We recently had to bring our pet rabbit here due to having a seizure. The staff was attentive, supportive and encouraging. Ive never had a pet that required medical attention so having the support from their staff was very reassuring that everything was going to be ok. We loved that they not only helped cats and dogs but also exotic animals. The doors are locked at night and require the front door desk to let you in which makes it feel safe. They have snacks, coffee, water and tea to help with the nerves as your pet receives the care they need. Overall, great spot and easy to spot in this strip mall. I hope to not have to have a pet medical emergency again but if we do, we will definitely be coming back here! Thank you VEG team! read more

Added several bogus and duplicate charges to our invoice AFTER we got the quote. Then they were totally incompetent with our prescriptions...prescribed a very expensive drug that had to be given immediately but nobody had it. I felt taken advantage of. $2000 bill and no concept that we don't have unlimited funds for our dog's care read more

Kind, compassionate, friendly and professional. The Veterinarian, Kristine Pam was wonderful.

Pure love for animals! I called on a Sunday morning to see if what my dog was experiencing was an emergency. To my surprise, the woman on the phone quickly connected me with a doctor. I explained the situation, and the doctor asked me a few detailed questions. She then told me it wasn't an emergency, but if the symptoms persisted, take him to his vet on Monday. I expected her to tell me to hold for payment info, but she wished me luck and that was it. My pup felt way better on Monday morning. read more

What wonderful young people that work here to help your pet. While we didn't get the result we had hoped for and went through a roller coaster of emotions going from one diagnosis to another, we had to come to the realization it was time for our dear Zoe. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I've now been to Veterinary Emergency Group twice for emergencies with my dog, and I honestly can't say enough good things about them. They took such incredible care of her both times. They're so thorough, attentive, and genuinely compassionate. You can tell the entire team truly cares about the animals they treat and the people who love them. What really stood out to me is that they didn't just help in the moment, they also saw us for a follow-up appointment when we couldn't get in with our regular vet, just to make sure she could safely continue her medications. I'm beyond grateful to have them nearby. I won't go anywhere else. read more

My dog was experiencing not eating and she was diagnosed with kidney disease and she stayed overnight so they can balance out her levels and she was able to get balanced out. I dealt with almost every doctor at this hospital and everyone was very coherent thorough helpful, kind and attention focused. They just run a very tight ship. I live very far from this hospital, but I was willing to travel like three times in one week because they are worth the drive and they're worth all of the help that they provided so if you're trying to decide on someone, they have a very tight ship, I could not recommend them more. read more

I brought my little fur-baby to VEG several hours after a different vet who we hadn't seen before misdiagnosed an issue with his eye. This was my first experience with VEG, and they were terrific. Dr. Oller and the team examined my little dog's right eye, which had begun bothering him in the late afternoon and had become swollen and red. Dr. Oller's finding: a scratch on the cornea. Dr. Oller prepared a plan of treatment and after-care -- which included wearing the dreaded cone -- and which I accepted and followed. By morning, my doggie's eye was already looking better. We followed the course of after-care until his regular vet, who we went to for follow-ups, said the eye was fully healed. At VEG, everyone I interacted with and everyone I saw and heard interacting with another family who'd come in with their little dog for an urgent matter, demonstrated heart, compassion and caring that far exceeded my expectations. Hopefully, my little fur-baby won't need emergency care again, but if he does, I won't hesitate to bring him to VEG. I highly recommend VEG for emergency pet care. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - VEG correctly diagnosed the problem and prescribed a course of treatment that resolved the issue within a week or two. - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

I had to bring my kitten to VEG this morning after noticing he was limping. I suspect he had a burst of zoomies while I was out, and a large standing mirror that had been leaning against the wall must have fallen on his leg. I felt absolutely horrible! From the moment we arrived, everyone at VEG was incredibly kind, caring, and empathetic. Dr. Amanda Campbell saw us quickly and was both efficient and compassionate throughout the visit. Nan at the front desk was so sweet and made the check-in and discharge process smooth and fast, which I deeply appreciated during such a stressful time. Unfortunately, my little guy will need surgery, but the team provided clear next steps and helpful resources so I didn't feel overwhelmed or lost. Even though I wish we hadn't needed an emergency visit, I'm grateful we ended up at VEG. I'll definitely return here if we ever face another urgent situation. Thank you to the entire team for taking such good care of us. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Trusted Emergency Care for My Injured Kitten. - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

