A trusted neighborhood veterinarian in Pacific Beach for many years, ABC Veterinary Hospital now offers mobile veterinary care to clients in their homes.
Located at 2032 Hornblend St., ABC Veterinary Hospital Pacific Beach is a full-service hospital welcoming routine and urgent pet care visits by appointment. The facility provides cats and dogs with comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care.
“I’ve been an associate here for about seven years now,” said Dr. Nicole Zaranek, a Canadian native now operating the facility who graduated med school a decade ago. “I took over ownership of the practice about two years ago now. It’s always been privately owned.”
Concerning her clientele, Zaranek said: “Most are local. We get a good mixture. We have a lot of clients who have been with the practice for many years and many generations.”
ABC restricts itself to dogs and cats. “We do acupuncture and a lot of health and travel certificates because we have people going or moving abroad,” noted Zaranek. “We have a lot of younger-generation clients too, where their pets are their babies, their children. We have all ages.”
Discussing recent veterinary trends, Zaranek pointed out that “during COVID pet ownership rose exponentially, and people wanted a companion, so we were slammed. People also were home more and observing their pets more, so they could see issues that they could not see when they were away at work.”
Of her practice, Zbranek noted: “We do some urgent-care type work and I do the holistic care with acupuncture. We also do mobile therapy, and come to people’s homes. A lot of cats, and a lot of dogs too, get stressed at the clinic with all the commotion, so it’s beneficial to see them at home.”
What advice does the PB vet offer for people wanting to properly care for their pets?
“Find the veterinarian that is like your friend and that you trust and build that relationship and have that open line of communication because they’re your main source,” responded Zaranek. “Go in annually, letting your doctor get their hands on your pet, because pets, unlike humans, can’t talk about their symptoms and their issues. So the physical touch is more important in pets than in people.”
The vet said she likes to have clients come in with pre-prepared lists of questions for her to answer about their pets and their care.
Zaranek also strongly recommends carrying pet insurance. “I tell all my clients, especially those with new puppies that are kind of a ‘blank’ slate, to do your research, ask your questions, and pick a pet insurance company and sign up for it,” she said.
The vet also advises her clients to get insurance while their pets are young because “like human insurance companies, there will be exclusions of pre-existing conditions and that can be pretty frustrating,” Zaranek pointed out.
Allergies and foxtails are common problems being treated at ABC as well as pet anxiety, with pets experiencing depression now that people are no longer working remotely.
ABC is always looking for, and accepting, new clients. “This clinic is a piece of the real history of this neighborhood,” Zaranek concluded. “We all have our hearts in this. We’re all passionate. We’re a group of really caring individuals and we treat our patients with a lot of care, and a lot of love, and that’s what sets us apart.”
ABC VETERINARY HOSPITAL
Where: 2032 Hornblend St.
Info: abcvets.com, 858-270-4120
Mobile veterinary services include: wellness care, vaccinations, bloodwork, heartworm tests, dental check-ups, treatment of minor illnesses ((e.g., ear infections, skin infections, itching, eye infections, coughing/sneezing), pet acupuncture, laser therapy, pet exams and consultations for travel preparation and health certificates.
