Santa Monica Veterinary Group Introduce
For pet owners in Santa Monica and the surrounding Los Angeles area, having access to a reliable, compassionate, and skilled veterinary team is non-negotiable. Santa Monica Veterinary Group is a local institution that has built a strong reputation for providing high-quality care with a personal touch. This clinic stands out by offering a comprehensive suite of services that goes well beyond routine check-ups. From handling urgent care needs to providing specialized and advanced medical treatments, they are a go-to resource for pet parents seeking exceptional care for their furry family members. The clinic's commitment to combining top-tier medical expertise with genuine empathy is a major reason why so many clients, even those traveling from outside the immediate area, choose to trust them with their pets' health.
Santa Monica Veterinary Group operates as both a full-service Veterinarian and an Animal hospital. This dual nature allows them to handle a wide range of situations, from preventative medicine to complex emergencies. They are well-equipped to provide Urgent Care & extended hours walk-ins, which is an invaluable service for pet owners in a crisis. Unlike other emergency rooms that may have long wait times and high prices, SMVG has earned praise for its efficiency and affordability in urgent situations. The clinic's expertise is extensive, covering many areas of veterinary medicine, including Advanced Medical Care and Surgical Procedures, such as Soft Tissue And Orthopedic Surgery and even Co2 Laser Surgery. Beyond conventional Western medicine, they embrace an Integrative Medicine approach, offering Chinese Medicine, Food Therapy, and Veterinary Acupuncture to provide a holistic and comprehensive care plan. This holistic philosophy is a significant highlight, demonstrating their commitment to a pet's overall well-being.
The clinic is located at 1708 17th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA, a convenient and accessible location for residents of Santa Monica and the nearby Westside neighborhoods. Its position on 17th Street makes it easy to find and reach, especially when time is of the essence. The facility is designed to be accessible to everyone, with a wheelchair-accessible car park and a wheelchair-accessible entrance, ensuring that all pet owners can bring their animals in for care with ease. While appointments are recommended, the clinic's willingness to accommodate urgent care and extended hours walk-ins provides a much-needed safety net for pet owners dealing with unexpected health issues. The convenient location and thoughtful accessibility features make the process of getting a pet the care it needs as stress-free as possible.
Santa Monica Veterinary Group offers an extensive list of services, covering a wide range of pet health needs.
- Urgent and Emergency Care: The clinic provides Urgent Care Services and extended hours for walk-ins, as well as handling full-blown Animal hospital Emergencies, including Emergency Surgery and Emergency exams.
- Advanced Diagnostics: They are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, including Abdominal Ultrasonography, Digital Radiography, and In House Blood Work, for quick and accurate diagnoses.
- Specialized Medical Care: The clinic’s expertise extends to a variety of specialties, such as Internal Medicine, Dermatology (allergies and skin disease), and Ophthalmology. They also provide care for Exotic pocket pet exams.
- Holistic and Integrative Medicine: Beyond traditional treatments, they offer Veterinary Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, and Cold Laser Therapy, providing alternative and complementary options for pain management and recovery.
- Surgical and Dental Services: They perform a full range of surgical procedures, including Orthopedic & Soft Tissue Surgery and Laser Surgery, as well as comprehensive dental care with Dental Surgery and dental radiographs.
- Preventive and Routine Care: Services include Vaccines, Parasite Prevention, wellness exams (General Practice), and Health Certificates for both international and domestic travel.
The features and highlights of Santa Monica Veterinary Group are frequently praised by its clients.
- Exceptional Staff: Customer reviews repeatedly commend the staff for being "friendly," "kind, patient, and very informative." The doctors, such as Dr. Khalaf, are noted for being "very knowledgeable," "thorough, compassionate," and for taking the time to explain every detail, which makes pet owners feel comfortable and at ease.
- Efficiency and Affordability: The clinic is praised for being able to see urgent cases quickly, unlike other ERs with long waits and high costs. One reviewer specifically mentioned the pricing was "very reasonable" for the high level of care received, a rare find in the area.
- Comprehensive Care: The wide array of services, from routine care to advanced surgical and holistic treatments, means that most pets can receive all the care they need in one place.
- Trust and Transparency: The doctors are known for their honesty and for not pushing "unnecessary diagnostics." This builds a strong sense of trust, as clients feel the clinic genuinely cares about their pet's well-being and their financial concerns.
- Extended Hours: The availability of extended hours and urgent care walk-ins provides a crucial resource for pet owners with busy schedules or unexpected health issues.
To get in touch with or visit Santa Monica Veterinary Group, you can use the following information.