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They saved our Saint Bernard's life. And they did it with professionalism, efficiency. and compassion which is a rare combination. Every staff member was proficient while being so caring to our big girl. She didn't fit in any of the crates, so they made a bed for her on the floor and pulled couches around it so we could be with her and reduce her anxiety. The cost estimates were carefully explained and we were refunded a portion because a procedure was deemed unnecessary. While deeply traumatic, it was an amazing experience. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Cedar says Thanks! - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

Our little pup had a couple seizures that really surprised us and we needed help for him after normal business hours. I called around a few emergency clinics and I wasn't happy with the proposed approach and cost. Fortunately, I called VEG in Encinitas and spoke with Dr. Corona. She was super caring, attentive, and understanding. We brought him right in and got the treatment he needed to stabilize him for the next couple days. Dr. Corona is an amazing Veterinarian and we feel grateful she was there for us that night. read more

They were so sweet and attentive to our corgi when we came in for an emergency. It's an ER so it can get busy but they were so sweet and thoughtful. Would recommend to anyone with an emergency for their pet. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

Took my pup to VEG in Encinitas for a leg wrap and had such a great experience The team was super attentive, gentle, and made the whole process smooth and stress-free. You can tell they genuinely care about the animals they treat. Definitely recommend if your furry bestie ever needs urgent care read more

My dog has been to VEG twice now, and both experiences were truly 10/10. The level of care is exceptional, and I really appreciate that they let us stay together in a room so she could relax this last time - it makes such a difference during stressful moments. Huge thank you to the whole team, and especially Dre... you're the best! read more

We have a little lop bunny who doesn't drink as much water as she should, so we've been to VEG Encinitas 3 times for gastrointestinal (GI) emergencies. Each emergency happened during the night shift, but everyone at VEG was so kind and helpful, from front-of-house to the vet techs to the doctors. We really felt that everyone wanted to help our bunny get better through her 2 overnight stays and 1 outpatient treatment. What I really appreciate about VEG is their: 1. Open floor model - We were able to stay with our bunny throughout each visit, which really helped our peace of mind. I like to think that our bunny also appreciated us being nearby during her lab tests too. 2. Transparency - The VEG staff took super detailed notes on our bunny's condition and care, and they emailed us all the docs afterwards. The documentation has been super helpful to our primary vet and to us. 3. Accessibility, especially for exotic pets - VEG is open 24/7 and they have experience with responding to bunny GI issues. They were also available every time we called with questions before bringing our bunny in, and answered our questions afterwards about how to administer her meds at home. Even though pet emergencies aren't cheap, we're so grateful that VEG is close by to help us when we need it! A special thank you to Randi, Sharlyne, Theresa, Dr. Cherie, Dr. Mortimer, Dr. Solomon, and Dr. Salazar. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Our bunny getting checked in at VEG Encinitas - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

We are visiting family in the area and brought our dogs with us and they've socialized with my familys before, but Murphy's law took effect and a couple of them got in a fight over perceived food being brought in. Luckily the Vetrinary Emergency Group was here! The experience here was very caring, clean, and not what we are use to. We got to stay with our pup the entire time, unlike some other emergency clinics we'd been to where they "take them to the back". We were brought back and helped rapidlt and welcomed by the staff really quickly. They were very thoughrough and explained everything very well. If you have a late night emergency with a oet, defnately come here. read more

I am on vacation in CA. MY best friend Buddy ate things he should not have. I was so impressed with Randi who is a member of this team to help pets in trouble. I would highly recommend this Emergency facility from the first call to Nan to the follow up with Randi. I was very confident in the care Buddy was getting. read more

UPDATE: VEG seemed dead set on following the recommendation of a vet that VEG referred me to which said he was NOT sick. You followed her recommendation so much so, that it was repeatedly stated to me via email that the other vet said not to do anything. So falling back on the first vets recommendation is simply a scape goat on your part. I also would not expect anyone to prescribe anything without seeing my pet. When I kept sending pictures of his dropping, I was told he was fine. He was NOT fine. I am not a veterinarian. It's up to your vet to let me know what they think they can do. Nothing was offered to me supportive or otherwise. So, please don't follow the recommendation of a doctor who says he's not sick, and also reference a doctor who said he's was terminal. You're just using both of these things to paint yourself in a better light. read more

