The Drake Center for Veterinary Care

Had to put our 13 year old lab down about 3 weeks ago. The staff at Drake was so wonderful about the entire process. We since got a puppy and took her to Drake for her first vet visit. They were excited about our new puppy but still sympathetic about our recent loss. Drake is worth the extra cost. Even gave us a puppy care package to bring home. Thanks Drake for caring.

The front desk staff was very helpful in fitting us into the schedule on short notice. The vet assistant was kind and knowledgeable and asked all the right questions to help the vet give a diagnosis. Dr. Shotwell was very sweet with my fur baby and explained the different types of allergies she could be suffering from. When her examination was over and a determination was made she prescribed an allergy medication but also explained how it worked and carefully explained the dosage. The vet expressed a real interest in following up on my little old lady (15-​y-​o dog) and I received follow-​up email with an electronic copy of the medical note and photographs of the affected area. We’ve been a client for 12 years and have always been pleased with the service and care provide.

We just left the Drake Center for Veterinary Care with our 14 week old puppy! The staff was so welcoming and loved on our pup. We are so thankful to have found a place that loves her like we do and will take good care of her over the years!!! I would recommend this vet to anyone with a pet!

This place seems to do it all, and they definitely like to push those services on you for «the well being of your pet». It is so stinking pricey! I haven’t left an annual exam paying under $ 500. And my dog is healthy, just a sore joint!
The joint soreness led them to recommend an X-​ray, and they also suggested removing a dead tooth, estimate came to $ 1,300. I took this estimate to other vets and they on average came in 30% lower.
If you don’t mind paying inflated prices, than this place has the convenience of being a one stop shop. But I’d recommend getting second opinions on bigger issues to make sure they aren’t milking you for cash.

I can’t say enough about the service at Drake Center. The doctors and staff are second to none and we feel like family when I bring my dog in. The doctors truly care for each pet as if it was their own and this shows through every visit.
If you have a pet that you love and are looking for the best possibly veterinary care, look to The Drake Center especially Dr. Sarah Dilworth… Go Triton’s !!

BUYER BEWARE! I have had many vets push to do testing, etc but this place will try to drain you for every penny they can get out of you with unnecessary tests or methods that keep you coming back for multiple visits when there are options that could do it in one. I reviewed their treading plans with my friends that are vets in the east coast and they thought I was getting raked over the coals.

From the office staff to the vet tech to the vets, these people really love and care about animals. The place is spotless and smells good. They are professional yet very tender with the animals, treating your pet as theirs. So glad I found this place!

I took my dog/​best friend here yesterday for his first acupuncture appointment. I was impressed when I first walked in by how friendly every one was. Most veterinary offices feel stale and cold and this place feels warm and inviting. It translated to my dog too because he was much calmer than he has been other places. I don’t remember the vet’s name that helped us (bad with names, :/​), but she was great. She took her time with us and made walked me through every step of what she was doing. I see in improvement in his pain level and attitude already and am so excited to keep coming to this place. Thank you, thank you.

The care is good, but the experience might vary. Dr Drake put down my old girl that had been at my side for 13.5yrs. She promised me that she would go to sleep and then go very softly. THAT DIDN’T happen at all! She gasp for her last breath and died in my arms fighting to live and stay with me. I became extremely depressed for several months because of that experience. I wanted to die because I let he die so horribly after she had brought so my joy to my life over the 13yrs. I will never forgive myself for not taking her out of there that day.

For a solid two years our cat and dog had better veterinary care than our medical care. Drake is amazing. They are patient, compassionate, warm, and friendly. They always give me sound advice if I call concerned about something and they are extremely empathetic. When our dog passed they sent us a bouquet and condolences. Dr. Smolley sent us a very kind, personalized note. If I never have to change vets it will be too soon. Thank you, Drake!

I love the Drake Center. I have been taking my pets here for a long time. At least 15 years. They have always provided excellent, loving care to my animals. I feel they don’t really do unnecessary things and they are thorough in their care. They have been there when we had to put our beloved pet to sleep and to help with new ones too. I wouldn’t take my pets anywhere else. I have boarded my animals here too and have been happy with this service.

