I recently had to put my 14 old dog down and the staff here was amazing. The private room was cozy and homey for us to see him off. We didn't even have to make an appointment, they said to come in anytime 24/7, whenever we were ready. The company they work with that handled his cremation was in contact within an hour so I barely had to do anything. That was very much appreciated. I received everything about a week later and I liked the different options offered. We went with a paw print. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Ozzy - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

This is an excellent hospital for pets. From the moment we checked in, through intake with the veterinary technician, and during our appointment with the internal medicine specialist, we were treated with kindness, patience, and genuine care. The specialists take the time to thoroughly answer questions and never make you feel rushed. Our appointment lasted nearly two hours because we had so many questions about our dog's medical condition, and the entire team remained attentive and supportive throughout the visit. We did experience a small issue with a prescription that was sent to Costco. Since it was a Friday, it took several phone calls to get everything clarified. What truly impressed us was the level of accountability and customer service. The doctor personally called us on a Saturday to apologize for the prescription error and ensure everything had been resolved. This was our second visit, and based on the compassionate care, professionalism, and dedication of the staff, we will absolutely be returning. I highly recommend this hospital to anyone looking for exceptional veterinary care for their pet. read more

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We recently had to say goodbye to our beloved dog, and while no one ever wants to be in that situation, the team here made an incredibly painful experience as peaceful and compassionate as it could possibly be. From the moment we arrived, the staff and Dr. Parkins treated our boy with such gentleness and respect -- and they treated us the same way. They were patient, kind, and never made us feel rushed. They gave us the space to grieve while also guiding us through every step with such care. Their kindness and thoughtfulness in the days and weeks that followed showed us that, it wasn't just a job -- they truly cared. We are so grateful to have had this team with us at the end of his life. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. read more

We want to thank for saving our standard poodle's life. He had the Mother of all Emergencies, a twisted stomach. They had to nurse our pup for several days until his digestive track was working properly after stomach surgery. Their work was perfect! They are the best. Thank you for giving us our beloved pet back! read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Bijou Noel - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

I would not trust Dr. Laura Stokking with the dermatology care of one of my dogs. I want to be clear: I have never personally met Dr. Stokking. My opinion is based on reviewing years of her medical records for Pancake after I adopted him. I analyzed more than 20 veterinary records trying to understand his treatment history. In 2023, Dr. Stokking documented that Pancake "continues to improve." By 2024, his vasculitis was increasing in severity and not responding adequately to treatment. In June 2025, she documented that his vasculitis "has continued to progress." Yet he ultimately remained on essentially the same core pentoxifylline/doxycycline regimen he had been receiving for years. What I find most disturbing is his nose and ability to breathe. Pancake's nasal obstruction was already present when he first came under specialty care approximately three years ago. Today, his nares are documented as "minimally patent," particularly on the left. In other words, this wasn't a new problem that suddenly appeared--it was a serious existing problem that remained unresolved throughout years of specialty care. Imagine looking at a dog who can barely breathe through his nose and allowing that to remain his normal for years. Another veterinarian eventually raised surgical intervention. The first day I saw Pancake, I immediately told the rescue that I wanted his nose surgically evaluated. I am not a veterinarian, which makes it even harder for me to understand why such an obvious quality-of-life issue remained unresolved for so long. After reading his records, my impression is of transactional veterinary medicine--another appointment, another chart, another bill, rather than someone taking ownership of the entire case and asking what actually needs to be done to improve this dog's life. I felt I received a more thorough and actionable initial assessment for approximately $45 at PetSmart than what I saw reflected in years of specialty dermatology records. Pancake's records went from "continues to improve" to "has continued to progress," while his serious nasal obstruction remained unresolved. Pancake deserved better. Based on what I found in his medical records, I would not choose Dr. Stokking to treat one of my dogs and cannot recommend her to other pet owners. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

