15 Best Vets in Philadelphia: Veterinarians for Cats, Dogs & Even Exotic Pets!

Research shows that more than half of dogs fear going to the vet. With their nerves already on edge, finding a friendly, caring, and trustworthy vet is essential for your pets. The following are 20 of the best veterinarians in Philadelphia for your routine checkups and pet care needs!

1. The University of Pennsylvania Ryan Veterinary Hospital – Best Philadelphia Vet Hospital 

Specialties: Dogs, cats, and other domestic animals

Location: 3900 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Contact: Appointments: 215-746-8387; Emergencies: 215-746-8911

There are those nightmarish moments when your pet needs care ASAP. In a giant city like Philadelphia, you need to know where you can go at any hour of the day should your pet run into an issue that needs immediate medical care. The University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital is that place as it’s open every single day of the year, 24/7.

Only nine veterinary hospitals in the US have been given the prestigious designation of a Veterinary Trauma Center by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Ryan Veterinary is one of them.

2. Queen Village Animal Hospital – The Locals’ Favorite Philly Vet

Specialties: Dogs and cats

Location: 323 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Contact: 215-925-5753; queenvillageanimalhosp@gmail.com

Philadelphians adore Queen Village Animal Hospital and always give it a top rating when it comes to the best vets in the city. Give Queen Village credit, however, as they go above and beyond for their clients. For example, when COVID turned the world upside down, Queen Village opted for telehealth appointments for concerned pet owners (this is still available today for non-emergency visits).

3. Art City Vets and Urgent Care: Best Philly Vet for Urgent Care in

Specialties: Dogs and cats

Location: Urgent Care: 2001 Hamilton St. #1, Philadelphia PA 19130; Wellness Center: 2000 Hamilton St. Suite 109, Philadelphia PA 19130

Contact: 215-563-VETS (8387); info@artcityvets.com

Art City Vets and Urgent Care is another one of those Philadelphia veterinarians that has an outstanding reputation due to word of mouth. It’s no surprise with Art City’s in-house pharmacy and extended hours during the week (8 am – 7 pm Monday – Friday) plus they’re open seven days a week (Saturday 8 am-5 pm; Sunday 8 am – 3 pm). 

The place does everything from general pet care to lab testing and surgery. Wait, there’s more. Art City does walk-ins but would appreciate a call in advance if you are. An effectively open layout makes it welcoming and easy to get around. 

4. The Pet Mechanic: Best Affordable Philadelphia Veterinarian

Specialties: Dogs, cats, and exotics

Location: Fishtown: 1416 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125; South Street: 920 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Contact: Fishtown: 267-519-0387 South Street: 267-930-8732

There are two locations in Philadelphia that The Pet Mechanic serves; one in Fishtown and the other on South Street. Busy as they both may be, the reason for it is the excellent care and hours provided to the public (M, W, Th, F 8 am-7 pm; Saturday: 8 am-3 pm, closed on Sunday). Their facility is state-of-the-art and it’s one of the more affordable full-service Philadelphia veterinarians on this list.

Unlike the first three vets on this list, The Pet Mechanic serves dogs, cats, exotics, and everything in between. You can also fill out all of your pet’s forms online as well as refill prescriptions through the online pharmacy. Make sure to call in for appointments as The Pet Mechanic doesn’t do walk-ins.

5. Northern Liberties Veterinary Center: Best Philadelphia Vet In-House Pharmacy

Specialties: Dogs and cats

Location: 622 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Contact: (215) 923-1838; info@nolibsvet.com

Northern Liberties is only seven years old and already has proven itself to be one of the best vets in Philadelphia. They offer a huge range of animal care services including comprehensive diagnosis, wellness care, illness care, anesthetic procedures, dental cleanings, and surgical services to dogs and cats. Northern Liberties also has an in-house pharmacy for medications and other wellness products. 

The eco-friendly full-service facility is clean as a whistle despite the number of dogs and felines being cared for on a daily basis. While it’s the standard price for a vet, they go above and beyond to provide the attention your pet deserves at the vet. 

6. Center City Veterinary Hospital: Best Downtown Philly Vet Hospital for Exotic Pets

Specialties: Dogs, cats, and exotics

Location: 37 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Contact:  (215) 923-2284

Center City Veterinary Hospital provides dog and cat owners with an experience you won’t quite get anywhere else. Dr. Cohen and Dr. Meister, both of whom have an undying focus on pet wellness making this one of the more unique vets as they often service animals from birth through end of life.

If you’re ever in need of a fantastic exotic vet, this is one of the best in the city as well as Dr. Meister and his staff has great expertise in creatures other than dogs and cats. 

7. City Cat Vets: Best Cat-Only Vet in Downtown Philadelphia 

Specialties: Cats

Location: 2210 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Contact: (215) 545-2287

City Cat Vets, as its name implies, only services cats but what a great service to felines this vet is. Any cat lover in the Philadelphia area knows about City Cat, a vet with five cat doctors on site and did we mention it’s actually affordable?

Even if the doggos can’t visit, your cat can receive a variety of different care if needed including wellness care, surgery, radiology, dental care, and on-site ultrasound. City Cat is also a certified gold cat vet by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. 

8. The Animedic Veterinary Hospital – Best Philadelphia Vet in Manayunk

Specialties: Dogs and cats

Location: 102 Jamestown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19127

Contact: (267) 297-7950

Animedic is fantastic, annually rated one of the best vets in Philadelphia by several outlets, and for good reason. Serving Northwest Philadelphia with locations in Manayunk and Mount Airy, Animedic provides exams, preventive medical care, vaccinations, diagnostics, and surgery. 

