Horizon Veterinary Specialists Introduce
For pet owners in the California region, especially those near Ventura and the surrounding counties, knowing where to turn during a pet health crisis is paramount. **Horizon Veterinary Specialists** stands as a vital resource in the community, providing dedicated, round-the-clock **emergency veterinarian service** and high-level specialty care for small animals. Founded in 2018 by a team of five board-certified veterinarians with a combined decades of experience, Horizon operates as a full-service emergency and specialty hospital. Their fundamental commitment is to offer compassionate, exceptional **pet care** when it is needed most, focusing on severe illnesses, unexpected injuries, and complex internal medical conditions.
The hospital is purpose-built to handle urgent cases, offering a fully equipped, multi-unit **Intensive Care** Unit (ICU) that is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This level of dedication ensures that pets suffering from critical, life-threatening conditions—such as acute organ failure, severe trauma, or poisoning—receive constant, minute-by-minute monitoring and specialized treatment. Horizon’s emergency department supports immediate walk-in emergencies and works in close partnership with primary care veterinarians, serving as a trusted referral center when a pet requires advanced **Diagnostic Imaging** or specialized **Internal Veterinary Medicine** consultation.
Client testimonials consistently highlight the expertise and genuine compassion of the entire team, from the front desk staff to the specialized doctors, especially during incredibly stressful situations like acute kidney failure or severe sudden illness. The feedback emphasizes detailed, daily communication and a high level of medical knowledge that ultimately leads to positive outcomes for beloved pets, demonstrating why Horizon has quickly become a cornerstone of advanced **veterinary care** in Southern California.
Located conveniently in Ventura, CA, Horizon Veterinary Specialists is situated to provide easy access for emergency and referred specialty cases across the region.
The physical address for the hospital is:
- **5280 Valentine Rd Ste 120, Ventura, CA 93003, USA**
- **Parking and Access:** The hospital features a dedicated **on-site parking** area, including a **free parking lot**. The facility has a **wheelchair accessible entrance** and a **wheelchair accessible parking lot**.
- **Amenities and Inclusivity:** Amenities include a standard **restroom** and a **gender-neutral restroom**. The clinic is committed to maintaining a welcoming environment, identified as **LGBTQ+ friendly** and a **transgender safespace**.
- **Payment Options:** For client convenience during emergencies, multiple payment methods are accepted, including **credit cards**, **debit cards**, and **NFC mobile payments**.
Horizon Veterinary Specialists is primarily focused on **Emergency Care** and specialized medical services that require advanced training and equipment. The core services include:
- **24/7 Emergency Veterinarian Service:** Open **24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year**, to manage all acute pet emergencies, from trauma and toxicities to sudden, severe illnesses.
- **Critical Care and Intensive Care (ICU):** Providing continuous monitoring and **Intensive Care** in a large, fully equipped, multi-unit ICU. The unit features specialized rooms, including a separate room designated just for cats, and is staffed by experienced emergency vets and registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) around the clock.
- **Internal Veterinary Medicine:** This specialty department is staffed by **board-certified veterinary Internists** who provide comprehensive consultations, diagnostic evaluations, and non-surgical treatment plans for pets with complex, chronic, or undiagnosed medical conditions.
- **Surgery (Emergency and Soft-Tissue):** Offering both urgent, life-saving **Surgery** for emergencies and advanced soft-tissue and oncologic surgical services, supported by continuous critical care anesthesia and post-operative stabilization.
- **Advanced Diagnostic Imaging:** Utilizing state-of-the-art technology to visualize internal structures. Services include **Ultrasonography**, **Digital Radiography**, **Endoscopy** (for direct visual inspection and biopsies of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary systems), and access to **CT scans**. These advanced tools allow for rapid and accurate diagnosis, which is crucial in an **Emergency Care** setting.
- **Trauma and Toxicity Management:** Immediate, specialized treatment protocols for severe traumas (e.g., car accidents, dog bites) and poisonings/toxicities, including access to poison hotlines and specialized anti-venom or supportive therapies.
As a specialty and **emergency veterinarian service**, Horizon sets itself apart in the Ventura County area with several key operational and cultural highlights that benefit pet owners:
- **Around-the-Clock Critical Care:** The most significant feature is the **24/7 availability of their emergency and critical care team**. This means immediate, specialized attention for your pet, regardless of the time of day, weekend, or holiday. The **fully staffed ICU** ensures seamless care continuation for hospitalized patients.
- **Team of Board-Certified Specialists:** The hospital was founded by, and maintains a staff including, **board-certified specialists** in Emergency, Critical Care, and Internal Medicine. This high level of expertise means pets are treated by doctors who have undergone extensive additional training and passed rigorous examinations.
- **Advanced In-House Technology:** Access to a complete suite of **Diagnostic Imaging** tools, including CT and Ultrasound, alongside a comprehensive in-house laboratory, allows the medical team to conduct rapid and definitive diagnostic evaluations necessary for quick decision-making in a crisis.
- **Commitment to Compassionate Communication:** As noted in patient reviews, the staff is trained to provide **detailed updates and communication** to owners throughout the pet’s stay, transforming a highly stressful experience into a more manageable process.
- **Inclusivity and Community Focus:** The commitment to being an **LGBTQ+ friendly** and **transgender safespace** with gender-neutral restrooms reflects a modern, welcoming approach to serving the entire Southern California community.
