come in. Today my dog got in a little scuffle and I was able to just send a picture of his wound and get advice via email. THANK YOU SOUTHPAW! ps - there's free parking in the back!!!

    MY PITBULL COULDN'T RECEIVE AFTER CARE SUMMARY OR INSTRUCTIONS FOR A WEEK. WHEN I ASKED QUESTIONS,…read moreI WAS TOLD NOT TO COME BACK!! If you are a resident of Sherman Oaks and are a critical thinker, think twice about this local veterinarian. It came highly recommended by a neighbor. I had high hopes and wanted to support this female centric place, however, as a dog mom I would never recommend it due to poor communication, lack of accountability and customer service and a defensive/ hostile stance when questioned. I went back for a recheck of my dog's allergies and skin growths. Note that there are two problems I was seen for initially and the follow up was to include both. This was not the case. I had to remind Dr. Cortez to remeasure my dog's growths. Not all of the growths were measured and there were no recommendations communicated for care. She was focused on his allergies, which had not resolved. I received VERBAL directions for 4 DIFFERENT TASKS and was told she would email me. In the days that followed I called the office and asked for my summary and instructions. I' was told they would be emailed. This happened three times. Nothing was emailed. I was not informed that Dr. Cortez was sick until I was also being instructed not to come back in the email shown below. It's sad that Southpaw won't take any accountability for the excessive wait, poor communication and lacking customer service. I think customer service is a thing of the past, but it's a quality that's important to me. There was no apology or anything that even approached an apology. If you value the ability to ask questions and discuss issues about your fur baby as they arise then this is not your veterinarian either.

    TrueCare for pets - TrueCare for pets Emergency Vet

    TrueCare for pets

    (2k reviews)

    Studio City

    I've taken two of my pups here, one for emergency testing and another was referred here by her…read moreoncologist for radiology. Everyone has been absolutely incredible every time. Kind, supportive, attentive. I couldn't have asked for a better experience every time I have gone. They are pricey, yes, but honestly, I felt SO taken care of, and felt my dogs were in the absolute best hands at times when I was so exhausted and distraught, that it is absolutely worth worrying about finances later. I can't tell you how thankful I am knowing there are such incredibly skilled and caring experts in my area that are open 24 hours and have specialty departments. I also very much appreciate the ability to text them, it makes my life a lot easier.

    Extremely disappointed with True Care for Pets. Their customer service has been absolutely…read moreterrible. Calls are rarely returned, communication is almost nonexistent, and getting something as simple as a prescription refill has turned into a nightmare. My dog depends on his medication to eat properly, yet I was told I now need to pay for another doctor's appointment just because the previous veterinarian left over a year ago -- something they never bothered to properly communicate to pet owners. How is that acceptable? To make matters worse, they don't even have appointments available until mid-July. So what exactly are patients supposed to do in the meantime? Wait until their pets are seriously suffering just to be seen and get medication they already rely on? There seems to be a complete lack of urgency, compassion, and accountability. Pet owners trust clinics with the wellbeing of their animals, and this experience has been beyond frustrating and honestly heartbreaking

    Gemcore Veterinary Services

    Gemcore Veterinary Services

    (503 reviews)

    Chatsworth

    My (third) senior pup and I are so looking forward to see Dr Gonzalez again this week for his 6…read moremonths preventative / well-being check up.. This is not my first review of our beloved Dr G, and I just recommended her to 6 more people again just these past 2 weeks. I always say to people I give her card to: "you will discover she is an Earth Angel - if she moved to a different town, I'd take my pup there... When you find a great vet, they are Gold! She's not only compassionate, present and knowledgeable, but also she does not oversell." Besides all the regular check ups, Dr G. has performed 2 substantial surgeries on my pup in the last 8 years, and has been extremely kind, providing valuable reassuring step-by-step updates throughout, especially aware that I had lost my beloved first dog, (with a different vet), when he did not make it through the anesthesia... In the 8 years Dr G. has been our one and only vet; everyone I have sent to Dr G. has fallen in love with her, and has thanked me for the referral. I trusted Dr G and her small compassionate team with the euthanasia of my precious second dog, Handsome. She is truly an Angel on Earth. At her Chatsworth location, I love that she's created a lovingly cozy "home environment" for the euthanasia experience. That it so needed during that deeply emotional time, and more veterinary offices ought to follow her example. I found her many years ago when I was dissatisfied with a busy veterinary front desk in Sherman Oaks, after they had made errors in my first dog's chart. Unfortunately he passed, and I learned that finding the RIGHT professional truly makes ALL the difference. So yes, I drive from Sherman Oaks. Gratefully so :) I am thankful that my cherished pups are her patients. Her ethics, her care, her kindness, her knowledge, her integrity - she's our number 1!!!

