We are committed to caring for your pet – while maintaining the highest level of safety for our Associates and pet owners. We thank you for your continued patience and support. Learn more about our COVID-19 response and guidelines.

There is an outbreak of Canine Influenza in dogs which is very contagious. If your dog is coughing, sneezing, lethargic or has a runny nose, consider seeking veterinary care. We do not offer the vaccine at this location. Please contact your regular veterinarian for more information.

John Nichols

DVM

Staff Veterinarian

Emergency & Critical Care

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Dr. John L. Nichols earned his DVM degree from Western University of Health Sciences. Post-graduate training in emergency medicine was supplemented with an internship in medicine and critical care at the state-of-the-art teaching hospital at North Carolina State University. Dr. Nichols has a particular interest in pain management and nutrition in the critical patient. Having recently joined the VCA Animal Specialty Group family, Dr. Nichols enjoys the collaborative environment that allows for optimization of therapy for patients requiring advanced and continued care. Time outside the clinic is dedicated to study of the jazz guitar and exploring southern California with his wife Jen.

Emergency & Critical Care

The Emergency Department at VCA Animal Specialty Group is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you feel your pet has an emergency, please call us or come in immediately. Our phone number is (858) 560-8006 and we are located at 5610 Kearny Mesa Road, Suite B, San Diego, 92111.

Any of the following situations can be considered an emergency:

Difficulty breathing
Ingestion of a foreign object or unknown substance
Signs of heatstroke
Rattlesnake bite
Bleeding
Vomiting blood
Blood in the feces or urine
Swollen, hard abdomen that is painful to the touch
Serious wound
Suspected broken limb
Any injury to the eye
Loss of consciousness
Seizures
Inability to move or sudden weakness
Unusual or erratic behavior
Signs of extreme pain, such as whining or shaking
Straining to urinate (especially a male cat)
Labor that does not progress
Signs of heatstroke

While an emergency is unfolding, or throughout recovery from a serious illness or accident, ongoing diagnostic and therapeutic care and constant monitoring of your pet's condition may be required. Our facility offers 24-hour supervision of critically ill pets. We are equipped to provide oxygen therapy, cardiac monitoring, blood transfusions, and nutritional support. Our facility also has advanced diagnostic capabilities onsite, such as ultrasound and echocardiography.

While your general practitioner veterinarian can diagnose and treat many health problems and handle many routine emergencies, certain situations may require the care of an emergency hospital. We work in tandem with your general practitioner veterinarian on a referral basis, as well as with our hospital's Internal Medicine, Surgery and Neurology specialists, until the emergency is resolved. In some cases, your pet will only be referred to the emergency service for after hours care. In other cases, your pet may be in the care of our emergency department for the duration of the emergency and recovery, but then referred back to your general practitioner veterinarian for follow up and routine care.

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