Balboa Pet Hospital’s Veterinarians provide medical care to ALL of your pets: Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, as well as other small mammals and exotic pets. We offer a full range of veterinary medical services. From preventive care and pet boarding to dentistry and surgery services, we are your best resource for care and advice. Our links below provide information specific to your specific need and your pet’s species. Our Pet Hospital can help your pets receive the best chance for a long and healthy life.
Complete Veterinary Care
Pets We Treat:
Cat-Friendly Vet in San Francisco
Your Cats & Kittens Deserve Veterinary Care
While cats may seem independent and less needy than their canine counterparts, that doesn’t mean they need less care. Cats are masters at hiding symptoms, that if treated early, minimize health issues in the future. Diseases like urinary tract infections, diabetes, and thyroid conditions can be treated and outcomes are greatly improved if caught early. We are an American Association of Feline Practitioner certified Cat-Friendly Practice.
Preventive Care & Basic Needs
- Annual examinations
- Core vaccinations
- Annual parasite testing & year-round prevention
- Microchip Identification
- Periodic Blood & Urine Testing
View or a print this handout with general cat care guidelines: nutrition, environment, supplies & responsibilities. This will answer common questions. Give it to a friend BEFORE they adopt!
Care dependent on life stage and lifestyle.
At your exam, the doctor will note the age of your cat and create a care plan tailored to their life stage: Kitten, Adult, Senior or Geriatric Cats. The Veterinarians’ recommendations are in alignment with the guidelines from American Association of Feline Practitioners, American Veterinary Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association.
Is your Cat Indoor Only?– Living indoors reduces the chance of trauma and certain infectious diseases and it may increase longevity, but the risks of illness due to a more sedentary inactive lifestyle increase. Our doctors can recommend ways to create an enriching environment for your cat.
Or, is your Cat both Indoor and Outdoor? – While this lifestyle might be more natural and stimulating for cats, there is an increased risk of infectious disease and trauma. Providing supervised outdoor play on-leash walks or cat-proof enclosures reduces these risks.
Balboa Pet Hospital’s veterinarians have a particular interest in cat and kitten patients. Our hospital is certified by American Association of Feline Practitioners. We are a “Cat Friendly Practice”. Find out more below:
What it means to be a Feline Friendly veterinary practice:
Lessen stress when traveling to the exam appointment:
Your Dogs & Puppies Deserve Veterinary Care
While dogs may seem happy and healthy, they count on you for their best chance at a long and healthy life. Pets are masters at hiding symptoms, and your awareness of changes in daily routine, behavior, or appearance will be valuable clues for our veterinarian. Many conditions, if treated early, minimize those health issues in the future. Diseases and conditions can be treated and outcomes are greatly improved, if caught early. We provide Surgery, Dentistry, Acupuncture and Boarding, and much more for our canine patients.
Preventive Care & Basic Needs
- At least annual examinations
- Core vaccinations
- Annual parasite testing & year-round prevention
- Microchip Identification
- Periodic Blood & Urine Testing
View or a print this handout with general dog and puppy care
At your exam, the doctor will note the age of your dog to determine their life stage: Puppy, Adult, Senior or Geriatric. Our Veterinarians recommendations are in alignment with the guidelines from both the American Veterinary Veterinary Medical Association, and American Animal Hospital Association.
IS YOUR DOG INDOOR ONLY? Living indoors reduces the chance of trauma and certain infectious diseases. It may increase longevity, but the risks of illness and obesity due to being sedentary increase. They need play!
OR IS YOUR DOG BOTH INDOOR & OUTDOOR? – While this lifestyle might be more natural, it also increases the risks of infectious disease and trauma. Provide supervised outdoor play to reduce these risks and ensure the dogs your dog comes into contact with are vaccinated.
Answers to these and many other questions will help your veterinarian determine your dog’s individual needs.
More to come!
