VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital Introduce
For pet owners across Santa Monica and the wider California community, finding a veterinary care provider that is both professional and compassionate is a top priority. VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital is a well-established and trusted institution that has been serving the West Side community since 1932. They are not just a facility for medical treatment; they are a partner in your pet’s journey, providing world-class veterinary care with a hometown feel. From routine check-ups to managing complex health issues and emergency situations, their dedicated team of veterinarians and support staff are committed to the health and happiness of your furry, scaly, and feathered family members.
This animal hospital prides itself on delivering high-quality medical services and an exceptional experience for pet owners. They understand that a visit to the vet can be stressful, and their staff is trained to handle each animal with gentle, patient care. Their commitment extends beyond the typical office visit, with a focus on building a relationship with both the pet and the owner. This approach, combined with their extensive medical resources as part of the VCA family, ensures that pets receive the best possible preventive and healing care.
VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital is also an accredited member of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), a certification held by only 12-15% of veterinary hospitals. This voluntary accreditation signifies their adherence to over 900 rigorous standards in veterinary care. Additionally, they are certified as "Cat Friendly" by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, demonstrating their specific expertise and dedication to the health and welfare of cats. For Californians who view their pets as integral family members, the hospital’s commitment to excellence and compassionate care makes it a leading choice.
Conveniently situated in Santa Monica, VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital is easily accessible for residents across the greater Los Angeles area, including nearby communities like West Los Angeles, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, and Venice. The hospital is located at 2421 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA. This prime location on a major thoroughfare makes it a straightforward destination for both scheduled visits and urgent care needs.
The hospital is designed to be accessible to everyone. It features a wheelchair-accessible car park and a wheelchair-accessible toilet, ensuring that all clients can visit comfortably. The hospital's focus on a stress-free experience is also reflected in their policy of recommending appointments. While they do welcome emergencies and walk-ins, scheduling an appointment helps ensure a more timely and focused visit, reducing wait times for both pets and their owners. For added convenience, the hospital has gender-neutral toilets and a regular toilet available for use.
The team at VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital is also known for being responsive and helpful, even during urgent situations. As a customer review highlights, a veterinarian was willing to see a cat on an emergency notice after its eye began rapidly swelling. This level of responsiveness is a crucial factor for pet owners in a fast-paced urban environment like Los Angeles.
VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital provides an extensive range of veterinary services, addressing everything from routine wellness to complex medical needs. Their offerings are comprehensive, covering a wide array of treatments and care options.
- Primary and Preventive Care: Includes wellness exams, vaccinations, nutritional counseling, and microchipping to ensure a lifetime of good health.
- Emergency & Critical Care: Offers urgent care and hospitalization services for unexpected accidents or illnesses.
- Diagnostic & Laboratory Services: Provides full diagnostics, including in-house lab work and imaging such as dental X-rays and radiology, to quickly and accurately diagnose conditions.
- Dental Care: Specializes in a variety of dental services, from routine cleanings to extractions, with a focus on preventing periodontal disease.
- Surgical Services: Performs general surgeries, including spays and neuters, lump removal, and exploratory surgery.
- Specialty Care: Addresses specific health issues such as arthritis and pain, bone and joint support, pet cancer care, and specialty internal medicine.
- Behavior & Wellness Support: Offers support for pet behavior, therapeutic diets, flea and tick prevention, and heartworm prevention.
- Pharmacy Services: Provides on-site pharmacy services for prescriptions and medication refills.
- Other Services: Includes compassionate care for end-of-life decisions, pet adoption support, and boarding and grooming services.
What sets VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital apart is its combination of a rich history, skilled staff, and commitment to excellence. These features contribute to its strong reputation in the California pet care community.
