Veterinarians in Palo Alto

For a city with this many dogs, Palo Alto has surprisingly few vet practices. Our directory has two general practices inside city limits, both on El Camino Real in south Palo Alto, plus a 24-hour emergency hospital a few doors away. Most pet owners also look a mile or two over the city line to Los Altos and Mountain View, where a few larger practices have longer hours.

This page lists the vets we confirmed on their own websites or our directory pages in late October and early November 2026. It is informational only. It does not rank practices or judge the quality of care. Nothing here is veterinary advice. If your pet is in distress, call a vet or an emergency hospital right away. Our emergency vets guide lists the places open all night.

General vets in Palo Alto

Both practices in town sit within a few blocks of each other on El Camino Real in south Palo Alto, near Ventura Avenue.

Animal Hospital of Palo Alto

Often shortened to AHOPA, this weekday practice treats dogs and cats only and says it does not see exotic pets. Its services page lists wellness exams, sick visits, vaccinations, diagnostics, dental cleanings, surgery, spay and neuter, an on-site pharmacy, behavioral and nutrition counseling, travel health certificates and end-of-life care. It also offers curbside drop-off visits. You leave your pet with a team member at your car, the vet calls after the exam and staff call again when the pet is ready. The phone number is 650-493-2738.

VCA Palo Alto Animal Hospital

OpenStreetMap still lists this practice as Palo Alto Animal Hospital, but its own site uses the VCA name. It belongs to VCA Animal Hospitals, a national network. It sees cats and dogs, books appointments online or by phone at 650-493-4233 and is the only general practice in town with Saturday hours in our records. Owners can refill prescriptions and track vaccines through VCA's app.

Vets just outside the city

Because the in-town choices are limited, we broadened this list to nearby towns. These practices publish their own addresses and hours.

• Adobe Animal Hospital, Los Altos. At 4470 El Camino Real, about a mile past the city line. Its locations page lists regular hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, plus walk-in urgent care into the evening. It also sees birds, small mammals and reptiles when an exotics vet is on duty. Phone (650) 948-9661.
• Miramonte Veterinary Hospital, Mountain View. At 1766 Miramonte Avenue near the Los Altos border. It says it has been accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association continuously for more than 30 years and describes its patients as all creatures that can come through the front door. Hours are short on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so check before you go. Phone 650-962-8338.
• Sunnyvale Cat Clinic, Sunnyvale. A clinic for cats at 1010 West El Camino Real. See our cat care guide.

The drive from south Palo Alto to any of these takes about 10 to 15 minutes outside rush hour. Our Mountain View guide covers that side of the line.

Low-cost and wellness clinics

Several nonprofits and stores run clinics for vaccines and basic care. They do not replace a regular vet for illness, dental work or surgery, but they help with routine shots and microchips.

Pets In Need vaccine clinic, Palo Alto

Pets In Need, which runs the city shelter, holds a low-cost vaccine clinic at the shelter at 3281 East Bayshore Road every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. It is normally first come, first served, so arrive on time and expect a wait. During its free four-week holiday clinic series the shelter says appointments are required. Dogs must be leashed and cats must be in carriers.

Prices come from the Pets In Need vaccine clinic page in November 2026 and can change.

Pets In Need Community Veterinary Clinic, Redwood City

Launched in 2024, this clinic offers wellness visits only: consultations, vaccines, flea and tick prevention, microchips, deworming and basic tests. It does not do x-rays, dental work, ultrasounds or surgery. It runs by appointment on Thursdays at the Redwood City shelter, 871 5th Avenue. A 30-minute wellness consultation is listed at $85.

Store clinics

• Pet Food Express on Middlefield Road lists a vaccination clinic on Sunday afternoons.
• Petco at 1919 El Camino Real in Mountain View lists a vaccination clinic.
• PetSmart at 1225 Industrial Road in San Carlos lists veterinary services in the store.

How to choose a vet

We do not rank vets. These questions help you compare practices on your own:

1. Which animals do you see? Both Palo Alto practices list dogs and cats only.
2. What happens after hours? Ask where the practice sends patients at night and on weekends. Miramonte's site, for example, names MedVet Mountain View.
3. Are you taking new patients? Popular practices fill up, especially for new puppies and kittens.
4. How do appointments work? Some practices offer drop-off visits, which help if you commute.
5. How are estimates handled? Ask for a written estimate before surgery or dental work. AHOPA says it accepts CareCredit financing.
6. Can you send records? If you are moving, ask your old vet to email records directly to the new one.

Before the first visit

• Bring records. Vaccine history, medication names and doses and any recent lab work.
• Bring a stool sample if the practice asks for one, especially for a new puppy or kitten.
• Use a carrier for cats and a short leash for dogs. Waiting rooms on El Camino Real are small.
• Write down questions. Visits move quickly. A short list keeps you from forgetting the one thing you meant to ask.
• Ask for the rabies certificate. You need it for the city dog license.

Licensing and your vet

Palo Alto requires dogs to be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. Since March 2025 the city itself issues licenses, online or by mail only. You need a rabies certificate that shows the vaccine date, expiration date, manufacturer and serial number, so ask your vet for a proper certificate rather than a receipt. Proof of spay or neuter cuts the one-year fee from $76 to $20. Cats do not need a license in Palo Alto. Our pets guide has the full fee table.

When it is an emergency

If your pet is struggling to breathe, collapses, has a seizure, may have eaten something toxic or has been hit by a car, do not wait for a regular appointment. Call a vet or go straight to an emergency hospital. Inside Palo Alto, Veterinary Emergency Group at 3903 El Camino Real is open 24 hours. MedVet Mountain View on Showers Drive and SAGE in Redwood City are also open around the clock. Our emergency vets guide has addresses, phone numbers and poison hotline details.

Frequently asked questions