Came here for a consultation about an issue my dog is having. Was recommended to come here by my vet. The process to being seen here was a pain. After getting the referral I called to get scheduled. For a business open 24/7 no one ever answered the phone. I ended up going on the website and filling out a "Contact us" form. I will say the from the time I entered the contact us the contact that was made (via email) was quick (same day) requesting more info. The next day I had an email about a consultation appt (which was scheduled 29 days later- includes weekends). In the email they stated the consultation would be $265 for an hour. It was interesting my vet had recommended us to the hospital for oncology but we were then scheduled an appt with surgery (I am not sure if they had the records from the vet and that is why they went surgery not oncology or what). The day of our appt they ask you arrive early and like any appt nowadays you get there early to be seen 10-15 minutes after your appt time. The first part of the consultation was the vet tech asking about why we were there and putting the info in. They took my dog to be weighed and get other stats, then brought them back. The Dr (surgeon) came in and had a believe a resident with him. The dr explained what was the recommendation (surgery) but answered all my questions, even ones about what would happen if I did not do surgery (it is expensive). The dr was kind and understanding and said it was ok if I chose to do nothing. He gave me signs to look out for if my pet was in distress or decline as quality of life would need to be assessed. I got the actual quote for the surgery and it was $1500 less than the Dr had estimated (which was appreciated) and the vet tech went over some of the charges I may not incur if they are not needed (blood transfusion, extra night in hospital). I appreciated that they were willing to have some flexibility in what is a cost prohibitive procedure. They did not pressure me to make a decision, stated I could call back after having time to think or explore finances (it would require some kind of financial assistance to be able to do the surgery, the vet tech gave us some options she had utilized in the past). The Dr also wrote a rx for essentially dog Tylenol and called it in to Costco to further save money. I understand that Dr's expertise (and the vet tech) needs to be compensated but $265 for talking for less than 30 minutes seems excessive. For about a 45 minute appt with the vet tech/Dr (surgeon) it was about $6 a minute. If you spread it out over the time we were waiting in the lobby not interacting with anyone if brings the cost down to $5 a minute for the hour long consultation. I feel it would have been more reasonable to have a fee of around $150. Parking is very impacted in this area due to many businesses sharing one lot. The spots are also small and people do not park well so you may not be able to get in or out of your car. Overall it was a good experience but an expensive one. read more

I've been bringing my senior dog, Sundance (18 years old), to the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego in Sorrento Valley to see Internist Dr. Shawn Chandrakumar and his assistant, Mac. Sundance has multiple chronic conditions, and we recently discovered an abdominal mass, so his care requires a very thoughtful, balanced approach. Dr. Chandrakumar and Mac have been exceptional--clear, compassionate, and genuinely committed to Sundance's quality of life. They've helped me navigate difficult decisions with patience and kindness, and even followed up after appointments. Costs have been very reasonable, with some charges even waived when procedures were split. I'm deeply grateful for the outstanding care Sundance has received. I hope this review helps anyone facing similar complex health concerns with their pet. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

For everyone that sings the praises of this assembly line. Look at the number of one star reviews vs five. Notice that five is mostly about ER care. This hospital does not have patients and shouldn't be claiming to be a specialty hospital when they are a FACTORY. To anyone who had to see their "specialists" and lost their loved family members because quota takes precedence over care, and the most they can give is 15 minutes...MOVE ON. ANYWHERE ELSE. They get paid regardless of if your dog or cat lives or not. They make that very clear. Do not be fooled by the front desk who has mastered the art of their a script, in which they feign empathy and care like sociopaths. If you think you are an adding to a chart, or anything critical information is going to their doctors, it's not, they are parrots who repeat what they've heard in training. No analysis of your case is happening behind the scenes. Before even moving to the state, I had sent email after email about my working service lab--first day I show up, they apologize that their internist has been on vacation and is just reading up on his chart. Untrue. They tell sorry it's his first day back he's super overwhelmed trying to catch up. He's now been on three vacations. They have mastered the art of canned responses and ten minutes of rushed "exams"...they're not animal lovers, they are money lovers. When you ask for notes, and you NEED TO, they don't have them. They aren't deeply sorry for anything. That is ready to be copy pasted directly from their robot training manual. It's likely AI generated, and it's learned to emulate empathy but this is a hospital for credit cards. I've seen two specialists--everything I'd sent had been added to my Labradors chart, and by that I mean it wasn't. At all. Ever. The internist who was getting back from his second vacation since I spoke to them, knew nothing about my dog, no ideas, no questions, and I genuinely they'd been to a record--jokes on me and you. Turns out he didn't have a record. None. No notes nothing. This was just a customer experience SCAM. And if you write them about anything requiring thinking and analysis around care they treat you to a canned response about heading to the ER. I also took my dog to the neurologist there. Stuck up, too good to even walk my dog down the hallway, because he got on a bench. A neuro exam assesses gait. I've been to two neurologists. The first one stood an hour and a half with my dog, examining him thoroughly. This guy wears scrubs, probably drives a Porsche and has god complex. He examined my dog in a lazier manner than I do. I too can palpitate his spine, he showed, yea I don't give a sssshhh, but I'm making money today. I've seen regular vets do more thorough exams and he talked to me like he was dr manhattan. It was like he took anti anxiety meds and chased it with superhero juice. He made it clear that he could telepathically assess my dog. Again, I asked questions and everything was dismissed, and nothing was raised as a possibility, but i was kindly offered a 5k MRI. Their patients are statistics and numbers, for a cool $265 you can tell them what you've already told them and be told nothing, have nothing investigated and be given absolutely NO EXPERTISE. This hospital is the most factory type of operation I have ever been to. Specialty hospital? No. They are an ER. They are frauds, and if you have one internist, he's given vacation every three weeks ? Don't EVEN get me started. I am SO SORRY to everyone who has suffered the real consequences of negligent corporate veterinary care. If you want to pay $300 to feel like you are going to cry while you watched entitled doctors sit back making a salary like they're late to a party, while you desperately make suggestions, and try to invoke some actual care, begging them to provide anything while they count the hours till their day ends. These doctors do not care about animals, they care about their patient quota. I filled with HUD and the ADA, and the EEOC, and all consumer agencies that investigate false advertising, consumer protections, and service animals/disabilities. I reported both veterinary licenses to the veterinary medical boards, for negligence and complete disregard for life. No no no no no no no no do not take your pets here unless they are dying. Then maybe, but I can't imagine they care more. Useless hospital that should be strictly an ER and be shut down for claiming they provide expert medical care. Good luck. VCA is here. There are FAR better hospitals and vets. read more