    We are incredibly grateful to Gemcore Veterinary Services for the compassion and care they showed…read moreduring one of the hardest days of our lives. Dr. Gonzalez was kind, patient, and thorough, taking the time to explain each step of the euthanasia process. She ensured our dog's maximum comfort throughout, even creating a makeshift pillow so he could rest peacefully. We were heartbroken, but her understanding and gentle approach gave us comfort while making the process completely painless and stress-free for our giant furbaby. She was available the same day and brought in a caring team afterward to respectfully and compassionately assist with our 132-pound dog. The thoughtfulness, professionalism, and empathy shown by Gemcore made an unbearable moment a little more bearable. We are deeply grateful and highly recommend them to anyone seeking a veterinary team that truly cares.

    Encino Veterinary Center - My geriatric puppet living his best life thanks to Encino Vet Center!

    Encino Veterinary Center

    (160 reviews)

    Encino

    I had to write another review for Dr. Fab because she truly is an extraordinary veterinarian…read more When I had to make the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to my beloved Marley, there was no other doctor I would have trusted more to help us through that moment. Dr. Fab is one of the most compassionate and caring veterinarians I have ever met. It is obvious that she genuinely loves every animal she treats, and that love shines through in everything she does. She treated both Marley and me with incredible kindness, patience, and empathy during one of the hardest days of my life. She made an unimaginably painful experience as peaceful and comforting as it could possibly be, and for that I will be forever grateful. If you are looking for a veterinarian who is not only exceptionally skilled but also deeply compassionate, I cannot recommend Dr. Fab highly enough. Thank you, Dr. Fab, for loving my sweet Marley and for helping her cross the rainbow bridge with such dignity, gentleness, and grace. I will never forget your kindness.

    We have now seen multiple vets at Encino Vet over the past 4 years, and we are truly so happy with…read morethe care they give our sweet babies. Here is my incredibly honest review: Dr. Lopez, Dr. Rosso, and Dr. Fab are all AMAZING. Each of them has made us feel genuinely seen, whether we're in for a routine check-up or something worrying. They take real time during visits to make sure we're heard, and they work to get to the root of an issue without jumping to worst-case scenarios. I'll have a really hard time if we ever have to move and leave this practice. A special thank you to Dr. Rosso, who recently got to the bottom of an issue with one of our cats and had her feeling better right away -- we're so grateful.

    Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group - 1 of 7 boxer puppies delivered by Dr. Slaton.

    Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group

    (711 reviews)

    Sherman Oaks

    I cannot speak highly enough of this practice. Dr Richter, his daughter and son who are also in the…read morepractice, and several others are top notch. I recently had to put my 25 and 1/2-year-old baby girl, Sox, to sleep. It was heart-wrenching since I'd had her since she was born in my backyard. They made it the absolute best that it could possibly have been, given the circumstances and job at hand. They were thoroughly compassionate, kind beyond belief, patient and understanding. Honestly, when I get my next pet, this is my new vet office. Thank you for helping me help my baby girl over the rainbow bridge, Dr. Sam Richter!!!