Your Rabbit Deserves Veterinary Care
Just like cats, dogs, and other pets, your rabbit will need preventive medical care. Balboa Pet Hospital Veterinarians in San Francisco recommend that you make an appointment for a thorough exam right after you adopt your new rabbit. Click here for tips on how to choose the right rabbit for your family. During the first examination, your doctor can ensure he or she is healthy and disease free. Rabbits do not generally need vaccinations. Talk with our veterinarian about any concerns you may have. It’s important that you understand your bunny’s medical care needs, as well as environmental concerns. Rabbits should be examined by your veterinarian annually up to age 6 and twice yearly thereafter. They should also be tested annually for intestinal parasites, which can be treated if they are found. Diseases and conditions can be treated and outcomes are greatly improved, if caught early.
WARNING : Unlike dogs and cats, If your bunny stops eating even for a day, that is a medical emergency. Get your rabbit to the veterinarian right away, or they can die.
Female rabbits should be spayed after 6 months of age and male rabbits should be neutered to avoid numerous unpleasant behaviors, like spraying and “humping”.
Preventive Care & Basic Needs
- Annual examinations to age 6 years
- Twice yearly exams over 6 years
- Annual parasite testing
- Proper housing and bedding
- Proper diet
- Spay or Neuter
Here is an EXCELLENT RESOURCE — View or a print this handout with general rabbit care guidelines: nutrition, environment, supplies & responsibilities. This will answer many common questions. Give it to a friend BEFORE they adopt a bunny!
It’s important to carefully consider whether adding a rabbit to your family is a good idea.
Exotic Pet Veterinarian Care
Avian and exotic pets still need to see the veterinarian, but not all hospitals are able to see them since experience and training in avian and exotic animal medicine can be difficult to come by for veterinarians. Avians and exotic pets can have quite different needs than dogs and cats, but they still need access to a skilled, AAHA accredited veterinarian like the those here at Balboa Pet Hospital in San Francisco.
What is an Exotic Pet?
For most veterinarians, an exotic pet is anything that is not a farm animal or a dog or cat. Here at Balboa Pet Hospital, we consider an exotic pet to be anything that is not a dog, cat. The species we see and treat here at Balboa Pet Hospital are:
- Rabbits
- “Pocket” pets
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
- Wild animals
Common pets in each of these categories include snakes, iguanas and bearded dragons, frogs and salamanders, and chickens, and mammals such as sugar gliders, squirrels, skunks, or opossums.
Why Exotic Pets Need Vets, Too
Most people are relatively content not to take their exotic animal to the veterinarian. However, what happens if your exotic pet becomes ill? Not knowing what your pet is like when they are healthy leaves the veterinarian at a disadvantage for treating them. If you do not have an exotic animal vet already, it may also be difficult to find someone to see your pet if they do fall ill or injure themselves.
It is also fairly common for well-meaning owners to receive the wrong information about how to care for their exotic pet or bird. Our veterinarians can help provide up-to-date, scientific knowledge about the best methods of care for your pet. They can also tell you what to look out for because illness in an exotic animal oftentimes will not look like illness in a dog or cat.
Common Problems with Exotic Pets
Some of the more common issues to crop up in multiple species of exotic animals are:
- Improper diet leading to malnutrition, starvation, or obesity
- Improper housing leading to hypothermia, behavior problems, and suppressed immune systems
- Viral diseases
- Bacterial infections
- Parasites
- Fungal infections
- Trauma from falls, fights, or improper housing
If you have an exotic pet that seems like he/she is just not the same as usual, bring him/her to us right away. Many times, the symptoms of disease in these animals are subtle and more difficult to see than in dogs and cats. You are the person who knows what is normal for your exotic pet, so your assessment of the situation is critical to ensuring that your pet receives proper veterinary care.
We know and respect that people care deeply about their pets no matter what species they are. Balboa Pet Hospital prides ourselves on offering AAHA accredited care for most avian and exotic animal species. Contact us today at 1-415-752-3300 to make an appointment for your pet.
We are pleased to provide services for pocket pets. Please contact our hospital for more information.
We are pleased to provide services for ferrets. Please contact our hospital for more information.