I would like to give every possible and imaginable stars to this hospital. For the past month--ever since an extremely sensitive diagnosis was discovered--they have been saving Miss Linda and helping us understand her condition. Linda arrived extremely anemic--practically dead--and today she is back home, regenerating her red blood cells and taking it one day at a time. From the sweet receptionists to the RVTs and doctors, I have nothing but gratitude. I would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Borgman; her excellence, professionalism, and competence have been instrumental in keeping our 13-year-old senior girl alive and with us. Not a single day went by during my visits there when we weren't treated with the utmost respect, clarity, and comfort. Always in communication--whether by phone or text--we always knew what was going on with our dear Linda. Dr. Deberry and Dr. Coberg are amazing as well!!! We are immensely grateful read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Linda Merloti - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

After visiting urgent care, we were referred to Veterinary Specialty Hospital (VHS) on Sorrento Valley Rd. The urgent care team was able to book the appointment for us, and when we arrived, the staff was already fully prepared. They were informed about our situation and knew exactly what needed to be monitored. The triage nurse came out promptly to assess our 6-year-old Goldendoodle and confirmed all the details. He required emergency surgery for a flipped stomach (GDV), and the team acted quickly. The doctor thoroughly explained the recommended treatments and tests, and once we approved everything, they provided a clear cost estimate for the planned services. Time was critical, and they had Cooper in surgery very quickly. We were able to pick him up the next day. He was understandably tired but already on the road to recovery. Now, seven days later, he's eating well, attentive, and almost completely back to his normal self. VHS on Sorrento Valley Rd was incredibly compassionate, professional, and understanding during such a stressful time. We are so grateful for their swift action and excellent care. I would absolutely recommend their hospital to anyone in need of emergency veterinary services. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Cooper - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

Great place. Organized well. Full service vet clinic. Vets tend to be very friendly and thorough.

Update: Yes, it's true that there were conversations regarding the dangers of immunosuppressants and the anti-fungal treatment on the last TWO DAYS of my dogs life when she was switched to the correct medicine, MONTHS after my dog tested positive for valley fever, when she SHOULD have been placed on the anti-fungal. A quick google search shows the dangers of my dogs treatment: "Giving a dog with Valley Fever an immunosuppressant (such as prednisone or cyclosporine) without an antifungal puts them at severe risk of the fungal infection rapidly spreading, worsening, or becoming fatal" We are still hoping for some accountability in the suffering and death of our beloved family member. Brought our 3 year old maltipoo to see Dr. Schneider after she had two seizures and agreed to infectious disease testing. Somehow Dr. Schneider missed that one of the tests that he himself ordered was positive for Valley Fever and instead of putting her on an anti-fungal, he put her on an immunosuppressant which allowed the fungus to quickly spread throughout her body and lungs. Our dog's primary vet reached out to Dr. Schneider several times during the last few weeks of our dog's life via e-mail/phone but Dr. Schneider was too busy to discuss her care. It was horrifying seeing her struggle to breathe once she was admitted. They convinced me that it was in her best interest euthanize her. (Though I do not blame the compassionate and competent vets who treated her on her last 2 days) I will never forget the way she sat up in terror as she was euthanized. She wanted to live. When Dr. Schneider called a week later he was cavalier about the situation and it was obvious that he did not care. It's my belief that my dog would still be alive if I had never taken her to see Dr. Schneider. It's been almost a year and we still miss her everyday. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

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Our pup needed a consult and procedure with the neurosurgeon. The team was so sweet, which was particularly appreciated since we were nervous wrecks. The team saw him, and were able to get our pet in the next day for his procedure. It's been a week and a half and our pet is better than ever! read more

They saved my cat's life, and were incredibly patient with my anxiety. I was a vet tech from 1998-2008, and spent two years working in two emergency hospitals outside of CA. VSH earned my trust whole heartedly and I'm incredibly grateful. read more

I transferred my dog here from a different emergency hospital due to a concern that he was not being treated correctly. The difference between the two was night and day. I was walked through his treatment plan, asked my concerns/questions and was constantly updated on his progress and well being. It was such a relief to know he was finally in capable and caring hands. Jaxson is on the mend and back to himself at home. So thankful for VSH for taking him in and giving us peace of mind! read more

Almost 11-year old GSD hadn't been doing too well. This center is a regular vet referral only center, or emergency room service. After our normal vet referred us to neurology, we were able to make an appointment in a reasonable amount of time. Dr. Schneider is a neurologist on staff here and is incredibly knowledgeable and kind. After his recommended course of care, my pup seems to be doing a bit better and trending upward a bit. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - One of many waiting areas - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

