Veterinarians California
From the GLX-Files
La Mesa
Dr. Todd Cecil
Dr. Cecil performed bladder stone surgery on my piggy Oreo back in June. He saw Oreo in the early afternoon and by late afternoon that same day Oreo was having surgery as the doctor knew Oreo was in a lot of pain. Currently Dr. Cecil is working with me to figure out Oreo's soft poo problem. We may finally be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I really like Dr. Cecil - he knows a lot about piggies.
Nancy
Contributed by: NancyO - 10/15/2004, 6:31 pm
UPDATE:
Todd R. Cecil, DVM, writes that he has re-located to La Mesa after 12 years serving the San Diego avian/exotic animal community (previously at the Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital)
Todd R. Cecil, DVM
Pet Emergency & Specialty Center
Avian/Exotic Service
5232 Jackson Drive, Suites 102-105
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 462-4800
exotics@pescsandiego.
www.pescsandiego.com
"Any questions feel free to contact me. Questions are free and referrals are appreciated."
-- Todd R. Cecil, DVM by e-mail 7/24/2006
Palos Verdes, Ca
Dr. Ann Murata
31234 Palos Verdes Drive West
Rancho Palos Verdes, Ca 90275
310 265 9511
Ann Murata is a kind and competent exotics vet. I have used her over the past 3 years with success. She treats gps and many other small animals as well as turtles. She is available everyday except Thursday, where she works at the Animal Emergency in Torrance from 10-2pm. Animal Emergency: 310 325 3000.
Contributed by: figrgrl - 4/28/2008 by email
Norwalk
Crossroads Animal Emergency and Referral Center
11057 E. Rosecrans Ave
Norwalk, CA- 90650
Dr. Richard Rotmistrovsky
Phone# 562-863-2522
This is an emergency hospital so their hours differ from a regular vet clinic. There is also no guarentee this particular vet will be on duty. This emergency hospital was also very reasonable. I paid only $25.00 for xrays, $55.00 for exam, and received a discount because Violet was rescued.
My regular cavy vet was familiar with Dr. Rotmistrovsky and agreed with his protocals. She went in for abdominal distension.
Contributed by: HollyT - 2/20/2005, 2:43 pm
Sacramento Area
Madison Avenue Veterinary Clinic, Inc.
Dr. Marianne Brick, Dr. Richard Slevin
8520 Madison Ave.
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
(916) 961-1541
They speciliaze in exotics. Very cavy-knowledgeable vets, friendly and easy to talk with. If you have a concern, you can call the office and speak with the vet directly. The office staff is great too. You can always get a same-day appointment if needed. They sell Oxbow products and Carefresh. They treat local Petco exotics.
They also treat ferrets, chinchillas, rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, prairie dogs, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, birds (exotic and poultry), reptiles, amphibians, rabbits, dogs and cats.
Contributed by: ottosmom - 3/13/2004, 10:14 am
South Bay L.A.
Animal Medical Group
1401 Sepulveda Blvd
Manhattan Beach, CA
310-322-6506
This clinic was just mentioned by CP as just getting an exotics vet.
Dr. Ken Lyon is the dental vet there. He is excellent! He comes into the clinic from his practice in Arizona two weekends a month (Fridays and Saturdays). He has treated my piggie for malocclusion for two months now. He was a mentor to my previous dental vet, Dr. Legendre in Vancouver, Canada. I recommend him highly.
Contributed by: christina - 10/21/2003, 8:27 pm
CALIFORNIA
Dr. J. J. Bonavera
Canyon Country Animal Hospital
18840 Soledad Canyon Rd.
661-252-9500
Excellent with exotics. He's one of the few vets in the area that will even touch them. Dr. Bonavera saved the life of my senior pig by performing what is known to be a very risky surgery. This is one skilled exotics vet. And very affordable!
4/4/2005, 8:51 am
Contributed by: Laurie5pigs
Long Beach
Dr Ridgeway
3816 E. Anaheim St.
Long Beach, CA 90804
(562) 434-9966
He is OCCH's primary vet. He has helped us thru a lot and he really is one of the most competent cavy vets in SoCal.
Contributed by: ChunkyPiggies - 2/1/2004, 12:07 am
Mountain View
Dr. Kenton Taylor
Miramonte Veterinary Hospital
1766 Miramonte Avenue
Mountaing View, California
650-962-8338
Dr. Taylor is the most knowledgeable vet I’ve seen in a long time, and I’ve worked with some with good reputations. What distinguishes him from other vets I’ve seen, is that Dr. Taylor keeps thinking about your pets problem even when he is not in the room with you. I see evidence of this when his techs call up to check on my pig (with great regularity) and tell me that Dr. Taylor thinks we may need to try one more thing, or Dr. Taylor has talked to a specialist in Canada. Plus his knowledge seems encyclopedic off the cuff. My original vet could not explain an unusual situation with one pig (it wasn’t life altering so we didn’t pursue investigation), but I chatted with Dr. Taylor, who has never seen the pig, and he had at least a guess as to what might have caused the unusual situation. He also spent a good deal of time with me on my first two visits.
