What specialized veterinary expertise is available for reptiles and amphibians at Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos?

Dr. Thomas H. Boyer is a board-certified specialist in Reptile and Amphibian Practice, a founding diplomat of the ABVP specialty, and a co-founder of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). He has over 30 years of experience and has published research and textbooks, providing world-class expertise for reptiles, amphibians, and traditional pets.

Is Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos an accredited veterinary facility?

Yes, Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos is an AAHA-accredited hospital. This means it belongs to an elite group of clinics that have met over 900 rigorous standards of veterinary excellence, reflecting a commitment to a higher standard of care for all patients.

What types of exotic animals does Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos treat?

The clinic treats a wide variety of exotic species, including birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, rats, hamsters, and various reptiles and amphibians. However, they are unable to accommodate hoofed stock, such as pot-bellied pigs, or primates.

What is the policy for emergency visits and payment at Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos?

While patients are typically seen by appointment, emergency walk-ins are accepted if the schedule allows, though these incur an emergency exam fee. Payment for services is required at the time of service. The clinic accepts Care Credit, cash, debit, American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

What measures are taken to ensure safety during pet surgery at Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos?

Before administering anesthetics, a thorough physical exam is performed on the pet. The clinic utilizes modern anesthetic monitors, which have significantly enhanced the safety of surgical procedures compared to past practices. Pets are typically dropped off in the morning and can be picked up after 4 pm.

Pet Hospital of Penasquitos-Veterinary Specialist

Pet Hospital of Penasquitos-Veterinary Specialist is a general practice practice in San Diego, CA.

Get Directions View on Maps ↗ Call (858) 484-3490 Book Consultation

About

Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos is an AAHA-accredited, full-service small animal veterinary hospital with a strong focus on exotic species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. Dr. Thomas H. Boyer is a board-certified specialist in Reptile and Amphibian Practice, a founding diplomat of the ABVP specialty, and a co-founder of ARAV. The clinic also features veterinarians with specialized interests in aquatic animal health, avian medicine, exotic companion mammals, and Fear Free practices.

This independently owned hospital has served the community for over 30 years, located in the heart of Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego. While appointments are generally required, the clinic can accommodate emergency walk-ins if the schedule permits, though these incur an emergency exam fee. New clients are asked to provide a reservation fee equal to the exam cost, which is credited toward their visit.

Photos

Pet Hospital of Penasquitos-Veterinary Specialist

Photos via Google · Kayla, Dan Muller, Sandra Ward, Joshua Rehkopf

Frequently asked questions

What specialized veterinary expertise is available for reptiles and amphibians at Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos?: Dr. Thomas H. Boyer is a board-certified specialist in Reptile and Amphibian Practice, a founding diplomat of the ABVP specialty, and a co-founder of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). He has over 30 years of experience and has published research and textbooks, providing world-class expertise for reptiles, amphibians, and traditional pets.
Is Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos an accredited veterinary facility?: Yes, Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos is an AAHA-accredited hospital. This means it belongs to an elite group of clinics that have met over 900 rigorous standards of veterinary excellence, reflecting a commitment to a higher standard of care for all patients.
What types of exotic animals does Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos treat?: The clinic treats a wide variety of exotic species, including birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, rats, hamsters, and various reptiles and amphibians. However, they are unable to accommodate hoofed stock, such as pot-bellied pigs, or primates.
What is the policy for emergency visits and payment at Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos?: While patients are typically seen by appointment, emergency walk-ins are accepted if the schedule allows, though these incur an emergency exam fee. Payment for services is required at the time of service. The clinic accepts Care Credit, cash, debit, American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.
What measures are taken to ensure safety during pet surgery at Pet Hospital of Peñasquitos?: Before administering anesthetics, a thorough physical exam is performed on the pet. The clinic utilizes modern anesthetic monitors, which have significantly enhanced the safety of surgical procedures compared to past practices. Pets are typically dropped off in the morning and can be picked up after 4 pm.