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DO NOT GO HERE- THEY WILL KILL YOUR DOG- with inexperienced, low skilled staff. They missed all the signs and chances to save my dog from bacterial sepsis. Their director said it was as cancerous tumor that needed a 15k surgery. They drugged my dog on fentanyl for 12 + hours, not approved by me!!, while he was dieing of bacterial sepsis and did nothing, while I begged them to believe me, it was not his tumor, it was toxicity or bacterial sepsis. I know, I did not go to medical school. But I know and love my dogs and I know when there is something wrong that is a longtime issue vs immediate and fast issue like sepsis. Dr Istvan is the worst doctor I have ever encountered in my lifetime. She is heartless and ill equipped. I hold her, this hospital and the other doctor working on staff, Dr Rodriguez, liable for my dog's death. DO NOT GO HERE!!! read more

If I could rate the vets themselves, this would be a five - easy. They are SO kind and knowledgeable. I would completely recommend every vet that I've ever interacted with there. My review is lower because I would give the overnight front desk girl who greeted me last Sunday in the earlyyy morning ZERO stars. My sweet old dog lost her ability to breathe when we were in bed. I was beside myself and sped to the emergency vet where she stop breathing at the front door outside and began foaming at the mouth. I was crying outside and ringing the bell screaming for help. This front desk girl saw me and WALKED to the front door to let me in. I ran in screaming that I think my dog was dying and needed immediate help. She took her time walking back to her desk and said she needed to get me on the board first, and showed zero empathy. I told her she was dying and I needed help now and she pushed back again. When I yelled she's dying she got up and again WALKED to the back to get someone while my dog suffered. People who work at vet emergency hospitals must be used to this chaos but the front desk girl obviously lacked empathy and training for how to deal with families and animals in this level of crisis. I hope that how completely unprofessional she was and how that may have impacted my dog living or dying is addressed with her so no one else has to add that experience to an already horrible situation. The staff outside of her could not have been more kind. My little dog passed away that morning and it was horrific. Thank you to the vets and staff in the back for the care you gave her and me in her last hours. read more

When I had an emergency with my beloved doggie (in the middle of the night of course) this hospital was open and super close to me. Bear was having severe difficulty breathing and would have died that night if I couldn't have found any place to take him. Needless to say I'm very thankful for this hospital. Dr Gold figured out partially what was going on with Bear within a few hours. And explained not only the diagnosis, but his reasoning for it and showed me a short article to read on the subject. It was super difficult to leave my doggie that night, but I was confident he was in good hands. More testing was done the following morning/afternoon to further diagnose by Dr Cheng. Overall my Bear stayed two nights before he was well enough to come home to recover. Both doctors were very informative and empathetic throughout the entire process. Upon pick up of my doggie the nurse was very thorough explaining his medications and discharge instructions. The staff up front were very friendly and helpful. You can tell everyone that works here has a genuine love for animals. Hopefully I won't have any more emergencies with my doggie. But if I do this is where I will take him. In the meantime I will be shopping for pet insurance to hopefully keep any unforeseen emergencies mostly covered. read more

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No payment plans, only options are pay $12,700 up front or your dog dies. I have insurance but it only covers $10k/year. Luckily they finally said I could go to Ancira after saying it's not ideal. After scaring me into thinking I needed immediate on call surgeon to come in, then deciding they could wait till the next day, to finally sending her home with fluids. She actually by the time surgery happened didn't even need the surgery anymore. Get a second opinion unless you are independently wealthy. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Veterinary Specialty Hospital - San Diego. They recently diagnosed my dog, Sam, with a large liver mass. From the very beginning, the team handled everything with incredible care and compassion. They walked me through the diagnosis, explained the options in detail, and shared their expert opinions without ever making me feel pressured. The surgery itself was handled flawlessly. They were delicate, precise, and professional -- and they successfully removed the entire liver mass. Sam feels like a completely new dog now. She has made a full recovery, the mass is completely gone, and she's happier and healthier than ever. I am beyond thankful for this wonderful team and the exceptional care they provided. Special thanks to Brooke, Dr. Kraska, Randi, and Coranna -- every single interaction I had with you made me feel supported and confident that Sam was in the best hands possible. If you are ever in need of specialty veterinary care, I highly recommend VSH San Diego. They quite literally gave Sam her life back, and I'll be forever grateful. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

Thanks for taking care of my Husky! Our vet that we go to in Mission Bay didn't have the equipment to take care of his needs, so they recommended these guys. WOW....thank you for that! This place was so wonderful to our pup. Located in Carmel Valley....slow down, so you don't miss the entrance. We missed it going there, but figured it out coming back. Our dog had been sneezing like crazy. He sniffed up a plant and a small, small part was stuck in his snoot (it turned out...we didn't know at first why he was sneezing)! I would post the picture here, but you can't even see it! Can't believe that sucker was making him sneeze so much. They sedated him and they took care of it and within 5 hours he was good to go home! He can smell without sneezing, yay! From the front desk, assistance, doctors....these guys were fantastic. What a great facility they have, too. They even have an area on the side of their office (enclosed) that animals can run around, so they are not on their chain. read more