I took my best boy, Loki the miniature schnauzer, to VEG this past Sunday after he'd been puking for nearly two days. Was I scared? Absolutely. Were the staff and Dr at VEG compassionate and understanding? Beyond. They went out of their way to keep me calm, and to take the greatest care of Loki. Dr. Salazar was wonderful. Also, they have the best snacks and coffee in the waiting room for us nervous pet parents. I was touched by their followup text to ensure Loki was doing better. Which, he is, and I am grateful for that. You can continue following Loki's story at PNCHELOKI on Instagram and TikTok. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

We took our sick parakeet to Dr. Kim today and they took exceptional care of him and I think he is healed. He has stopped wheezing. From the phone call to the front desk then the Vet aide Theresa and follow up with Randi this experience was perfect. I so trust this Vet. THANK YOU read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Petie and my husband Sam - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

I called and wasn't sure how urgent my situation was; I spoke with Dr Cruz who was amazing. She calmed me down and also gave me insightful steps to take as my dog recovers from kennel cough. So happy we don't have to come and visit but if we ever do I'll be coming straight to you. Thank you read more

If I could give this place 10 stars I would. I brought my kitty in yesterday morning because he was repeatedly vomiting and foaming at the mouth. I called ahead and received a text link to fill out the intake paperwork and once I arrived we were seen immediately by the doctor and vet tech. Dr. Salazar and nurses Andrea and Samantha were absolutely wonderful to me and my kitty. They were very thorough and took the time to explain to me everything they were doing and what could be wrong. You can tell that they love what they do, have huge hearts for animals, and are truly passionate about veterinary medicine. They treated my kitty like he was their own. Because my kitty needed an ultrasound, the radiologist was not going to be in until later in the afternoon, so they allowed my kitty to stay there during the day and set him up with a nice little condo complete with a cozy bed, blanket, and litterbox. The little things they do to keep the fur babies comfortable meant to much to me. They have the Feliway diffuser in all the exam rooms (its a pheromone that helps calm nervous kitties), they have sound machines to play nature noises, and will even play animal videos for them if needed. I have never seen anything like it. When we were discharged, I was given very detailed notes on how to continue my kitty's care at home. Thank you so much to VEG for taking such wonderful care of my fur baby!! read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

Last week our beloved, energetic orange cat Spencer suddenly became very lethargic, was cold and seemed to be breathing with great effort. We took him to VEG and immediately a doctor and two helpers rushed to examine him as we looked on. They gave him oxygen, drew blood, then took him into the back for x-rays. The entire staff was professional, personable and empathetic. During the exam, Dr. Erica Butler talked us through what she was doing and thinking. When the x-rays showed a mass (probably liquid) in his lungs, she explained that it was likely one of two things - neither one good: a heart problem, or internal bleeding. After receiving more info from radiology, Dr. Butler compassionately explained to us that it was probably a congenital heart defect. They placed Spencer in a warm oxygen chamber to monitor his vital signs, which unfortunately had worsened overnight. We got a call from another doctor at 6:15 the next morning with the sad news, and that putting him to sleep was her recommendation. It was hard to wrap our minds around the idea that our mischievous five-year-old family member who would habitually leap to the top of 10-foot-bookshelves days earlier would now be in this state. But the way they sympathetically guided us, step-by-step, through the entire ordeal gave us sad confidence in their diagnosis. We lovingly said goodbye to Spencer that morning, stroking him and letting him hear the bell in his favorite ball for the last time. So you might think it'd be hard to recommend a facility that wasn't able to save this cherished member of our family. Quite the contrary - step by step, each employee expertly and sympathetically helped us deal with the reality of the situation. VEG's unusual open-door policy where family members can drop by 24/7 and experience how their pets are being treated was a comforting departure from the usual "wait in this room while we take your pet away and do stuff" procedure. We couldn't recommend Veterinary Emergency Group more highly. read more

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Unfortunately we also had to bring in our cat Beignet over the weekend because he accidentally swallowed some dental floss. And again, the staff at VEG was great. Beignet is not the easiest cat to handle at the vet, and the techs did a great job with him. I like how they offer blankets with Feliway because that helped a lot. One thing I was really impressed with is that Dr. Cruz did not push us to do surgery and her opinion was based on her medical expertise, not the lust for more money. And she was right, Beignet ended up passing the floss in his stool 48 hours after at home. Thank you VEG staff for taking great care of my Robo hamster Pancake and now my cat Beignet. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