Contact & hours

Address

9888 Carmel Mountain Rd Ste F
San Diego

Phone

(858) 484-3490

Website

pethospitalpq.com

4.5 · 138 Google reviews

Recent reviews

2 months ago

Anastasiia Т

A huge thank you to the clinic staff. We came here with our sick hamster, Milla. We thought we could help her. After a thorough examination, the doctor prescribed the necessary medication. It's been four days since Milla started taking it, and thank God, she's recovered. She's active and happy again, and she has a good appetite. I highly recommend this clinic. Thank you so much for your care and attention.
8 months ago

Eva Alekseeva

I believe my mouse Flash died because of the negligence of this clinic’s staff. I am not a veterinarian — I didn’t know exactly what to do at first, so I trusted the clinic. Later, after researching, I learned that the medication they prescribed, Amoxiclav, was completely inappropriate for my pet’s condition. For respiratory infections in rodents, the correct medications are usually Doxycycline or Baytril (enrofloxacin). When I first called the clinic, I explained that my mouse was showing signs of a respiratory infection. I expected the staff to check with the doctor about whether they had the proper medication available before taking my appointment. Instead, I was charged $125 for the visit plus a $30 late fee when I arrived a bit late because I got lost. After paying, I was told they did not actually have the proper medication in stock and that I would have to wait for an email from some lab. I explained multiple times that my mouse could die within days, but no one took me seriously. At the beginning of the exam, the doctor even dismissed the symptoms by saying something like, “Oh, maybe this mouse makes these noises just because it’s a mouse.” I told her no, that I had checked YouTube and Reddit, and people with mice had shared videos with the exact same sounds linked to respiratory infections. Only after listening more carefully did the doctor admit, “Yes, I can hear there’s an infection in the lower part of her lungs.” The front desk administrator, Yvonn, was also extremely rude and unprofessional. She raised her voice at me, kept repeating “goodbye,” and tried to kick me out of the clinic without even giving me a prescription. This was shocking to me — it was the first time I had ever experienced something like this, especially since English is not my first language. I felt lost and didn’t even know how to respond. It was deeply unprofessional and very upsetting. Later, when I asked for a refund so I could try another clinic, I was instead pushed toward a prescription for Amoxiclav, which was not suitable for the infection. I called the next day hoping at least to get the correct prescription (Doxycycline or Baytril), but no one ever followed up. I never received any email, call, or real help. Days later, my mouse died. In the end, I feel this clinic only took my money, treated me rudely, and failed to provide effective care. They don’t care what kind of service they provide, whether the animal lives or dies — the main thing is that you pay. They could have easily given me my money back, and if the administrator hadn’t just kept saying “goodbye,” I would have gone to another clinic the very next day, where the proper medications were available, and my mouse would still be alive.
7 months ago

Ardith Berger

I boarded my beloved bearded dragon Tubby II for an entire week and was absolutely thrilled with the care he received. They were happy to answer my calls and send me pictures of him in their habitat and in his bath. The staff was wonderful very caring in all ways. This was my first experience boarding him and knowing I have a now have another “home” I can plan more trips. He is healthy and happy. With the type of care he received from the devoted staff of this Pet Hospital why not. I cannot thank them enough and highly recommend them

Show 2 more

6 months ago

Jasmin Sharp

I've been going to Pet Hospital of Penasquitos for almost 3 years, and I've seen a variety of different vets at their practice during that time, and I have never had a group of vets that are so caring and thoughtful and informative. They are definitely pricier than some other vets, but one time I tried cheating on them with another vet for surgery and hated how my rats were handled. It feels like PHPQ cares about my animals for their whole life, not just when they are sick and coming to the vet. They are incredibly thorough and will call to check up on them weeks after an appointment to see how they are doing. I would highly recommend Pet Hospital of Penasquitos to anyone who has the financial ability to give their furry family the absolute best care possible from an amazing group of experts. I have brought my rats in for tumors, abscesses, malocclusion, cancer, heart failure and pretty much any other ailment you could think of and they have handled all of it.
4 months ago

Christine Miller

My bird needed her nails trimmed and the got me in the same day that I called! As opposed to everywhere else who had a wait of 1 to 2 weeks. They see not only dogs & cats but rabbits, birds, and reptiles - and are so helpful and knowledgeable.

Reviews via Google

View all on Google ↗