- Experienced and Compassionate Staff: The hospital is known for its team of dedicated professionals. Dr. Castro, for instance, has been specifically praised for his "incredible" skills and "kind bedside manner" in emergency situations. The staff are described as "extremely helpful and gracious."
- AAHA Accreditation: As an accredited hospital, VCA Wilshire voluntarily meets the highest standards of veterinary care, a distinction shared by only a small percentage of hospitals nationwide.
- Cat Friendly Practice: The hospital’s certification from the American Association of Feline Practitioners demonstrates its specialized knowledge and dedication to making vet visits less stressful for cats.
- Comprehensive Care for All Species: While they are known for dogs and cats, the hospital also has a history of caring for a wide variety of animals, including birds, lizards, tortoises, and other exotics. They have a board-certified feline specialist on staff.
- Hometown Feel with World-Class Medicine: The hospital's long history since 1932 has fostered a friendly, intimate environment where both pets and their owners feel like family, all while having access to a vast network of VCA's medical resources.
To schedule an appointment or for emergency inquiries, you can contact VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital at the following details:
Address: 2421 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA
Phone: (310) 828-4587 or +1 310-828-4587
For pet owners in California, especially in the Santa Monica and Los Angeles areas, choosing VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital is a decision rooted in trust, expertise, and compassionate care. The most compelling reason to choose this hospital is the combination of its skilled veterinary team and its extensive, comprehensive service offerings. Reviews consistently highlight the professionalism and kindness of the staff, particularly Dr. Castro, who has been praised for his ability to handle emergencies with skill and a calm demeanor. The fact that he was willing to see a cat on an emergency basis and provide helpful advice for a rabbit with a serious condition demonstrates the hospital's commitment to urgent care.
Furthermore, the hospital’s AAHA and Feline-Friendly accreditations are not just titles; they are a promise of quality. These certifications assure pet owners that the hospital adheres to the highest standards of medical practice and provides a safe and comfortable environment, especially for cats, which can be particularly sensitive to vet visits. This commitment to excellence translates into better outcomes for pets and peace of mind for their owners. The access to VCA's broader network of specialists and resources means that even for complex medical cases, your pet is in the best possible hands.
The range of services offered is another significant benefit. From preventive care to specialized treatments for conditions like cancer, diabetes, and arthritis, the hospital serves as a true one-stop-shop for all of your pet's health needs throughout their life. This continuity of care is vital, as it allows the veterinary team to develop a deep understanding of your pet's unique health history. This personal touch, combined with the convenience of on-site services like a pharmacy and laboratory, streamlines the entire pet care process. The hospital's thoughtful accessibility features, such as wheelchair-accessible parking, also make it a welcoming place for all members of the community.
In conclusion, VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital stands out in the competitive California market because it perfectly balances advanced medical capabilities with a warm, caring, and community-focused approach. Its long-standing history, top-tier accreditations, and consistently positive feedback from grateful clients make it a highly recommended choice for anyone seeking dedicated and expert veterinary care for their beloved companions.
VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital Services
Veterinarian
- Arthritis & Pain
- Behavior Support
- Boarding & Grooming
- Bone & Joint Support
- Canine Respiratory Illness
- Compassionate Care
- Critical And Emergency Care
- Dental Care
- Diabetes Care
- Diets Supplements
- Ear Care
- Eye Care
- Flea & Tick Prevention For Cats & Dogs
- Heartworm Prevention For Dogs And Cats
- Management Consulting
- Medication Medication
- Pain Medication
- Pet Adoption
- Pet Cancercare
- Pet Health Care
- Pharmacy Services
- Prescription Refills
- Prevention Treatment
- Primary Care
- Skin Care
- Specialty Care
- Therapeutic Diets
- Urgent Care
- Urinary Care
- Veterinary Medical Services
- Wound Care
- Laboratory Services
- Microchipping
- Nutritional Counseling
Animal Hospital
- Cardiology Diagnostic
- Emergency & Critical Care
- Health Care
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Service
- Preventive Care
- Veterinary Services
VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital Details
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Amenities
- Gender-neutral toilets
- Toilet
Planning
- Appointments recommended
VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital Photos










VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital Location
VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital
2421 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA
VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital Reviews
compassionatebirdstestexotic petlumpcancerneuteringeyevaccination
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1very nice people and helped me out so much my rabbit had a fly strike and it was scary dr castro and dolores were extremely helpful and gracious and i appreciate it very much! very nice establishment thank you!
July 24 · Trash CanWe dropped in for an emergency visit today after my cat's eye began rapidly swelling. Dr. Castro is an incredible veterinarian and we appreciated his kind bedside manner as well as his willingness to see our cat on emergency notice.I highly recommend VCA Wilshire & Dr. Castro.
June 12 · Alexis GToday, I went to the VCA to check on my cat (Lotti's) left eye because it was red.My appointment was with Dr. Castro and for the first time in 20 years, as a pet mom, I was pleasantly surprised at the care and attention received at this Veteranin.He was very caring and understanding and listened to everything I told him. I’m glad that humanity still exists, and I will be a loyal patient with my dog and cat with the VCA and Dr. Castro.Thank you
January 27 · Farnaz HonariMy beloved pigeon, Clover, died on Thanksgiving Day, 2017. I hoped a full lifespan of at least 20+ years, but I am thankful for the two, amazing, but short years that she shared with me. I loved that pigeon in the same way that Nikola Tesla described his love for his pigeon.I was speaking to my relief officer about Clover when my wife called me at 6:31 AM. "Clover died!" She wailed... I think the blood must have drained from my face because my coworker gave me an odd look.Death is always terrible for the living, but life goes on and we have to take care of business. I wanted to get a necropsy (an animal autopsy) for Clovey because there didn't seem to be any reason for her to die. I placed her body into a box in the fridge, and I began calling veterinary clinics and hospitals. It wasn't easy to find an aviary specialist on Thanksgiving Day, so I left messages everywhere.The first to return my call was VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital. They scheduled a necropsy with me on that day. I delivered Clovey's body right away. I received a call from the director, Frank Lavac, DVM - who is also an aviary specialist - to talk to me about the procedure, and to discuss the follow-up. .The doctor mentioned that the initial findings showed that she was very healthy and showed indication of trauma, and that from all initial findings there was no reason that she should have died.Too much to go into, but pet guardians often feel like no one takes them seriously when it comes to grieving. The doctor seemed very empathetic and concerned for my well being. The staff also seemed kind and understanding when I came to pick up her remains.Pax tibi, pulcher columbae...
April 20 · Echo KiloI always found the VCA very overpriced but was like oh well it’s worth it for good care for my dog.Then I needed a lump checked on her. She’s young and healthy but I thought it best. They took a sample and decided it needed to be sent to the lab. The vet was extremely vague about the aftercare, and casually asked if I wanted antibiotics and after I hesitated he went, I’ll prescribe them just in case. Why? I had no idea.The lump turned out to be totally benign but I called a few days later saying the incision had swollen to a tennis sized ball and she was very uncomfortable. The vet offered to give her surgery the following Wednesday, with no further explanation. This seemed very odd and I was especially hesitant since his work was what caused this initial discomfort. I said no thanks and spoke with a friend who is a vet instead. She said the lump was likely infected and I should get her antibiotics. Ah perfect, I thought, I’ve got the prescription. When I called back the vet had not put in the prescription and he was not available to do it, nor was any other vet at the clinic. I could come and get it two days later (Sunday) as the vet was closing in 30 minutes and closed on Saturday. I could go to the emergency clinic if I wanted.I pushed and pushed and thank god the pharmacist figured something out and got me the medicine, and the swelling went down immediately.This whole scenario was so flippantly irresponsible and thoughtless on the part of the vet, who caused me immense amounts of stress and upset to me, multiple vet bills, and physical pain to my dog to not have given me any sort of sensible communication about the aftercare of a simple biopsy.I am grateful to the Friday evening staff for helping me get her antibiotics, even though I had to negotiate intensely to get them.
January 04 · Olivia Janisch
More Vet Near Me

2700 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA

2910 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA

2828 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA

2010 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA

1402 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA

1304 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA

12241 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA

1534 14th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA

1708 17th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA

1534 14th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA

12401 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA

1655 9th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
Categories
Top Visited Sites






Trending Pet & Vet Blogs Posts





