VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital: What to Consider for Pet Care in Cerritos, CA

VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital Introduce

For pet owners across California, particularly in the bustling community of Cerritos, choosing a veterinary hospital is one of the most significant decisions for their beloved animal companions. When emergencies strike or routine care is needed, finding a clinic that aligns with your expectations for compassionate care, transparent communication, and fair pricing is paramount. VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital in Cerritos, CA, is a facility that offers a broad range of services, and understanding the full scope of what to expect is crucial for local pet owners. This article aims to provide an informative overview of VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital, synthesizing available public information and customer experiences to help California residents make informed decisions about their pet's healthcare.

Veterinary care is a critical component of pet ownership, encompassing everything from preventative wellness to life-saving emergency interventions. A reputable animal hospital should not only possess the medical expertise to treat a wide variety of conditions but also foster an environment of trust and empathy with both pets and their human families. VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital, as part of the larger VCA network, is positioned to offer extensive services. However, examining diverse customer experiences is vital for a complete picture of the care provided.

Location and Accessibility

VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital is situated at 10701 South St, Cerritos, CA 90703, USA. This location places it within a well-trafficked and accessible area of Cerritos, making it convenient for pet owners from the city itself and surrounding communities in Southern California, such as Lakewood, Long Beach, and Norwalk. South Street is a significant artery, facilitating relatively straightforward access for those traveling by car.

As a VCA hospital, it is part of a large network, which often implies standardized facilities and operational procedures. The hospital's hours of operation are generally extensive, including being open 24 hours on certain weekdays (Tuesday-Thursday) and extended hours on others (Monday and Friday 7 AM - 12 AM), with weekend hours (Saturday-Sunday 7 AM - 6 PM). This broad availability, including emergency care capabilities, can be a crucial factor for pet owners facing unexpected medical issues. The convenience of its location and extended hours means that residents of California have a readily available option for veterinary services, from routine appointments to urgent care situations.

Services Offered

As a VCA Animal Hospital, the Lakewood location typically offers a wide array of comprehensive veterinary services for both dogs and cats, covering various aspects of pet health from preventative care to advanced medical procedures. Based on common VCA offerings and publicly available information for this specific hospital, services generally include:

Emergency and Urgent Care: VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital explicitly states it offers emergency care. Given its extended and 24-hour operational days, it is equipped to handle immediate and critical pet health concerns, which is a vital resource for the community.
Comprehensive Wellness & Preventative Care: This forms the cornerstone of pet health and typically includes routine physical examinations, age-appropriate vaccination programs, parasite prevention and control (including heartworm, fleas, and ticks), and nutritional counseling for pets of all life stages.
Diagnostic Services: Equipped with modern diagnostic tools to accurately assess a pet's health. This usually includes in-house laboratory testing (blood work, urinalysis, fecal exams) and advanced imaging such as digital radiography (X-rays) and possibly ultrasound or endoscopy, which is specifically listed for VCA Lakewood.
Dental Care: Offering professional dental cleanings, extractions, and advanced dental procedures to maintain oral hygiene, which is critical for a pet's overall health. Advanced dental care and digital dental X-rays are common VCA services.
Surgical Procedures: Performing a range of soft tissue surgeries (e.g., spays, neuters, mass removals, foreign body removals) and potentially more specialized procedures like orthopedic surgery, which VCA Lakewood lists as a service. Anesthesia monitoring and pain management are integral to surgical care.
Internal Medicine: Diagnosis and management of various complex internal diseases and chronic conditions affecting organ systems, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Pain Management: Developing individualized plans to alleviate pain, whether from acute injury, post-surgical recovery, or chronic conditions like arthritis.
Pharmacy: Maintaining an in-house pharmacy for convenient dispensing of prescription medications, including specialized pet medications, prescription diets, and flea/tick/heartworm preventatives.
Intensive Care: Providing intensive care for critically ill or injured pets, including oxygen and transfusion therapy.
Hospice Care: Offering end-of-life care and support, focusing on comfort and quality of life for pets with terminal illnesses.

