Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital

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San Luis Obispo, CA
Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital

Welcome to Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital!

Opening September 2025, Cerro Alto is a privately owned, 24/7 specialty and emergency hospital committed to advanced, compassionate care for pets on the Central Coast.

06/11/2026

Meet Earl. ❤️

This sweet 5 month-old Australian Shepherd recently visited our ER after getting into some grapes at home.

Many pet owners are surprised to learn that grapes and raisins can be extremely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can potentially cause serious kidney injury, and there is no way to predict which dogs may be affected.

If your pet eats grapes, raisins, or another potentially toxic substance, contact poison control immediately, then make your way to our ER.

🚨ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435🚨

Thankfully, Earl is doing great and back to being a happy puppy. We didn't mean to embarrass you Earl, I promise. 🫶 We wanted to share his story as a reminder that accidents happen, and when in doubt, it's always better to call.

06/08/2026

Percy's POV:

For years I had a chronic infection on the left side of my face.

Did I complain?

No.

Did I continue living my best cat life?

Absolutely.

Then I came to see the Internal Medicine and Surgery team and suddenly everyone had opinions.

Now they're telling me the infection, diseased ear canal, and mass were "problems."

Interesting.

Anyway, I'm recovering well and accepting apologies in the form of treats.

❤️ Percy

06/04/2026

Would you recognize the signs of respiratory disease in a snake?

Jua presented to our Emergency Service after her owner noticed several subtle changes during a shedding cycle, including open-mouth breathing and a faint clicking sound during exhalation. Although she remained bright, active, and otherwise appeared healthy, these signs can sometimes indicate underlying respiratory disease.

Radiographs revealed changes consistent with pneumonia, and treatment was initiated. At her recheck appointment approximately three and a half weeks later, Jua showed significant clinical improvement. Her abnormal breathing had resolved, respiratory sounds had disappeared, and follow-up radiographs demonstrated overall improvement.

Reptiles are masters at hiding illness, which is why even small changes in breathing, activity level, appetite, or shedding should not be ignored. Signs that may warrant veterinary evaluation include:
• Open-mouth breathing
• Wheezing, clicking, or popping sounds while breathing
• Increased respiratory effort
• Excessive mucus around the mouth or nostrils
• Decreased appetite
• Lethargy or behavioral changes

We're happy to report that Jua is doing well and continuing her recovery at home. Thank you to her observant owner for recognizing that something was off and seeking veterinary care early. 🐍💚

06/01/2026

Meet Pumpkin. ❤️

Pumpkin was referred to our surgery team for treatment of idiopathic chylothorax, an uncommon condition where lymphatic fluid accumulates within the chest cavity. Over time, that fluid can become highly inflammatory and make it increasingly difficult for patients to breathe comfortably.

Because medical management is often unsuccessful long term, Pumpkin underwent a thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation with our surgery team. Using minimally invasive techniques and intraoperative imaging to help identify the thoracic duct anatomy in real time, the procedure was performed through small incisions rather than a traditional open chest surgery.

Minimally invasive approaches offer several advantages, including less pain, smaller incisions, faster recovery, shorter hospitalization, and excellent long-term success rates.

Most importantly, Pumpkin tolerated her procedure beautifully and is now doing fantastic at home.

We're incredibly proud to be able to offer advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery here on the Central Coast, and even more excited when we get updates like Pumpkin's. She quickly became a staff favorite, and we couldn't be happier with how she's doing. ❤️

05/28/2026

A few months ago, we asked for help naming our CT machine.

After dozens of submissions, narrowing the list down to our top finalists, and a hospital-wide vote, we're excited to announce that our CT machine officially has a name....

Scandra🥳🎉

Thank you to everyone who submitted ideas and helped us choose. We had some incredibly creative entries, and the voting was closer than you might think.

Scandra has already been helping us diagnose and treat patients, but we're happy she finally has a proper name to go with the job.

Congratulations to our winner, and welcome to the team, Scandra. 💚

05/25/2026

A heart murmur can sound scary, but it doesn't always mean there is underlying heart disease.

Chopper recently visited our Cardiology Service after a murmur was detected during a hospitalization with our Emergency team. Dr. Day performed a complete echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) to evaluate his heart structure and function.

The good news? Chopper's heart is structurally normal! His heart muscle and valves all looked healthy, and there was no evidence of heart disease. In his case, the murmur is most likely physiologic, meaning it can occur with stress or excitement rather than an underlying cardiac condition. In this case, Choppers nerves definitely played the part. Closing his eyes, wishing he wasn't here and the side eye says it all.