We are very pleased with the care given to Winston. We felt the entire team took the time to listen to us and really hear us. The team members I can specifically remember are Josie, Casie, Dr. Hipp, Dr. Goldberg, and Dr. Majorgas (I'm very sorry I can't accurately remember her name, I hope this is close). We were totally comfortable leaving Winston overnight because we knew he needed care we couldn't give him, and we had complete confidence in the capabilities of the team. As hard as the experience is with going to an emergency vet, VSH made the experience as pleasant as it could possibly be. Something I really appreciate is how you run the intake of an animal. After a very short wait in the lobby and after the triage period, I really liked that we are taken to our own exam room. It feels very calm and quiet every time we've been there (midnight on a Saturday, 10am on a Wednesday, 4pm on a Thursday), and I can't even explain how much that helps the experience. It is clear that you have explored the client experience because this makes a massive improvement. We had been to the emergency vet in Encinitas for another dog emergency, and VSH was a much more pleasant experience. I hope we never have to come back to VSH again, but if we have an emergency situation, I wouldn't consider going anywhere other than VSH. Winston is back home and has made almost a complete recovery after two days. Thank you. read more

A Deep Thank You to Dr. Pike! A Remarkable Veterinary Surgeon! I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to someone who quite literally helped save my service dog's life: Dr. Pike, Bandit's surgeon. When Bandit was diagnosed with multiple mast cell tumors, the fear and uncertainty were overwhelming. The thought of losing her was devastating. So when I asked around San Diego for a trusted veterinary surgeon, I paid close attention when four different people recommended the same name: Dr. Pike. As you can imagine, he has a long waiting list because his reputation for excellence is well-earned. But his team at VSH Sorrento Valley understood that cancer doesn't wait. They got Bandit and me in quickly, and I'll always be grateful for that urgency and compassion. From our first conversation, Dr. Pike brought a sense of confidence, clarity, and calm that I didn't even realize I needed. He treated Bandit not just as a patient, but as a cherished partner and acknowledged the deep bond we share. While skin tumor removals may not be the most technically complex surgeries he performs, he approached it with the same seriousness and care you'd expect for something far more intricate. It meant the world to me. He answered all my questions with patience, never once brushing aside my fears or emotions. He collaborated closely with Bandit's primary vet, tailored her recovery plan to her sensitivities, and made sure I was fully prepared for every step of the process. Thanks to Dr. Pike, Katie, and the entire care team at VSH Sorrento Valley, Bandit's tumors were removed with clean margins and she's now back to hiking, napping in her favorite spots, and making me laugh with her goofy, spirited self. I'll never forget what Dr. Pike has done for us. His surgical precision gave Bandit more time and his kindness gave me hope when I needed it most. Thank you, Dr. Pike. Your work makes a difference in ways that go far beyond the operating room. With endless gratitude, Kate & Bandit read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

Dr. Schneider and the Neurology team apparently lied to me for 2 1/2 straight years. And my dog suffered excruciating pain in the end as a result. I received the most rude call today from some random woman not on the Neurology team informing me that they were not going to be investing any more time in this and that they had no intention of following through in the first place. Additionally Dr. Gettyman who was on call in the ER, was single-handedly responsible for starting the cascade of events that resulted in my dog's death. His failure to do even basic things he was instructed to do that evening created a storm with my dog Health, that we ultimately couldn't put out. I was instructed to contact the operations manager about that situation. I did. They never bothered to call me back. Most importantly however my dog suffered excruciating pain for five additional days because Dr. Schneider and his team continued to persuade me to get his brain examined properly and they were "out of the office". Today I received a call from someone saying they had no intention of actually helping write up the case report, and that they were too busy to bother. My dog did not suffer unnecessarily and die early, for nothing. Multiple other hospitals have told me they've received applications from former employees of VSH who were quitting in droves because the management or new ownership was ruining the place. I strongly advise you don't take your pets to this clinic ever. We spent well over $35,000 with them and were just treated like dirt in the end. read more

Khaleesi has been in pain for the last three days and it was coming from her tail so here we are again to figure out what we can do to get this under control. I'm always grateful to the staff and the doctors here and Khaleesi gets excellent care. read more

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Still a fantastic hospital and we love Dr. Moeller for eyes!! She's been great and we love the ER staff! read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

This place is great. Great customer service. I took my baby in for a second opinion because she got very sick unfortunately she got sent into their ICU & I had to put her down because it was far too late to treat her failed liver but they treated her like she was their own baby. Gave me all the time I needed with her. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