    This review is long overdue, but better late than never. Last year, one of our fur babies began…read moreshowing signs of distress and we needed him to see a vet ASAP. While VCA used to be our regular vet, they couldn't fit him in and referred us to an urgent care place, which we didn't want to do because we'd gone down that path years ago, and didn't exactly have the best experience. I quickly called SOVG to see if they would accept an urgent walk-in and after explaining the situation, the super nice lady told us to bring him in ASAP and they would see him right away. Amazing. As soon as we brought him in, they rushed us to a room and they brought him in the back. Throughout this nerve-wracking ordeal, Dr. Andrea Richter checked in with us literally every 5 minutes, letting us know tests results and what was going on. It was a stressful time, but knowing the urgency and seeing that the team was doing everything as quickly as possible gave us a bit of reassurance. Sadly, things very quickly took a turn for the worse and he didn't make it through the hour. He passed as we were literally walking from the exam room to the back to say our goodbyes. When we walked in, he was surrounded by the most loving and caring group of people I've seen in a very long time. In the midst of my breakdown, I looked around and the staff, too, were crying along with me. It took me by surprise because they must see animals pass all the time and are jaded, right? The fact that they could feel and share in this horrible pain is something I'll never forget. Although we couldn't say goodbye the moment he passed, we knew he was surrounded by a caring group of people (he LOVED people) and that is the only bit of comfort we had during this experience. A few days later, we received a card in the mail - signed by the team, sending their condolences. Although unexpected, it meant the world to us. These moments of kindness are few and far between these days, and we were so fortunate to have found it that horrible day in the team at SOVG.

    The Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks - Dr. Cox with Toonces, one of her cats

    The Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks

    (251 reviews)

    Sherman Oaks

    The Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks are outstanding in every way. Once again, they were there for me…read more A huge thank you to the front office and the technicians for explaining to me how to use the new medicine for Coco. I am so blessed to have all of you in my life. If you want outstanding care for your pet this is the only place to go.

    This review isn't about veterinary care. It's about a really bad policy of this vet practice. I…read morereally like Dr. Szabo and his care for my dogs was very good, but I won't be going back to the Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks. My dog has taken a couple of meds for years and has to take them for the rest of her life. After I moved last year, I had to find a new vet and I took my dogs to the Pet Doctors for wellness exams. When I needed to refill my dog's meds a few weeks ago, I was informed by the receptionist that I would have to drive to Pet Doctors to pick up a paper prescription in person. That would take a minimum of an hour, during a workday. I asked if she could email the prescription to me, but she said they don't do that. I asked if she could send the prescription by mail, but she said they don't do that either. When I asked if they could phone in the refill to the pharmacy, I was not shocked to learn that they don't do that either. When I asked why they have such a policy, the response I got was probably more honest than management would have liked. The receptionist told me that they require clients to pick up paper prescriptions in person because.....get this.....they sometimes had to call in prescriptions more than once and they don't want to have to do that anymore. In other words, their paying clients should waste their time driving through traffic to do their job for them. After the receptionist talked to the practice manager, she came back to the phone and said they would make a one-time exception and mail me the prescription. That was February 6, 2026. When I didn't receive the prescription by mail after a week, I called back on February 13, 2026 and was told by the same woman that she had mailed the prescription a couple days earlier. It's now February 25, 2026, and I still haven't received the prescription in the mail. Once again, I asked to have them phone in the prescription to Costco pharmacy. They made another one-time exception and did that so I was able to get my dog's meds. This time. But, I'm not about to go through this unnecessary hassle every 90 days when my dog needs her meds refilled. This policy isn't just inconvenient for clients, it's likely to result in complaints to one or more state and local agencies because the policy could (and likely would) be interpreted as one that discriminates against people with disabilities, by making it far more difficult, if not impossible, for a disabled person to get meds for their pets. That may sound far-fetched, but it's not. Imagine telling a blind or paralyzed person that they have to get themselves to the vet office in Sherman Oaks to pick up a piece of paper that staff could just send by email. It's not only a very short-sighted policy, but is likely to violate one or more laws that require all businesses to be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. I've never encountered such a policy at a vet office, one where staff expects clients to do their jobs for them so they aren't inconvenienced. It seems to me that the real reason for the policy is more likely to make getting prescription meds elsewhere so inconvenient that clients just buy them from the Pet Doctors directly. No, thank you. Their prices for my dog's meds are 3-4 times higher than retail pharmacies. I'm not about to pay more for my dog's meds. I'm going to find another veterinarian instead.

    Lake Balboa Veterinary Care - vet - Updated June 2026

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