I originally came to the drake center because another vet I was going to «could not make any time» to see my very sick puppy. The Drake Center moved some things around to see us immediately and we have been going there ever since.
They always make you feel comfortable, explain things clearly, and don’t try and charge you for unnecessary things. You can tell the people that work their love their jobs and seem to care as much about your pet as you do. I continue to recommend them to anyone in north county looking for a vet or boarding.
If your pet is sick or being boarded there… They send you picture texts to update you. It’s the little things that make them amazing!

We moved to Encinitas and needed a new vet. We just adopted a new dog that had a very rough start in life and needed a checkup and primary care vet. Everyone from the receptionist to the Dr were very nice and sweet to Cookie our new rescue dog.

I want to leave you with a positive review. I always felt from the front door receptionists to the techs, to the doctor’s exam my animals (dogs and cats) got professional and caring service. I would at times get follow up calls from the actual vets. My dog is now 15 years old and still ticking — you helped our San Diego rescue pet through allergies, behavioral problems, etc. to the point where she is still living a quality life.
Unfortunately, I took my cat (under 2 years) last week to one of your competitors (trying to save a buck) and my experience was not what I was accustom to from the Drake professionals. I was told my cat’s physical symptoms that changed overnight (drooling, not drinking, crying) were most likely behavior problems; I had to ASK the vet to do tests… I returned the second day and reported that the cat was now drinking excessively and still crying. I was told the blood results were perfect and my cat was healthy and was sold laxative for a potential hairball. The next morning my cat died.
And, no follow up calls from the Vets office (but plenty of sales e-​mails) to see how my kitty is doing with that hairball…
So, yes UnilocalERS do take your pets to Drakes — they will do the right thing by your animals. I agree with the comments about upselling, but you are a consumer and you don’t have to buy all their products or take all the precautionary tests. After all this is a business, but THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING and THEY CARE about your pet. BTW, I am waiting for the competitor vet to return my call…

I haven’t had much exposure to this vet. I only went once because my normal vet closes on Sundays. However, they were very kind to my very sick cat and did a good job of putting us at ease when Dexter’s (my cat) condition was potentially very bad. They took some blood to be analyzed and told us they would contact us the next day. They called us immediately after they got the results because my cat’s kidney levels were off the chart. Instead of suggesting that we come back to them, they were more than happy to send the test results to my regular vet.

I really felt that I received the most personal care thus far for my dog when interacting with all of the employees at the Drake Center. Arlene, the receptionist, was my first point of contact and immediately she made me feel at ease and began that personalized care. Dr. Boehme is amazing! She really cares about you and your pet and I am so thrilled to have found her! I know she’s going to take great care of my doggy.

I have been taking my 2 dogs Sierra and Django here since we got them as 9 week ld pups. They are Catahoulas and not a lot of people know what they re but the staff here did. They have always take the best care of them and we always get top notch service. I even bring my cats here! Huey had extensive dental surgery without any issues and Nemo who had IBD and unfortunately has passed, which Drake helped him make his transition over the rainbow bridge. The staff are the best! Top notch vet.

Avoid. I am a responsible pet owner with pet insurance. I brought my dog in and the diagnosis was off but it resulted in over 5000 dollars in surgical charges. My insurance company will not cover costs. I told the vet the dog had eaten another dog’s diarrhea and that I had give my dog imodium. The vet said if dog did not have GI surgery she would likely die. Insurance denied claim because after opening up dog nothing was found. Just gas. Very expensive and not very effective canine internists. Though some folks think they run a good canine dental practice.

For the last year or so I’ve been disappointed with the upselling and this week was the last straw. I brought our dog in for a shot, a nail clip and to have the vet look at a swollen toe. We agreed to have the toe x-​rayed. When tech came back with an estimate there was a bi-​annual exam fee, a prescription for Sentinel and two x-​ray fees (one more than the next). All in — $ 362. Come on! It’s less than that for me to see my doctor and have some x-​rays — without insurance! My wife and I have been clients for years and this type of marketing just makes you feel like a mark — not a valued client. Perhaps Dr. Drake has become more focused on the profit and lost sight of the patient. Anyway, we’re starting to look elsewhere.

I can’t begin to express how caring and knowledgable the Drake team is. From simple checkups to the «tough» conversations, they handle themselves and all of their clients with the utmost professionalism and brilliance. If you need a small animal doctor, please consider Drake because they WILL take care of you.