Features / Highlights

Customer reviews for VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital reveal a mixed, but important, set of highlights and significant areas of concern that potential clients in California should be aware of:

Comprehensive Emergency and Urgent Care Availability: The hospital's extended hours, including 24-hour operation on some days, and explicit offering of emergency care, are critical for pet owners needing immediate attention for their animals. This level of availability is a significant feature.
Broad Range of Medical Services: As part of the VCA network, the hospital can access various specialists and offers extensive services, from routine check-ups to advanced surgical procedures like endoscopy and orthopedic surgery, providing a one-stop solution for many pet health needs.
Emphasis on Pet Insurance and Financing Options: VCA is known to work with pet insurance providers and offers financing solutions like CareCredit and Scratchpay, which can be a valuable resource for managing unexpected vet costs.
Significant Concerns Regarding Cost and Financial Policies: Multiple reviews highlight a perception of high costs. For example, a $1800 deposit for admission and an additional $3000 for continued care/transfusions in an emergency, with no payment plans offered, led to difficult decisions for pet owners. Another client reported a charge of over $700 for a urine test and a $200 price for medication available for $36 elsewhere.
Concerns about Communication and Empathy: Several negative reviews consistently point to issues with communication. This includes "poor communication," "over promise, under deliver," lack of detailed instructions post-treatment, and delayed lab results. More critically, there are strong accusations of "lack of empathy," "heartless policy," and staff being "money-hungry" during highly emotional and critical situations, even going so far as to "escalate the situation and convinced me my dog was dying" to push for expensive treatments without apparent alternatives.
Questionable Pharmacy and Billing Practices: One review detailed being "accused of failing to pay for a medication... that we never even picked up" and being "banned from the clinic" without proper notice. This raised serious questions about the clinic's internal pharmacy process for dispensing medications without payment or verification, and billing transparency, especially concerning unexpected charges and the absence of clear communication regarding outstanding balances.
Staff Demeanor in Conflict Situations: In instances of client frustration, staff responses were described as unhelpful (e.g., "above the caller's pay grade," threatening to hang up, "insisting he had delivered the partial results and also mentioned they would call back with the rest of the results. Which is a lie").

Contact Information

For appointments or inquiries, VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital can be reached at:

Address: 10701 South St, Cerritos, CA 90703, USA
Phone: (562) 926-3600

It is recommended to call ahead to discuss your pet's needs, confirm specific services, and inquire about their current policies regarding deposits, payment plans, and communication protocols, especially for emergency situations.

Conclusion: Why VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital is Suitable (with caveats) for Locals

For pet owners in Cerritos and the wider Southern California region, VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital presents itself as a facility capable of providing a broad spectrum of veterinary services, from routine check-ups to critical emergency care. Its extended operating hours, including 24-hour availability on some weekdays, are undeniably a significant advantage for those facing urgent pet health concerns, offering a crucial resource when many other clinics may be closed. As part of the VCA network, it benefits from a wide range of specialized services and potentially standardized medical protocols.

However, potential clients in California should approach VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital with an awareness of the significant concerns raised in several customer reviews. The recurring themes of high costs, perceived lack of empathy during emotional and critical situations, and issues with communication and billing transparency are serious considerations. Experiences describe being pressured into expensive treatments without clear alternatives, receiving insufficient post-treatment instructions, and facing abrupt bans over disputed charges for unreceived medications. These accounts highlight a potential disconnect between the medical services offered and the client experience, particularly concerning financial discussions and compassionate patient/client communication.

While the hospital is equipped to handle complex medical needs and emergencies, local pet owners are strongly advised to thoroughly inquire about all costs, available payment options (or lack thereof), and communication procedures before committing to extensive treatments. For those who prioritize comprehensive care and have adequate pet insurance or financial resources to cover potentially high costs, and who are proactive in confirming all details, VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital may be a viable option, especially for urgent needs. Nevertheless, exercising extreme due diligence and clear communication from the outset is recommended to ensure your pet receives the care you expect without unexpected financial or emotional distress.

VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital Photos

VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital Location

VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital

California Los Angeles County Cerritos South Street

10701 South St, Cerritos, CA 90703, USA

VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital Reviews

Lack of empathy and only interested in money. My dog had a wound and was bleeding severely. They asked for a $1800 deposit just to admit her. We waiting an hour with no information until we were told the bleeding had stopped but they would need another $3000 to continue operating on her and for blood transfusions. Money I didn't have. No payment plan was offered. Letting her die was the only option. The nurse came up to me and said, "for the next dog, you should get an insurance plan". No sympathy card. No other options. Avoid this place at all costs if you love your pet.
Apr 06, 2025 · Victor T.
They have poor communication. Over promise , under deliver,and are over priced. I was charged over $700 for them to do a urine test. When they released my dog back to me the girl said, "Here you go, have a good day" Like, what? No follow up from the DR after the quote, no instructions as to what to look out for, no instructions on the medication, no print out of instructions. They said they'll do X rays, possible blood work but they didn't. I took my dog in on a Saturday due to my dog not urinating nor pooping. . They told me my pet's lab results would be ready in 24 hrs. Sunday, nothing. That Monday they told me the results were in but the DR was busy and will call me back later that day. They never did. Tuesday my dog was lethargic. I called and they said the lab work had just came in and the DR was busy and yup, they would call me back that same day. . I was obviously upset. They lack empathy of the situation because they lied to me. I refused to wait for a call because my dog's life was at risk and they showed no empathy.. I dropped the F word describing my emotions and was told they were going to hand up on me .I got transferred to a guy stating more lies insisting he had delivered the partial results and also mentioned they would call back with the rest of the results. Which is a lie. He had the audacity to say if the results were bad, they would have called already as if I knew this information. I had spoke to him to get a new prescription for Costco because VCA wanted to charge $200 for meds that I got for $36 at Costco. Turns out my dog was proscribed antibiotics that he didn't need . They gave him antibiotics for 16 days before even receiving the lab results which came back negative. I would not go back. If you love your pet I would recommend taking them somewhere else
Jul 11, 2025 · Diana
I've been taking my cat here for over 5 years and they have always taken such good care of her! Everyone who works here, from the front desk staff through the veterinarians has been incredibly helpful and kind. They are very thorough and go the extra mile to take care of you.
Jul 17, 2025 · Meredith Schuetze
We have been going to this vet for many years! For various fur babies. I trust the care of each Dr, assistant, and front desk staff. Everyone provides excellent customer service and always so friendly. They also have fun holiday activities for the pets like pics with Santa.
Jul 13, 2025 · Dee Ellsworth
A bunch of charlatans preying on the love of people for their beloved pets. Brought my cat in, and before taking a good look, the office worker ripped up the phone and went “we’ve got a C1342 (or something)”, and vets ran in to rush her off. Like something out of Grey’s Anatomy. Not 30 seconds later I was handed a paper saying that my pet was “CRITICAL” (when the nurse that had referred me to the place said she was stable) and that it would cost me 1800 dollars. Afterward, it would be said that it was to be, in fact, 2000 just to determine if their suspicions about what was wrong were correct. And if not, more money.After declining, it took me half an hour just to get my cat back, but only after paying 200 dollars for an exam that I had not consented to. I imagine this is why they whisk the pet away from you before you sign the form- your pet, I imagine, will not be returned to you until the fee is paid.While sitting in the waiting room waiting for my cat back, I saw a woman rush in with a dog. The desk lady did the same exact thing that they did to me- ripped up the phone, without even looking at the dog (who appeared very obviously NOT on the verge of death), declared a C1342 (or something) and handed the sheet of paper to this poor hysterical woman declaring her pet “CRITICAL”.This is all a drama put on to get you to sign onto a cycle of throwing good money after bad. Avoid at all costs.
Apr 30, 2025 · Michael Gross