Clients don’t need to order their pet’s medication anywhere else either as Animedic has an on-site pharmacy to take care of your fur baby’s needs. Even if you’re stuck in a rut financially, Animedic provides financing for qualified customers. 

9. Radnor Veterinary Hospital – Best Philadelphia Vet for Daycare 

Specialties: Cats, dogs, and exotics

Location: 107 N Aberdeen Ave, Wayne, PA 19087

Contact: 610-687-1550; info@radnorvet.com

One of the oldest vets on the list, Radnor Veterinary Hospital services all kinds of animals including exotics. In fact, you can tell how much they love their exotic clientele as their website has a photo of a beautiful boa front and center along with an adorable cat. 

Radnor opens its doors for long periods of time three days a week with nearly 12-hour shifts (8 am – 8 pm) on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. This is also one of the few vets on the list that provides doggy daycare as well.

10. World of Animals: Best Multi-Location Philadelphia Veterinarians

Specialties: Cats, dogs, and exotics

Location: 5 Locations including Bethayres, Bensalem, Mayfair, Rittenhouse, and South Philadelphia

Contact: https://wofainc.com/locations/

World of Animals may sound more like a BBC documentary series than a veterinary hospital but it’s one of the best vets in Philadelphia. Wait, it gets better. World of Animals doesn’t just service the abovementioned Rittenhouse. No, they also have offices in Bethayres, Bensalem, Mayfair, and South Philadelphia.

It’s important to know that whether you have a dog, cat, or exotic, there is a high chance a World of Animals is close by for your animal’s medical needs. They offer everything your pet requires from a vet including pet wellness checks, vaccinations, parasite prevention, dental care, and emergency care.

11. One Love Veterinary Clinic – Best Philadelphia Veterinarian in Germantown

Specialties: Dogs and cats

Location: 5524 Wayne Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144

Contact: (215) 843-5952

One Love Veterinary Clinic has been taking care of Philadelphia’s pets for more than 60 years. That in itself solidifies its reputation as one of the best vets in Philly, and have even been voted Best Vet in Germantown One thing customers love about One Love is that they’re affordable and will work will clients to make their visit as affordable as possible. 

The great thing about One Love is while it’s not exactly family-owned, it’s close. It was once owned by a neighborhood vet named Dr. Lin for 37 years before another Philadelphian local, current head vet Dr. Jennifer Jones, took over in 2003.

12. 2nd Street Animal Hospital – Most Experienced Exotic Vets in Philadelphia

Specialties: Dogs, cats, and exotics

Location: 966 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Contact: (215) 516-7000

Does your pet have scales or feathers? If so, 2nd Street Animal Hospital has more than 25 years of treating exotic pets in Philadelphia. In addition to its dog and cat services, the hospital offers routine examinations, disease screening, lab testing, and dental, surgical, and diagnostic services all for reptiles, birds, and small mammals.

Oh, that doesn’t mean 2nd Street doesn’t do dogs and cats. They do and do so splendidly. It’s one of the best vets in Philly, but it should be your first choice if you have an exotic. 

13. Philadelphia Animal Hospital: Best Philadelphia Veterinarian for Spa & Boarding Services

Specialties: Dogs and cats

Location: 7401 Holstein Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19153

Contact: 215-724-5550

Philadelphia Animal Hospital is located in Southwest Philly near the airport where they offer full-service wellness exams, surgeries, and behavioral and mobility evaluations. They also have an in-house lab for quick results when needed. 

Situated on the five-acre campus of Philadelphia Pet Hotel and Villas (which offers spa and boarding services), the spacious campus includes a pet-friendly pool. The pool, however, is only available by appointment for current patients and only after an initial examination for non-clients. The pool is open to dogs (cats too if they’re actually willing to get wet) for both recreational and rehabilitative use.

14. Art Museum Veterinary Center: Best Eco-Friendly Philadelphia Veterinarian

Specialties: Dogs and cats

Location: 1710 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Contact: (215) 982-1490

Another eco-friendly veterinary center, Art Museum Veterinary Center centers on dog and cat preventive and wellness care in Philadelphia. Their facility features an updated, inviting wait area with large exam rooms in addition to an on-site laboratory and treatment area.

Available services at this practice include wellness care, regenerative medicine and pain management, dermatology, surgery, urgent care, and more. Another huge bonus is their great urgent care. 

15. The Cat Doctor: Most Experienced Cat-Only Philly Vet

Specialties: Cats

Location: 535 N 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Contact: 215-515-0080

“Speaking Cat since 1983” as the website states, The Cat Doctor is a full-service medical and surgical center exclusively for felines. The goal at The Cat Doctor is to provide clients with state-of-the-art medicine from skilled, caring staff.

The Cat Doctor aims to minimize your cat’s stress by alleviating their discomfort and pain while maintaining open communication with pet owners so they can fully participate in their cat’s well-being. They are also certified as a Cat-Friendly Practice by the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

And there you have it-15 of the best vets in Philadelphia for your cats, dogs, and feathered or scaled friends! If your pet buddy is having problems, call any of these exceptional Philadelphia veterinarians and you nor your pet will be disappointed. After all, you love them just like they’re one of your own kids, so you want the absolute best care for them.

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    • A writer, educator, and sports nut, Aaron Kahle was born in Philadelphia where his fondest memories are drives around the different parts of the city with his aunt as a kid. South Philly and Center City are two of his favorite spots in town. When he’s not writing, Aaron is watching sports. Fly, Eagles, fly!

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