We came to VSH - San Diego/Dr. Phillips for a second opinion on treatment options when we found out our 11-year old Lab's cancer had spread to her lungs. From our initial consultation, through all visits, and when finally determining to move into end-of-life care we, along with our pup, were treated with compassion, respect and kindness. Dr. Phillips patiently walked us through all of our options and answered all of our questions, we never felt rushed. She was knowledgeable and honest with us, citing studies and whether or not we would qualify for treatment trials. At every visit and each follow up call, she, along with her staff, were familiar with and prepared to discuss our case as well as recommendations based on what we reported, her thorough examinations and test results. This included when Dr. Phillips was on vacation and I spoke with a colleague of hers regarding how to make our pup more comfortable when we determined she wasn't going to be around much longer. He was patient, empathetic and understanding as I cried my way through our conversation. I will say that appointments were rarely on time - typically running between 20 and 30 minutes behind. My assumption for this, based on our experience, is that this was because of the amount of time Dr. Phillips and her team spent making sure all of her patients and their pet parents felt well cared and understood the care plan. I cannot recommend Dr. Phillips enough - I very much hope we never need her again - but should I hear of anyone that does require an oncologist for their pet, I will definitely be telling them to schedule an appointment with her. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

DO NOT BRING YOUR ANIMALS HERE! My dog died in their care - Dr. Istvan, Associate Medical Director of VSH, was to blame primarily with Dr. Rodriguez as her co-worker that day. He had bacterials sepsis, I begged and argued for them to treat his issues as sepsis - either bacterial or toxic exposure. Stephanie Istvan told us this was not the case and it was an adrenal tumor that was cancerous and they wanted us to put him into surgery right away to remove it. I did a necropsy on my dog and this was completely false. The tumor was benign and had nothing to do with his health declining. The necropsy showed that my dog died from bacterial sepsis. Dr. Istvan was very very wrong but refused to listen to us and refused to treat him as having bacterial sepsis. Dr. Istvan was a bully and treated us with complete disrespect. She had no compassion or empathy. When I shared my concerns with her about my dogs condition she scoffed at me and rolled her eyes. She reviewed zero blood work in our meeting with her we didn't receive any copies of our dogs blood work results until after my dog died. They did nothing to help my dying dog. They aided in his death and charged us over $7000 to take away any chance of him living while not treating his systems. The primary value at this hospital is money and profit. My heart is broken into a million pieces because they did not give my dog the care and proper treatment that he needed and that he deserved. We trusted our dogs life with them and gave them our open wallet to save him and they took full advantage of our trust and the situation. They took as much money as they could, as quickly as they could, and did as little as possible. read more

I have brought all our dogs here for emergencies and they're really quick with our pet's status and follow ups. The front staff are kind and compassionate, and I've never had issues with the doctors. It's really helpful that this hospital is open 24 hours as well! read more

VSH is above and beyond amazing! Our vet at Amici in Little Italy had our baby girl, Princess Zelda, our 7 1/2 year old American Akita immediately transferred to VSH during a follow up appointment. We rushed her up there on a random Tuesday in December the week before Christmas. It was extremely busy day but due to Zelda's needs we were prioritized. We waited on the bench seating and had doctors and nurses checking in and just stopping to pet the baby bear sprawled out on the floor. We were moved to a room and settled in to wait for a doctor. A lovely nurse came in to speak with us about Zelda's symptoms and check her out a little before the doctor came in. She was so gentle with Zelda and was choked up at her being unable to stand up walk. Not too long after the nurse left a doctor came in to talk about next steps which required us to leave her overnight for the staff to hydrate her and evaluate her. It was so hard watching them take her away and leaving her for the evening. First thing the next morning we got a call from VSH after evaluating our baby girl they knew instead of putting her through a bunch of diagnostics that they needed to get her into surgery. During the early morning she developed full paralysis and they didn't want to wait. My boyfriend went up to see her before they took her into surgery and to get the details for what was about to happen. Oh yeah and to find out about the cost. We had 30 minutes to come up $12,000 dollars for the surgery. Yes, you read that correctly. We did. We got the money together. Zelda went into surgery and she came out of surgery and was excited to see us and to go home. The afternoon of 22 December 2022 we picked up our baby girl who couldn't walk yet and was limited in what she was allowed to do for several weeks. It was so hard to watch her in this position but her surgical team and the hospital staff were amazing and words cannot express how grateful we are for everything they did for our beautiful baby girl. Zelda is 15 months post surgery and has been doing great. Even her surgeon was flabbergasted by her improvement and her resilience. I cannot recommend VSH enough! Their care and service is incomparable. Thank you for caring so much for our Princess Zelda. read more

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VSH has taken excellent care of Bentley (dachshund) more than once. They performed a couple of successful surgeries on Bentley's neck in 2013 and recently (2023) conducted an ultrasound on his GI track. Special accolades to Dr. Matt Golembeski for seeing Bentley at midnight Saturday night and providing us a very thorough explanation of Bentley's pancreatitis and gallbladder condition. Dr. Matt Golembeski was very knowledgeable, thorough and honest. Love him! Also a big thank you to Dr. Jessica Henry for following up after the interpretation of Bentley's ultrasound along with the results from his labs. Dr. Jessica Henry explained Bentley's results, condition, and recommendations for moving forward. Thanks to VSH I was able to cancel the euthanasia appointment and Bentley lives on at a ripe age of 15 yrs! Thank you VSH for taking such good care of Bentley; we dodged a bullet! read more