Contributed by: Marley - 5/31/2006, 11:39 pm
San Jose
Dr. Diana Welsh
1115 Luchessi Dr.
San Jose, CA
(408) 265-8811
www.wildwoodvet.com
I have taken my two girls here on several occasions. She successfully treated their URIs and ear infections. Her exams are thorough, eyes, nose, ears, fur, listening to lungs and bowels, checking mammary glands and sex and weighing. She helped out during the Monterey and Hollister rescues and has worked with Cavyspirit in the past. She sees many guinea pigs on a regular basis.
Contributed by: rachelllll - 4/9/2006, 2:52 pm
San Fernando Valley
Dr. Kerry Beeder
Pet Vet
19748 Sherman Way
Canoga Park, CA 91306
Tel: 818-346-2455
Mondays/Tuesdays only
Kerry Beeder is an amazing surgeon, and is well known for his surgical skills. He performed the surgery on Spot, removing his tumor and neutering him at the same time. In spite of the fact that Spot developed pneumonia and was later found to have serious heart problems, Spot came through the surgery with flying colors.
He is extraordinarily open to new information, and very willing to listen to new ideas or discuss alternatives. While he doesn't advertise himself as an 'exotics' vet, he has worked hard to learn more about cavy medicine and treat all the animals in my rescue. He will tell you if he is unfamiliar with a protocol or procedure. He was also extremely helpful when I suggested I needed to visit a dental specialist and offered to send xrays with me.
He has recently retired and sold his practice, but he still practises on Mondays, Tuesdays, and sometimes other days. His staff are very helpful, his prices extremely reasonable, and he has a following of people with other exotic animals.
Contributed by: Mum - 3/27/2006, 9:33 pm
Ventura
Dr. J. Elaine Fowell Dvm
East Ventura Animal Hospital
10225 Telephone Road, Ventura, CA 93004
(805) 647-8430
She seems to really know her stuff. She has 7 guinea pigs of her own, and did a wonderful job on Tyrone's neuter.
Contributed by: Corrine - 7/9/2006, 4:39 pm
Monrovia
Dr. Sari Kanfer
135 W. Foothill Bl.
Monrovia, CA 91016
626-303-7881
Although Dr. Kanfer is known in the area as a rabbit specialist, she also treats Cavies and is very knowledgeable. I spoke with her at length at one of her talks and found out that she has a real interest in Cavies. She told me she wants to learn as much as she can about Cavies and especially the heart pig situation. She asked if Mum could meet with her to share her knowledge and heart x-rays. She listens to clients, is open to suggestions and has visited Guinea Lynx many times and was very impressed with it.
Dr. Kanfer trained under the same dental vet as Dr. Lyon and is able to take good dental x-rays without anesthetic. She is an excellent dentist and surgeon and really cares about the animals. She is also one of the first vets in the area to give pain meds to exotics.
Dr. Kanfer gives a free first exam to any rescued animal, whether it comes from a shelter or not, as well as spays and neuters at half price for rescues. She gives all rescues a 15% discount on other services.
Her passion is working with rescues and treating exotics.
I have personally used Dr. Kanfer for the 6 years she has been in the area and have found her very competent, compassionate and caring. She wants to learn everything she can about Cavies and goes to seminars and researches constantly.
She is very accessible and will give out her cell number in certain situations. She will call you back and sometimes do emergency visits. I have actually taken a rabbit to her home for treatment.
She owns 2 Cavies (one is a female with malocclusion that she spayed), 9 rabbits and Greyhound. All of these are animals that came into her clinic and were going to be euthanized because their owners either did not want them or could not afford to care for them.
I do not give recommendations lightly, but I do highly recommend Dr. Kanfer.
Contributed by: LAWomans - 9/7/2006, 7:12 pm
San Francisco
Dr. Lynn Dustin (female)
Bay Area Bird Hospital
2145 Taraval Street (at 32nd Ave.)
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 566-4359
For cavy dental work in San Francisco I strongly recommend going ONLY to Dr. Dustin.
For DENTALS, do NOT go to the other 2 cavy-knowledgeable hospitals in San Francisco (All Pets and Irving Street).
I speak from having had a terrible ordeal with Tolik's teeth where I had to take him to all 3 cavy-knowledgeable hospitals. Finally, Dr. Dustin's tooth trimming did the trick.
She also commented that his teeth were in "TERRIBLE" condition and that his teeth furthest in the back had not been properly trimmed - this despite him having had 2 prior trimmings in 3 weeks. I had virtually given up hope that he would eat again.