Address: 1708 17th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
Phone: (310) 477-4400
Why is Santa Monica Veterinary Group worth choosing for local residents? The testimonials from their clients paint a clear picture of a clinic that excels in the most crucial aspects of veterinary care. They offer a rare combination of advanced medical expertise and genuine, human-centered compassion. While many vet clinics might specialize in one area, Santa Monica Veterinary Group provides a full spectrum of services, from preventative medicine to complex surgeries and holistic treatments, all in one convenient location. The clinic's ability to handle urgent care cases efficiently and affordably is a significant advantage, providing a much-needed alternative to expensive and time-consuming emergency rooms. The staff’s transparency with billing and their willingness to discuss different treatment options without pushing unnecessary procedures builds a strong foundation of trust. Dr. Khalaf and the rest of the team are not just medical professionals; they are partners in your pet’s health journey, providing peace of mind and support during what can be a very stressful time. For pet owners in Santa Monica who are looking for a clinic that is not only highly skilled and comprehensive but also genuinely caring and financially conscious, Santa Monica Veterinary Group comes as a highly recommended and trusted choice.
Santa Monica Veterinary Group Services
Veterinarian
- Abdominal Ultrasonography
- Abdominal Ultrasounds
- Advanced Medical Care
- Care Treatment
- Chinese Medicine
- Co2 Laser Surgery
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Complete Medical Examination
- Dermatology (allergies and skin disease)
- Digital Radiographs
- Digital Radiography
- Ear Infections
- Eastern Medicine
- Echocardiograms (heart ultrasonography)
- Emergency And Critical Care
- Emergency Service
- Emergency Surgery
- Emergency exams and emergency surgery
- Endoscopy
- Exotic pocket pet exams
- Fecal Tests
- Food Therapy
- General Practice
- General Practice comprehensive routine exams
- Geriatric Care
- Health Certificates (international and domestic)
- Heartworm Tests
- In House Blood Work
- In-House Blood Testing
- Integrative Medicine
- Intensive Care
- Internal Medicine
- Internal medicine
- Online Pharmacy
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic & Soft Tissue Surgery
- Orthopedic surgery and exams
- Pain Management
- Parasite Prevention
- Patient Monitoring
- Pet Care Services
- Pets Medical
- Preventative Healthcare
- Preventive Medicine
- Second Opinion Exams
- Snake Bites
- Soft Tissue And Orthopedic Surgery
- Specialty Care
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Surgery (Laser and non-invasive)
- Surgical Procedures
- Surgical Service
- Therapy Consultations
- Urgent Care & extended hours walk-ins
- Urgent Care Services
- Vaccines
- Vet Practice
- Veterinary Acupuncture
- Veterinary Diagnostics Labs
- X-Rays
- dental surgeries and dental including dental radiographs
Animal Hospital
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- Dental
- Dental Radiographs
- Dental Surgery
- Dermatology
- Dermatology (allergies & skin disease)
- Emergency Exams
- Exotic pet exams
- Extended Hours walk-ins
- Health Certificates (International and Domestic)
- Laser Surgery
- Non-invasive Surgery
- Orthopedic Exams
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Pocket pet exams
- Surgery
- Ultrasound
- Urgent Care
Santa Monica Veterinary Group Details
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Amenities
- Toilet
Planning
- Appointments recommended
Santa Monica Veterinary Group Photos










Santa Monica Veterinary Group Location
Santa Monica Veterinary Group
1708 17th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
Santa Monica Veterinary Group Reviews
dr. bergbabiesdeskhospitalcompassionquestionsurgent caretechnicianspricingfront office
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1I can’t say enough good things about Santa Monica Veterinary Group! I brought my pet in for an urgent care appointment and was so impressed with the experience from start to finish. While surrounding ERs were quoting 3+ hour wait times with triple the price, SMVG was able to see us within an hour.The receptionist was helpful, answering all my questions about billing and insurance without making me feel rushed or brushed off. Once we arrived, the technicians were kind, patient, and very informative. They took the time to walk me through every step and answer all of my questions.The doctor we saw was exceptional. Very thorough, compassionate, and incredibly knowledgeable. Not only did they take the time to explain what was going on, but they also offered treatment options I hadn’t heard from any other vet and did not force me to do unnecessary diagnostics. It felt like they genuinely cared about both my pet’s well-being, my peace of mind, and my cost concerns.The pricing was very reasonable, especially for the level of care we received. It’s rare to find a clinic that combines compassion, efficiency, and affordability these days.Highly, highly recommend Santa Monica Veterinary Group.
