Our services
Full-service care for every pet in San Diego.
From annual wellness visits to complex surgery, Harlow Animal Hospital has the team, tools, and training to keep your pet healthy at every life stage.
After-hours emergency? Call (619) 555-0199 — we partner with San Diego Emergency Vet, open 24/7.
Our services
From annual wellness visits to complex surgery, Harlow Animal Hospital has the team, tools, and training to keep your pet healthy at every life stage.
Preventive Care
Annual and biannual physical exams are the cornerstone of your pet's health. During a wellness exam, Dr. Harlow or one of our associate vets will assess your pet from nose to tail — checking eyes, ears, teeth, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, coat, and musculoskeletal system. We tailor every exam to your pet's age and lifestyle: puppies and kittens get socialization guidance and a vaccine schedule, adult pets get a full body condition score, and seniors receive additional screening for early organ changes.
What to expect
Plan for 30 minutes. Bring any prior records and a list of questions. Fasting is not required.
Q: How often does my dog really need a wellness exam?
A: Once a year for adults under 7 and twice a year for seniors 7 and older, or any pet on long-term medication. Life moves fast for dogs — one year is roughly equivalent to 7 human years.
Prevention
Core vaccines protect your pet from serious, preventable diseases. For dogs, this means rabies, DA2PP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza), and bordetella. For cats, FVRCP and rabies. We also offer lifestyle vaccines for dogs who frequent dog parks, boarding facilities, or travel (leptospirosis, Lyme, canine influenza) and for cats who go outdoors (FeLV). Every vaccine schedule is individualized — we won't push titers or boosters your pet doesn't need.
What to expect
Most vaccine appointments take 20-30 minutes. Microchipping and heartworm testing can be added at the same visit.
Q: My dog hates injections. Can you make this less stressful?
A: Yes. Our Fear Free certified team uses high-value treats, minimal restraint, and distraction techniques. We can also apply EMLA cream beforehand and have anti-anxiety medications for pets who need a little extra help.
Dental Health
Dental disease affects 80% of dogs and 70% of cats by age 3, and it silently causes pain, tooth loss, and systemic infections. A professional dental cleaning under anesthesia is the only way to clean below the gumline where tartar and bacteria accumulate. Our dental suite includes digital dental radiographs (X-rays) for every patient, so we can detect resorptive lesions, root abscesses, and bone loss invisible to the naked eye. If extractions are needed, Dr. Harlow discusses them with you before proceeding.
What to expect
Your pet will fast from midnight the night before. Drop-off is 7:30 am, pick-up is typically 2-4 pm. A nurse calls you with an update once your pet is awake.
Q: Is anesthesia safe for my senior pet?
A: Pre-anesthetic bloodwork and an EKG are included for all patients over 7. Our anesthesiologist monitors heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen continuously. Most healthy seniors do beautifully.
Surgery
Dr. Priya Nair, our board-certified surgeon, performs soft tissue surgeries including spay, neuter, tumor removals, intestinal surgeries, bladder stone removal, and abdominal exploratories on-site. Orthopedic cases — including TPLO for cruciate tears — are also available. Every surgical patient receives pre-op bloodwork, an IV catheter, continuous anesthetic monitoring, multimodal pain management, and a warm recovery space with one-on-one nursing care. We do not rush our recovery floor.
What to expect
A pre-surgical consult is required for all major procedures. We'll review your pet's bloodwork and walk through the procedure, risks, and recovery plan in detail before any commitment.
Q: Should I get a second opinion before surgery?
A: You are always welcome to. We'll provide complete records. If Dr. Nair recommends surgery, she's confident it's the right call — but we understand this is a big decision and never pressure anyone.
Diagnostics
Our in-house digital X-ray unit produces high-resolution images in seconds — no film development, no waiting. We can radiograph chest, abdomen, bones, and dental structures. Abdominal and cardiac ultrasound is available with Dr. Osei, our internal medicine specialist, for soft-tissue detail that X-rays can't provide. Images are stored digitally and shareable with any specialist or emergency clinic that needs them.
What to expect
Most radiograph appointments take 15-30 minutes depending on positioning and sedation needs. Results are reviewed with you same day.
Q: My cat swallowed something. How fast can you see her?
A: Same-day or next-morning for suspected foreign body ingestion. Call us immediately — (619) 555-0122. We triage by phone.
Lab
Our IDEXX ProCyte and Catalyst machines process complete blood counts, full chemistry panels, urinalysis, thyroid levels, and heartworm/tick-borne disease panels in-house. Results are back in 30-45 minutes, not 2-3 days. For surgical patients, pre-anesthetic bloodwork is run the morning of surgery so we can adjust protocols in real time. Cytology (skin masses, ear swabs, fluid analysis) is also processed in-house for many common conditions.
What to expect
Blood draws take 5-10 minutes. For most labs, results are ready before you leave. The doctor reviews all results with you before you go.
Q: My last vet sent bloodwork to an outside lab. Why does it matter where it's done?
A: Speed matters for sick patients — we can start treatment same-day rather than waiting 48 hours for results. It also means fewer trips for you.
Grooming
Our certified groomers are on-site Tuesday through Saturday. Services include full baths with coat-appropriate shampoo, blow dry and brush-out, breed-specific trims, de-shedding treatments, ear cleaning, anal gland expression, nail grinding, and paw pad care. Because we're a veterinary practice, our groomers are trained to flag anything unusual — a new lump, a skin change, ear discharge — so your vet can take a quick look the same day at no extra charge.
What to expect
Drop-off is 8-9 am; most pets are ready by noon. Same-day pickup required. Please bring vaccination records if it's your first grooming visit.
Q: My dog gets anxious during grooming. Can you still take him?
A: Yes — our Fear Free trained groomers work at your dog's pace. For very anxious dogs we can coordinate with the vet side to add a light pre-groom calming protocol.
Boarding
Our boarding facility is staffed by vet-trained team members 16 hours a day, with overnight supervision by a licensed vet tech. Dogs enjoy climate-controlled suites, three outdoor playtimes daily, and optional supervised group play. Cats have private condos with elevated perches, window views, and enrichment toys. Every boarding guest receives a welcome exam by a vet tech, and medication administration is included for pets on daily prescriptions. Daycare is available Monday through Friday for dogs who need a social outlet.
What to expect
Vaccinations must be current (rabies, DHPP, bordetella for dogs; rabies, FVRCP for cats). Bring your pet's own food and any medications in clearly labeled containers.
Q: What if my pet gets sick while boarding?
A: Because we're a full-service veterinary hospital, your pet is seen immediately at no additional exam fee. We contact you right away with a plan.
Exotic
Dr. Tomás Rivera, our DABVP-certified exotic animal practitioner, sees rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, birds (parrots, cockatiels, finches), and reptiles (bearded dragons, leopard geckos, ball pythons, tortoises). Species-specific protocols from day one: rabbit GI exams, avian wing clips and nail trims, reptile nutritional counseling, and ferret adrenal disease management. We stock species-appropriate medications on-site and do not refer exotic cases to a specialist unless the situation truly demands it.
What to expect
Bring your exotic pet in a secure carrier appropriate for their species. For birds, cover the carrier to reduce stress. For rabbits, bring a small amount of their usual hay.
Q: Do you see hedgehogs and sugar gliders?
A: Yes, with the caveat that some procedures require referral to a zoological specialist. Call us first and we'll advise honestly on whether Dr. Rivera is the right fit.
Harlow Animal Hospital · San Diego, CA
Most new patients are seen within 3 business days. Call us or book online — same-day appointments available for urgent cases.