We're always grateful for the opportunity to provide good news to our owners. ❤️

05/19/2026

If you own an exotic pet, do you know where to take them during an emergency? The answer is here - at Cerro Alto!

Most of our ER doctors are comfortable evaluating a variety of exotic species, including rabbits, birds, reptiles, chickens, pocket pets, and small ruminants such as lambs. Because doctor availability and comfort level with species can vary by shift, we always recommend calling ahead so we can determine whether we are able to accommodate your pet.

Some of the exotic-related concerns we commonly receive calls for include:
• GI stasis
• Constipation and retained sheds
• Appetite or behavior changes
• Respiratory concerns
• Egg binding
• Weakness or lethargy
• Dehydration or decreased stool production

Exotic pets often hide signs of illness until they are very sick, so even subtle changes can be important. If you are unsure whether your pet should be evaluated, our team is always happy to discuss your concerns and help guide you on next steps.

We’ll also be sharing some exotic patient stories and educational content over the coming weeks, so stay tuned. 💚

05/16/2026

Remember when we said it was snake season?🫣

Meet Cove, an 11.5 month old Vizsla who presented to our emergency service after a suspected rattlesnake bite causing severe facial swelling and soft tissue injury.

At the time of presentation, Cove had a high fever, visible puncture wounds, dehydration, low protein levels, mild clotting abnormalities, and elevated liver values associated with envenomation. She was hospitalized for intensive supportive care and received three doses of antivenin, intravenous fluids, pain medications, anti nausea therapy, and close monitoring throughout her stay.

As her wounds evolved, Cove underwent sedation for wound debridement and cleaning, followed by negative pressure wound therapy (wound VAC), definitive wound closure, and placement of a Jackson Pratt drain to support healing and postoperative drainage.

We are happy to report that Cove continued to improve during hospitalization and is now recovering comfortably at home. Her drain was removed last week, and she is scheduled to return soon for suture removal as healing continues.

Rattlesnake bites can cause significant tissue injury and systemic illness in dogs, even when pets appear stable initially. Early veterinary intervention and antivenin administration can make a substantial difference in recovery and outcome.

Thank you to Cove’s family for allowing us to be part of her care journey. ❤️

05/13/2026

We are incredibly honored to share that Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital has been nominated for Trupanion’s Veterinary Team of the Year 💚

When this nomination was submitted, one patient immediately came to mind: Chimo.
Over the past several months, Chimo became part of the Cerro Alto family. His journey brought together every corner of our hospital - doctors, RVTs, veterinary assistants, CSRs, kennel assistants, leadership, and support staff - all working together not only to care for him medically, but to support his family emotionally through every step.

There were hard days, hopeful days, celebrations, extra cuddles, handmade decorations, photos around the hospital, and countless moments that reminded us why veterinary medicine is so much more than just medicine. It’s about people. It’s about connection. It’s about showing up for families during some of the hardest and most emotional moments of their lives. The truth is, Chimo is only one example of what happens within these walls every single day.

Watching this team build Cerro Alto from the ground up and seeing the compassion, teamwork, empathy, and heart they bring to every patient and every family is something truly special, and exactly why this nomination means so much to us.

If Cerro Alto has cared for your pets or supported your family in any way, we would be so grateful for your vote 🫶

Voting is open through May 26 and you can vote once daily by scanning the QR code in the photo ✨

$Meet Ember, a 3 year old calico who presented to our team for a traumatic fracture of her left tibia.Although Ember is a...$

05/12/2026

Meet Ember, a 3 year old calico who presented to our team for a traumatic fracture of her left tibia.

Although Ember is an indoor-only cat, she somehow sustained a comminuted tibial fracture, suspected to have occurred from a fall from an elevated surface in the home. Initial radiographs confirmed the fracture, and she subsequently underwent surgical repair with our surgery team.

Ember’s procedure involved open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using a locking bone plate and screws to stabilize the fracture. Intraoperative fluoroscopy and postoperative radiographs confirmed excellent alignment and implant placement.
She recovered smoothly from anesthesia, stayed overnight for monitoring and pain management, and was discharged the following day with activity restriction and postoperative care instructions.

Orthopedic injuries can still occur in indoor pets, especially in cats that enjoy climbing, jumping, and exploring elevated spaces around the home. Careful confinement and limiting activity during recovery are essential to allow proper bone healing and protect surgical repairs.

We’re happy to report Ember is doing well and is officially on the road to recovery. ❤️

Address

2640 Broad Street
San Luis Obispo, CA
93401

Telephone

+18054578724

Website

https://cerroaltovet.com/

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