Fortunately he was able to eat right after Dr. Dustin's trimming (but unfortunately, Dr. Dustin also correctly diagnosed a lump that had just been misdiagnosed as benign to in fact be lymphoma, from which Tolik passed away 3 months later).
Dr. Dustin (and her assisting vet, Dr. Marcucci) has since become our regular cavy vet and also performed bladder stone removal, treated UTI's, an eye infection, and ovarian cysts.
Contributed by: tatandsam - 8/9/2007, 11:43 pm
Fresno/Clovis
The Animal Hospital and Bird Clinic
5169 N. Blackstone Ave.
Fresno, CA 93720
(559)227-5575
She's been around a long time and she treated my guys very, very well. For first time pig owners I suggest you go here. She'll show you how to clean ears, clip nails, check teeth. She's expensive but worth it. She does through checks and offers drop off/pick up service.
Contributed by: ashiefunk - 11/7/2006, 6:45 pm
Orange County, CA
Dr. Greek, Yorba Linda Veterinary Hospital
4872 Olinda St., Yorba Linda , CA 92886
Phone Number: (714) 777-2314
website: www.yorbalindavet.com/index.html
He's a great local exotics vet if people can't go to Long Beach or LA area. He is a great surgeon and cavy knowledgable. He trained under Ridgeway. He does neuters for $100, which is more than reasonable in these parts. His staff is great.
Contributed by: sus4rabbitsnpigs - 4/6/2007, 2:11 pm
Orange
Orange Olive Veterinary Hospital
Name: Dr Pannier
Address: On Olive Street near Shaffer park
City: Orage
Phone Number: (714)998-1510
Personal Experience: I've been going to Doc Pannier since I was 12 & I had my bunny. I wouldn't go to anyone else. She's the best. There are two vets there, But I highly reccomand Doc. Pannier.
Contributed by: mlzbb - 1/3/2007, 1:42 am
Los Angeles area
Dr. Frank Lavac
Dr. Michelle Jack
Wilshire Animal Hospital
2421 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 828-4587
Over 8 years ago Dr. Lavac did an emergency spay on Brigitte. She had cystic ovaries and a large tumor on her cervix. He also removed fatty lipomas from Stanley a year and a half ago and has done several other surgeries for my critters. Over the years he has also treated my guinea pigs for numerous ailments.
He’s a remarkable diagnostician, skilled surgeon, and I genuinely like and respect him as a person. His vet techs and staff are great too. He has often called me in the evening to see how my animal is doing. I know he genuinely cares about their well being.
I originally saw Dr. Lavac about 15 years ago with my first bunny rabbit. We have a long history and I trust him implicitly.
I’ve only had one experience with Dr. Jack who recently did a difficult surgery on Stanley. She was knowledgeable, compassionate, and did everything possible. I think she’s great and wouldn't hesitate to trust her with my guinea pigs.
Contributed by: Pigginess - 8/18/2006, 4:31 am
Bay Area.
Pinole Pet Hospital.
1400 San Pablo Ave Pinole CA 94564 (510)724-8766
Have gone to them for 2+ years for multiple pet piggies and problems. Drop-ins on weekdays and Appointments on Saturday.
Contributed by:Cece20 -1/14/08, 11:10 AM
PetVet.
6000 Potrero Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 215-5101
Supply Store. One Saturday a month for guinea pigs examinations (first come, first serve, come early to avoid long wait. Fill out paperwork to be in line. Mostly will be cats and dogs so bring carrier.). Call to find out when guinea pig vet will be in. Low cost source for medication, supplies and general exam. Can not do in depth examinations here. If needed they will be more than happy to recommend a vet who can. Oxbrow grass & pellets carried here.
Contributed by:Cece20 -1/14/08, 11:10 AM
North Hills, CA (Los Angeles area)
Dr. Dan Reimer
Adler Vet Group
16911 Roscoe Blvd.
North Hills, CA 91343
(818) 893-6366
Adler Vet Group Website
His availability: usually Mon-Tues, Thurs and Sat.
Dr. Reimer is an exotics specialist and is very capable diagnostician with guinea pigs and other exotics. He is friendly and will spend time with you to answer any questions you have and is an experienced surgeon for guinea pigs.
The office does stock Oxbow's Cavy Cuisine and Critical Care! The people in the front office are fairly good, but they aren't always knowledgeable on the specific issues for guinea pigs, so ask to speak with Dr. Reimer if you have any cavy-specific concerns.
We have been taking our guinea pigs Jackson and Splash to Dr. Reimer ever since our old vet, Dr. Linda Knox, went on sabbatical and would recommend him in a heartbeat. She was the "go to" vet in our area for exotics and referred us to him since he was her classmate.