For immediate assistance or to contact the specialty department at Horizon Veterinary Specialists in Ventura, California, please use the following information:
- **Address:** 5280 Valentine Rd Ste 120, Ventura, CA 93003, USA
- **Phone (Emergency/Main):** (805) 303-8996
- **Mobile Phone (Alternative Contact):** +1 805-303-8996
When a pet requires an immediate, high-level medical intervention, **Horizon Veterinary Specialists** is definitively worth choosing. The hospital’s core strength lies in its guaranteed **24/7 access** to specialized **Emergency Care** and a fully operational, multi-unit **Critical Care** (ICU) department. Unlike general veterinary practices that may have limited after-hours services or lack the necessary equipment, Horizon provides round-the-clock intensive monitoring and immediate access to advanced diagnostic tools like CT scans and digital radiography. The presence of board-certified Internal Medicine specialists on staff ensures that even complex, non-surgical conditions—like the acute kidney failure mentioned in a review—are managed with the highest standard of expertise.
While one must always be prepared for potentially long wait times at any emergency facility (as is common in all human and animal emergency departments), the triage process at Horizon is designed to prioritize critically ill pets. The positive patient outcomes, coupled with the compassionate and detailed client communication, provide enormous comfort to pet owners during their most difficult moments. Choosing Horizon means selecting a veterinary care provider in Southern California that is built from the ground up to save lives and manage medical crises with both clinical excellence and profound kindness, all within an accessible and inclusive environment.
Horizon Veterinary Specialists Services
- Emergency Veterinarian Service
- Critical Care
- Emergency Care
- Intensive Care
- Pet Care
- Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Internal Veterinary Medicine
Horizon Veterinary Specialists Details
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Amenities
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
- Crowd
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
- Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
- Parking
- Free parking lot
- On-site parking
Horizon Veterinary Specialists Photos










Horizon Veterinary Specialists Location
Horizon Veterinary Specialists
5280 Valentine Rd Ste 120, Ventura, CA 93003, USA
Horizon Veterinary Specialists Reviews
compassionatepayconditioncalldeskunderstandingsymptomsinformationchoseroom
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1- A few weeks ago, our cat Chevy suddenly went from normal kidney function to acute stage 4 kidney failure. We brought him into Horizon for an emergency visit, and from the moment we walked in, the front desk staff was incredibly kind, welcoming, and informative.Chevy ended up needing to stay for a few nights, and during that time, Dr. Ortega and her team called us every day with detailed updates and informed us of the treatment plan. Their communication and compassion made an extremely stressful situation much more bearable.Thanks to their expertise and care, Chevy’s numbers have improved drastically, and he’s feeling much better again! Dr. Ortega is not only deeply knowledgeable but also truly compassionate, and we are beyond grateful to her and the entire team for helping our baby through such a critical time. Thank you all so much! 🫶🏻 May 10 · Payton Clapper
- A little over a week ago, my 2-year-old tabby Phoebe wasn’t acting like her usual self. I was honestly fearing the worst when I brought her in. The wait time was long, but once Phoebe was taken back, the staff gave me updates throughout and treated her with fluids. Thanks to them, she’s back to her happy, normal self! I’m so grateful for the care she received. Hopefully I won’t need to come back for a very, very long time (at least a decade!), but it’s a huge comfort knowing where to go if I ever do. August 26 · Stacey Yee
- I came in as a walk in around 12:20 pm the staff is very nice overall but I was told a 2-3 hour wait before my cat was seen. Knowing I was a walk in I was totally fine with that. They took my cat back about 20 minutes after I got there. After the 4 hour mark I walked up to the front desk to check on my cat they went back and checked letting me know that he hasn’t been examined yet. I waited another 2 hours before they called me back to speak with the vet. The vet let me know that they didn’t know what was wrong with him. She told me all the different things they could try to figure it out and would get back to me with an estimate. After 40 minutes of waiting in the back room I called the front desk letting them know the amount of time I was waiting for the estimate and I would just like to pay for the exam and leave. When the guy came in not even a minute later he said they were waiting for the estimate and when he looked it up it was already done they just didn’t see. I appreciate them getting me in and they were all nice but their communication is absolutely horrible I would not recommend this place to anyone unless you’re willing to wait 7+ hours with little to no communication about you’re pet that is in their care. I got there at 12:20pm and was finally full checked out and walking out the door at 7:45 pm again nice staff but horrible communication and organization. I would have been here longer if I didn’t call from the back room. Even when checking me out to getting my cat back that took 35 minutes. August 30 · jessica S.
- We brought our 11 year old dog in last night. Her health started deteriorating through out the day and our vet couldn't see her until the next day. By the time we got there her temp was 105, her breathing was labored and she couldn't stand. We didn't get to bring her home again, they say with us while we decided a treatment plan. They helped us go over different options and gave us the time we needed to say goodbye. The staff there are amazing. Every single one of them was so kind. They were busy but took the time to look at our pups baby pictures and listen to our stories. We never felt rushed. I have no doubt that is she was able to be saved yesterday they would have done it. But her time had come and Dr. Schumacher and our techs were so kind and understanding and gently helped ease her suffering and our own. We were able to sit with her in a private room before and after and process our grief. I am extremely thankful for all of them there May 17 · Angie Thompson
- Revised: On 08/18/24 Horizon responded (see below), star changes from 1 to 3 for effort. Appreciate the replay and interest in clarifying there point of view. I guess the big hangup for me is that if a restaurant (or human hospital ER for that matter) claims to be 'Open 24 Hours', I'd expect a door to be open, waiting room at the least, but maybe that is just me ;)‘24 Hour’ means not open at 3:00 am when our new kitten had a severe burst abscess. No one at the door but they did answer the phone “oh, you’re at the door? We are not taking patients till tomorrow, maybe 6 hours (maybe not)”. Why bother advertising 24 hours! The a-frame sign at the door even said 8+ hours with daytime hours.I wasted 30 min driving in, then another 30 up to Thousand Oaks to a real 24 hours pet hospital.Stop false advertising, you’re just pissing people off, wasting precious time during an emergency and not doing yourself any favors on the reviews. August 18 · Rob Wickens
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