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On August 13th 2025, I rushed my healthy six-year-old cat to VSH, convinced he had suffered a venomous snakebite. He was showing classic and severe symptoms: panting, partial paralysis, and respiratory distress. Yet before he could receive any treatment, I was required to pay an upfront estimate of nearly $6,000 just to admit him to the ICU. Despite his rapidly worsening condition and textbook symptoms, two veterinarians -- Dr. Serena Sunico, DVM, and Dr. Stephanie Istvan, VMD -- dismissed the possibility of a snakebite solely because there was no visible facial bruising. They refused to administer anti-venin, a potentially life-saving treatment, until nearly 20 hours after the incident -- long after his symptoms had intensified. Instead of treating the most likely cause, the hospital ran a battery of expensive and ultimately inconclusive tests -- including X-rays and ultrasounds -- only to conclude they were "baffled." It was only after I persistently advocated for anti-venin and exhausted every other option that they finally agreed to administer it. His response was immediate and dramatic -- confirming what I had feared all along: it was a snakebite. The delay in care was not only costly but, ultimately, catastrophic. To make matters worse, Dr. Istvan revealed that my cat hadn't been given pain medication to keep him comfortable during this time -- meaning he suffered for nearly a full day without relief. Despite his improvement after treatment, when I asked to take him home, Dr. Istvan refused. She insisted he had to remain hospitalized, despite my concerns about the stressful ICU environment and my belief that he would be better off recovering at home. That night, I called repeatedly to check on him and to try to bring him home, but I was told I couldn't see him until after 10 a.m. the next morning. When I finally did, I was devastated -- my cat was disoriented, seizing, and clearly deteriorating. I knew he was near the end. I asked to take him outside to pass peacefully in the sun, but instead, I was delayed with paperwork and last-minute medication instructions -- all while my cat was dying in front of me. Dr. Istvan told me he was no longer on life support and might seize within the hour. But I could see he didn't have even that long. I said, "These are his final breaths; we're not going to make it out of the parking lot." And I was right -- he passed away within seconds of being taken off the table, in my arms, not even one foot away from the ICU. The staff didn't notice until I alerted them. They confirmed his death with a stethoscope -- not compassion. Throughout this painful ordeal, I was dismissed, ignored, and pressured to sign paperwork, rather than being supported in making the best decisions for my cat. The final bill? Over $12,000 -- most of it for tests that didn't help, care I didn't consent to, and an overnight stay I tried to refuse. Since then, I've made several attempts to discuss a fair resolution. My outreach has been met with denial, shifting timelines, and a refusal from hospital representative Jeremy Schlosser to negotiate or take accountability. I've since disputed the charges with my credit card provider and will be filing a formal complaint with the veterinary board. The hospital claims that because I signed release paperwork, the matter is closed -- even though my cat died seconds after leaving the ICU, in full view of staff who didn't notice he was gone. In my most vulnerable moment, their priority was protecting themselves from liability, not caring for my pet -- or me. If you value being heard, respected, and included in critical decisions about your pet's care, I urge you to think carefully before entrusting VSH with your loved one's life. read more

STAY AWAY from Dr. Diane Dereszynski!!! This is my personal experience: while my cat YaYa was undergoing cancer treatment under Dr. Dereszynski's care, she repeatedly failed to return phone calls and was unresponsive when we needed updates. I found her level of communication and compassion unacceptable. his is an honest account of my experience, not a statement about her medical credentials. Why she is even practicing as a veterinarian baffles me - even when your pet with cancer is under her care, You'll have to chase her down like a "stalker" just to get a response. Her lack of response and meeting the bare minimal of her job and profession requires is mind blowing I would not trust her to scoop my cat's litter box, let alone care for them when they're sick. read more

They Lie to you upfront what the hospital costs will be AFTER the emergency surgery. The vets act very sincere and give you visiting hours and keep talking to you in person. However, when our baby was readmitted a week later for fluids after 10 days in the hospital, a technician was the only one to show up when Mimi was discharged. A few days later after I called an independent person to end the misery, the only contact I received from Sorrento Valley was a final bill for over $ 3,000 (unneeded Lepto test and another stupid last ditch test). Why put us through that? No note, no apologies, nothing after all of them saying how much they cared for our beloved Mimi. She was such a good patient too. Just wanting to make everyone happy. Just a BS corporation. Really a shame to bilk people for their life savings or put them in debt. Just be honest with people. Don't string them along. Really awful values. I feel like I want to rebel somehow against this type of genuine trauma they put our dogs and us through. Thank you for reading. read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