You never want to have to need an emergency vet but if you do this is the place to go. My friends dog got a fish hook in her tongue. The staff here was so friendly and inviting, they got her seen quickly and were very fair with the treatments and the cost. It not feel like they were just there to make money which is so important in these high stress situations. They even brought snacks and water around. They solved our issue and got us out quickly. Dr. Cambell her team are awesome! you can really tell they are here for the animals. Definitely save this one incase of an emergency! read more

The reality is- no one wants to find themself here. But things happen and thank goodness that VEG exists to provide 24/7 care to the most special parts of our family. Our little bun was struggling to eat properly. After a sluggish evening, we decided to bring him in to VEG. They came as a recommendation of La Mesa Pet Specialty, who didn't have an exotics doctor overnight. VEG was clear that they also aren't exotic specialist but they do see their fair share of rabbits. Mookie was treated with great care and given fluids to get him through the night before we took him to his regular doctor. The team was very kind and clearly loves the animals they treat. We sadly witnessed a family losing their cat and the team was so respectful and caring to the family. While the emergency visit cost about $200, they show you estimates prior to performing any services. We just had them do fluids and critical care and left the remaining work to be done by his primary. If your family finds themselves here, I hope things turn out well for your animal! read more

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What a high level of care. It is a very open and transparent emergency clinic. We went straight into the treatment area our dog pet and the staff were immediately available. The vets are experienced emergency care specialists. They are collegial and diligent. Our dog had a minor procedure done and we were home within 3 hours. This is higher level emergency care than a normal clinic, prices are definitely high. If you have pet insurance and it's an urgent problem, I'd recommend this place. read more

We had a Greyhound that cut himself from shoulder to shoulder. The vets and techs were very attentive and did an excellent job taking care of our Bowie. We've had several follow up appointments and they took care of him as if he was their dog. We highly recommend VEG. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - After surgery. - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We took our beloved dog,"Teddy", to Oceanside VEG on 11/7/2025. This was his last visit in life. For over 12 years, he had never had any illness; not one. But, recently, he started with a dry cough, gradually worse over time. We didn't know about VEG at the time, so we took him to a Vet Hospital in Vista late one night and stayed for 3 hours. They took him from us in the car and said that we could not be with him until they were finished. About $500 later, they said that he had Congestive Heart Failure with fluid on his lungs. They sold us Vetmedin and some Furosemide pills, then gave him a direct shot of Furosemide (diuretic) and told us to add more pills as soon as we arrived home. It tortured him horribly. We stopped the diuretic and Vetmedin was useless over time. As advised, we took him to our regular Vet who said that he only had a Heart Murmur - not Heart Failure, and that there was no fluid in his lungs. They did a full Blood Test which indicated he was in pretty good health. Then, one day, Teddy decided to go upstairs (which we had restricted him from since it increased coughing). This time, after climbing stairs, he looked confused then dropped to the floor, unconscious. Then, on short walks outside, he would freeze still then collapse. Over the next month or so, he started refusing food and drank a lot of water. His belly became very firm and he plodded slowly, sometimes collapsing. We finally were referred to VEG, Oceanside which they said we could be with Teddy through the whole End of Life procedure. It did help keep him calm. We asked if they would give him a preliminary shot to make him sleepy, then use the final catheter. A strong Will to Live in him fought the shots and he stayed awake. The VEG staff were gathering together with us, trying to help. The final catheter injection took two doses until his heart stopped. Throughout the whole process, every member of VEG worked hard on this case and were vigilant and knowledgeable and communicated everything going on - yet they were consistently doing things for Teddy and for us and how we were feeling. From the moment we entered the building with "TEDDY" on the Op Room door to a Mini-Casket with a flower on it - they were the most dedicated and truly dedicated people we've ever met. Please trust me when I say, if the time comes when your Pet needs help; Go To VEG. We absolutely will. read more

Our dog received excellent care and we greatly appreciated the level of access we had during the treatment and the communication and compassion from the vets and staff. We hope our pets never need emergency veterinary care again but if they do, we would not hesitate to take them to VEG Encinitas. read more

We were referred to this emergency group when our dog was attacked by another dog. They were incredibly warm, friendly, and genuine. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the experience we had there. The open concept that allows you to be with your animal and see what's going on is very comforting and makes the whole process more transparent. They provided us with a nice soft blanket as well as a potty pad just in case our little guy had an accident. The staff also brought out a jar of baby food for my dog when he was being wiggly when they were trying to give him a shot. I find these services to be above and beyond and so appreciate them. I wish I could give an additional star to this business for the text they sent me notifying us that we were double charged for a medication and they would be issuing a refund. The level of honesty and care they take makes me comfortable recommending this place to anyone. Thank you VEG for treating our little guy like he was your own read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