August 01 · Cynthia CiabattiAll the staffs there are very friendly and you can tell they care about your animals. The doctors are also very knowledgeable and I would trust them with my baby. Dr. Khalaf knows his stuff and will make you feel comfortable to trust them with your pet.
August 05 · Jason LiMy pups Nala and Rue saw Dr. Robbins today, and I just had to leave this review. The care she gave them was truly above and beyond. She genuinely cares about the pups.She was incredibly gentle and patient with both dogs, taking her time to help them feel comfortable and safe. She was so understanding and considerate towards us as dog parents, too. She listened, explained everything clearly, and never made us feel rushed or silly for asking questions.I rarely leave review but I absolutely had to. Dr. Robbin’s is kind, knowledgeable, and deeply compassionate. We felt completely at ease with her, and so did our pups. I can’t recommend her enough.
August 11 · Raphaela OrtenbergI normally don’t leave negative reviews, but pet owners need to be warned about my experience at Santa Monica Veterinary Group.Three weeks ago, my cat started vomiting repeatedly. After 5–6 episodes, I rushed him to an emergency vet where they did X-rays and bloodwork, but didn’t find anything. They gave him fluids and told me to follow up if his condition didn’t improve.The next morning (Saturday), I took him to his regular vet. They did more extensive bloodwork, which again came back normal, but he was severely dehydrated. They gave him IV fluids and recommended an ultrasound if his condition didn’t improve.On Sunday, still concerned and desperate for answers, I found Santa Monica Veterinary Group because they advertised both regular and emergency services 7 days a week. I called in advance and specifically asked if they performed ultrasounds on-site. I was told, yes—the tech who performs them was there.I explained I had already seen two vets and that I was coming in solely for the ultrasound. I was told it was a walk-in and there may be a wait. That was fine—I got there quickly and waited.Dr. Galvan saw my cat, reviewed all previous labs and notes, and told me he seemed fine and that I should come back the next day for the ultrasound. I reiterated that this was the only diagnostic step left, and I wanted it done that day. When the tech (Steph) came in, I asked again about the ultrasound, and she rudely told me there was no time today, even though she was the tech I was told would be available.She admitted the front desk never confirmed with her and that she was fully booked. She even said she listened to my call and claimed they only said the tech was present, not available to perform the procedure. That kind of technicality is unacceptable when someone is calling about an emergency.I pleaded again, explaining my cat had been vomiting for two days and that this was urgent. Eventually, she said she could do the ultrasound after 6:30pm, but results wouldn’t be available until Monday afternoon. I asked what the point was if I wouldn’t know anything until the next day. Her response: “You can go somewhere else.” Unbelievable.By then, it was already after 3 p.m. I had been there over 2 hours, waiting, hoping to be seen. I asked to speak to Dr. Galvan again. She rolled her eyes and said she’d check. I waited another 30 minutes. While waiting, I called other emergency vets. One told me to go to a specialty hospital immediately if I suspected anything serious.I called VCA ASEC, and they said if I could get there before 4 p.m., they could do the ultrasound right away. I informed the front desk that I needed to leave urgently, and that I had been waiting over 30 minutes for Dr. Galvan. Again, more stalling. I had to leave without ever speaking to the doctor again.I barely made it to VCA in time. They performed the ultrasound and discovered a life-threatening condition: an intussusception. My cat needed emergency surgery. If I had waited until Monday, he may not have survived.No one from Santa Monica Vet Group ever called to follow up—not even Dr. Galvan, despite knowing I had been in distress and waited for him to return. Absolutely no compassion, no accountability, and completely unprofessional.To anyone reading this: if you care about your pet, take them somewhere else. This clinic showed a shocking lack of urgency, empathy, and responsibility. The tech, Steph, was dismissive and rude, and the front desk staff misled me about a critical medical service.Thankfully, my cat is now healthy and back to normal, but only because I acted fast and found a clinic that took his condition seriously.Save yourself the stress, the risk, and the heartache, go to a clinic that genuinely cares about pets, not just billing for office visits.
August 02 · Irene FaghihiCame in here as a non-emergency walk in appointment on a saturday afternoon. was able to get in right away.The office is clean and newly renovated. The techs were super communicative, friendly and kept checking in on us. Big shout out to Claudia and Mary for working on the weekend and being super nice through the whole thing and helping me with my big dog and prescriptions. Everyone just seems to really like working there, which is always a good sign! one always hopes to not have to go to the vet, but if i had to, i would come back to this one again.
August 01 · Carrie Wong
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