Cost of services is out of this world! The attitude of the staff is even worse, these people will charge you every day for stuff they are not even doing. All the positive reviews look and have to be fake, NO ONE in their right would say the staff was compassionate, ever! They do not care about your pet they are not reassuring about the condition of your pet. The only thing they are compassionate about is causing you to go into debt beyond repair! I wish someone could be a fly on the wall and see what these people are really doing with our pet! Guarantee it would not be legit. I wish there was a zero star rating read more

Inexperienced doctors, expensive treatments. This clinic is 2 to 3 times normal Vetenary offices. Not proactive, preventative enough and incorrect expensive treatment early, intervention too late at great expense. Harmful prescription - recommended our cat to stay on steroids for over 2 years which I now know is absolutely wrong for occasional nausea. Yes I should have known but the doctors never mentioned this at check ups. They continued to refill the prescription with no discussion. This caused and accelerated other damaging effects. They charge a ton of money $700 or more for a routine checkup. Several thousand for overnight treatment first time we visited which was not even necessary. Scared us into agreeing to what was not urgent and required payment in advance. Later even more expensive. Absolutely avoid this place. read more

This hospital is full of true angels. I've been coming for the past 2 months since my pup had a bleeding mass and needed emergency surgery + got diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. My pup was in the ICU off and on for weeks due to a poor reaction to the chemo & these doctors truly saved her life and continue to treat her as family. Her oncologists Dr. Phillips & Dr. Khalife are true angels that deserve all the praise. They've been so patient with me and my questions while also advocating for Coco and checking on her throughout the process. She also loves them which says a lot since the vet has always been a scary place for her! They've earned both of our trust. Dr. Golembeski advocated for me and Coco and spent so much time reviewing her case and offering support and understanding. I truly can't thank the team enough. Another thank you to Dr. Cheng who performed Coco's surgery and talked me through all the steps, not to mention left her incision so clean- and it healed so beautifully you can't even tell she had her abdomen cut open like 10 inches long. His patience with my questions was also greatly appreciated! Lastly and truly just as important as the care team above, the front desk staff here have been truly amazing. They are angels on Earth. They are 10/10 with customer service and have made this traumatic experience much less stressful just because of their consistent, amazing customer service. Special shout out to Alex, John, Cassidy, and many others at the front desk. Thanks for your patience and I will be eternally grateful for all of you! Because of all of you, Coco is thriving and living her best life for however long she has left. We love you all!! read more

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley - Veterinarians Near Me - Valley, California

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I was told that VSH Sorrento Valley was the hospital to go to and that Dr. Pike was the best surgeon in the area--the person who should operate on my dog's leg. To say he did not live up to that reputation would be a massive understatement. My dog had surgery with Dr. Pike in November 2024. Almost immediately afterward, I told the staff at VSH SV that something seemed wrong. I was dismissed repeatedly. Eventually, I spoke with a trainee who told me my dog had lost more than 50% of his range of motion because of how Dr. Pike performed the surgery and that my dog would require regular lifetime injections and pain management and would likely have long-term mobility issues in the operated limb due to how the surgery was performed. When I asked Dr. Pike about what the trainee had said, he denied it and claimed the trainee didn't know what he was talking about--despite the fact that this trainee had been allowed to treat my dog unsupervised. More than a year later, it is clear that the trainee was exactly right. The surgery left my dog worse off than before the surgery. He has suffered extreme pain and now requires two different pain medications daily. Over a year later, we are still dealing with the consequences of this failed surgery. My dog now receives regular injections for arthritis, has significantly less function and range of motion in the operated leg than before surgery, and has developed hind-leg issues from compensating and taking weight off that limb. We have seen multiple specialists, and I've been told my dog will likely need another surgery in the future--something I will not put him through again after witnessing the level of care and skill involved here in a profession that appears to be poorly regulated with minimal accountability. This is only part of the story regarding the poor care we received from Dr. Pike and VSH. I could go on at length about how rude, dismissive, and uninterested Dr. Pike seemed to be in my dog's recovery. And his lack of any professionalism. When I tried to get notes from months before VSH SV staff said he hadn't charted them yet. When I did finally get them, they were a work of fiction and not accurate about any of the details of the visits (either because he forgot months after writing them or he tried to cover himself in case I sued -- something I've since learned others have done because of his disastrous surgeries). They also failed to properly bandage my dog's leg, allowing wounds to form under his fur, and then instructing me to take my injured dog with a putrid smell to a groomer to have the area clipped. One veterinary specialist I later spoke with said: "Dr. Pike has a good reputation for surgeries, but my understanding is that he doesn't care about recovery or follow-up and loses interest once the pet is off the operating table." Had I known that, I obviously wouldn't have entrusted my dog to his care. It seems that all he cares about is cashing the checks and doesn't care about the animals, how the surgery goes, or about the surgery outcomes. I strongly caution others against bringing their pets to Dr. Pike or VSH SV. To call Dr. Pike a butcher would be an insult to butchers. read more