Took me awhile to do this because of the pain I went through & regret of bringing my bunny here. Please DO NOT!! Bring your rabbit here. They know NOTHING about bunny's. They kept texting a separate person & calling them cause they didn't know what to do. I should have just took him home... My poor bunny is gone...... They also run up payments so it gets higher & higher without doing a thing! It's more about the money than it is about the animals well being. It's sad. Oh & don't leave your pets stuff here they throw it away!!!! We asked for our bunny's crate/stuff they said they tossed it, they said they would hold it when we picked his ashes up. Nope they threw it away!!! Already dealing with heartache we also got a big f you by them tossing his stuff. Heartless. We luckily found an amazing vet/emergency last year. I DO NOT RECOMMEND this place. read more

The other day I found my puppy had gotten into some ant poison. I was in a panic. I called my regular vet and they didn't know the answer they recommended I call the ASPCA poison control hot line. I tried twice and was on hold for 10 minutes each time. A quick call to VEG and I got the answers I needed less than a minute. Puppy is fine, it took a day for me to recover. Thank you VEG! read more

I would 100% recomend going here for any emergency since they are guranteed to be open all the time. Despite them being in Larkspur and having to drive 33 minutes to get there, it was very worth it because once we got there, they already had 3 people there ready for us. We brought in 4 guinea pigs, 3 babies and one mom. Most of the staff said they had never seen baby guinea pigs before even though they knew exactly what to do and how to handle them. They were so sweet and caring and now the rest of the guinea pigs are doing very well thanks to their advice. read more

I hardly leave reviews on Yelp but I have to give credit to this place because they were so fantastic. I brought my cat in because she hadn't peed in 24hours. Thankfully, right when we got to VEG she peed in her carrier. The nurse and vet still saw my cat promptly. We went to triage right when we walked in and they did a thorough assessment and grabbed vital signs. The vet came and discussed possible reason for the urinary issues and follow up exams to get at our local vet. They even did an ultrasound of her bladder to rule out stones. To top it off, all of this was on the house. They are an incredibly kind and very efficient team over at VEG. I hope I never have to come back, but if god forbid something emergent happens to my cat I know where to go. Thanks VEG! read more

what a great experience. walked in concerned about my pup, got immediate care and wisdom from all. really appreciate the whole crew. so far it seems like I probably was over concerned, but worth it for my pup. if we need anything urgently or emergently this will forever be my first choice! - Evan and Kinley Ps: thank you Dr Kim and team! read more

Terrible. Avoid at all cost. Killed our family cat. My wife took our 4-year-old cat in with a urinary blockage. She was told we needed to spend $7,500 for a two-day evaluation. We couldn't afford that and several hours later they convinced my wife the "standard of care" required putting our. cat down. Do NOT go there. read more

Just wanted to express my gratitude to Dr. Cruz for being absolutely fantastic with my (sometimes sassy) cat. She was honest with me throughout the entire work up about what she thought and did her best to do the right thing for my cat at all times. I was extremely impressed by her and she put me at great ease. read more

I have brought my 16 year old dog t the Veterinary Emergency Hospital a couple times. Because it's always been emergency situations, I was relieved to find this veterinary practice to be cool calm and professional. And I was surprised that I was allowed to stay with my Ashley the whole time they worked in her. I highly recommend this practice over any Emergency After hours hospitals. They are reasonably priced and have so much compassion for both your pet and pet parents. We've been to Specialty Hospitals but found them to be ridiculously expensive and not able to handle large numbers of pet emergencies. Veterinary Emergency Hospital is located in Encinitas and open 24/7. I love the individuals who work here, from the person who checks you in to the doctors who take care of your pet. And let's don't forget those amazing techs that are so good with both pets and parents! And you can call ahead and they're waiting for you when you get there! That's huge when you're in an emergency situation. I'm glad we have this practice available to us if we need them! read more

Look no further. Take your pet here. I just don't have enough good words for this place and its saviors. I'd call it a sanctuary for the moms and dads of the wounded fur babies. They were amazing supportive, attentive, efficient, kind. It was an end to end perfect care response to an event you never want to happen- have your baby sick or injured. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Encinitas, California

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