Finding the best veterinarian near me is one of the most important decisions you will make as a pet owner. Whether you just moved to Clovis, recently welcomed a new puppy or kitten into your home, or simply feel it is time to find a veterinary team that truly suits your pet’s needs, the search can feel a little overwhelming. Clovis and the broader Fresno area are home to a number of animal hospitals, clinics, and specialty practices, which means you have options — but options also mean you need to know what separates an average clinic from a genuinely excellent one.
This guide walks you through every factor worth considering when choosing a clovis vet, from credentials and available services to location, communication, and how the team treats both pets and people. Think of it as your personal checklist for making a decision you and your pet will feel good about for years to come.
Start with Credentials and Experience
Before anything else, verify that the veterinarian is properly licensed and in good standing with the California Veterinary Medical Board. This is a baseline, not a differentiator, but it matters. Beyond licensure, look at what kind of continuing education the doctor pursues, whether they hold memberships in professional organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, and what their particular areas of clinical expertise are.
For example, a vet who has completed advanced training in soft tissue surgery or internal medicine will approach complex cases with a depth of knowledge that general practitioners may not always have. On the other hand, if your pet is young and healthy, a general practitioner with strong preventive care instincts may be exactly what you need. Matching the veterinarian’s strengths to your pet’s life stage and health profile is a smart first step.
At Alta Animal Hospital, care is led by Dr. Hukampartap Singh, DVM, who is ECFVG-certified and a proud member of the AVMA. He brings hands-on expertise in general practice, urgent care, soft tissue surgery, and dental procedures — skills shaped by a lifetime around animals and a family background in veterinary medicine.
Look at the Range of Services Offered
A clinic that covers a broad spectrum of care under one roof saves you time, money, and stress — especially during unexpected health events. When you are searching for vets near me, ask whether the practice offers both routine and advanced services.
Wellness and Preventive Care
Routine annual exams, parasite screenings, and nutritional assessments form the foundation of a long, healthy life for your pet. A quality wellness and preventive care program is not just about ticking boxes — it is about building a health history that makes early detection of problems possible.
Vaccinations and Parasite Prevention
Core vaccines protect pets from serious, often fatal diseases. The right vaccinations and parasite prevention plan is individualized — it accounts for your pet’s age, breed, lifestyle, and local disease risk. A clinic that simply runs through a standard list without asking questions about your pet’s environment is not giving you the full picture.
Spay and Neuter Surgery
Whether you have a new puppy or an adult rescue dog, spay and neuter surgery is one of the most common procedures performed at veterinary clinics. When researching clinics, ask about anesthesia monitoring protocols, pain management practices, and recovery support. These details reflect the standard of care the practice applies to every procedure, not just surgical ones.
Diagnostics and Surgery
Access to in-house diagnostics — including digital X-rays, bloodwork, and urinalysis — means your vet can diagnose and begin treating your pet in a single visit rather than sending samples to an outside lab and making you wait days for results. Similarly, a fully equipped surgical suite with modern anesthesia monitoring makes a real difference when your pet needs a procedure, whether routine or complex.
Dental Care
Oral health is one of the most overlooked aspects of pet care, yet dental disease affects the majority of adult cats and dogs. Look for a clinic that offers comprehensive pet dentistry — not just a quick tooth polish, but proper dental X-rays, scaling, polishing, and extractions when necessary. A vet who addresses dental health proactively is one who understands the relationship between oral disease and systemic health issues.
Senior Pet Care
If your pet is entering their senior years, having access to a vet who understands the unique needs of aging animals is essential. Senior pet care often involves more frequent wellness exams, targeted bloodwork panels to catch kidney or thyroid issues early, joint health management, and quality-of-life conversations that require both clinical knowledge and genuine compassion.
Consider Accessibility and Convenience
The best veterinary care in the world does not help your pet if you cannot access it when you need it. When evaluating a clovis pet hospital, think through the practical realities of getting your pet there and being seen promptly.
Alta Animal Hospital is located at 585 W Shaw Ave, Clovis, CA 93612, and is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm, making it one of the more accessible veterinary clinics in the area for working pet owners. You can reach the team at (559) 298-6509 to schedule an appointment or ask questions before your visit.
Walk-in availability is also worth considering. Illness and injury rarely wait for a convenient time slot, and a clinic that welcomes walk-ins — or offers same-day urgent care appointments — provides a level of reassurance that scheduled-only practices simply cannot match. This is especially important for pet owners without a vehicle, those with young children, or anyone who has ever experienced the anxiety of watching their pet suffer while waiting days for the next available appointment.
Alta Animal Hospital welcomes walk-ins and offers same-day urgent care — meaning that when something unexpected happens, you do not have to scramble for options or drive an hour to a specialty emergency hospital.
Evaluate How the Clinic Communicates
Your relationship with a veterinarian is built on communication. A good vet explains diagnoses in plain language, discusses treatment options with you rather than simply handing you a bill and instructions, and takes your concerns seriously even when they seem minor.
Pay attention to how the clinic handles phone calls before you even step inside. Are questions answered thoroughly? Is the staff patient and courteous? Do they seem rushed, or do they give you a moment to actually ask what is on your mind? These small signals tell you a lot about the culture of a practice.
Language accessibility is another dimension of communication that is often overlooked, particularly in a diverse community like Clovis. Alta Animal Hospital employs a multilingual team fluent in English, Spanish, Punjabi, and Hindi — a practical advantage for many families in the Central Valley who may feel more comfortable discussing their pet’s health in their native language. When you can communicate freely, you advocate better for your pet.
Read Reviews, But Read Them Thoughtfully
Online reviews are a useful starting point, but they require some interpretation. A five-star average built on fifty reviews gives you more confidence than a five-star average from three. Look for patterns — recurring praise for attentive staff, clear explanations, and thorough examinations is a meaningful signal. Recurring complaints about long wait times, poor communication, or rushed visits are worth taking seriously.
Pay particular attention to how the clinic responds to negative reviews. A practice that acknowledges concerns professionally and works to address them demonstrates accountability and a genuine interest in improving the experience for clients and patients alike.
When families in Clovis search for vets near me, they often find Alta Animal Hospital mentioned by name in reviews that highlight the compassionate care, the attentiveness of Dr. Singh, and the staff’s ability to put anxious pets and nervous owners at ease. That kind of consistency — across different reviewers, different pet types, and different circumstances — is the mark of a clinic that delivers reliably.
Ask the Right Questions on Your First Visit
A first visit to a new veterinary clinic is as much about your comfort as it is about your pet’s health. You are interviewing the clinic as much as the clinic is assessing your pet. Some questions worth asking:
- How does the practice handle after-hours emergencies? Is there an on-call vet, or will you be referred to an emergency clinic?
- How are treatment decisions made? Does the vet discuss options with you, or do they proceed without explaining the reasoning?
- What is the process for follow-up care after surgery or illness?
- Does the clinic offer nutritional counseling or behavior guidance, or is it strictly focused on acute medical care?
- Are lab results and diagnostics processed in-house or sent out?
That last question matters more than it might seem. Clinics with in-house labs — like Alta Animal Hospital, which delivers bloodwork results in 30 minutes — can diagnose conditions and begin treatment on the same day. That turnaround time has a real impact on outcomes, especially in cases of infection, metabolic disease, or anything that requires prompt intervention. You can learn more about how the in-house diagnostics work on their website.
Think About Your Pet’s Long-Term Needs
The best veterinarian for your pet today may not be the best fit five years from now if your pet’s health needs evolve. Choose a clinic that is capable of growing with your pet — one that can handle both the routine care of a healthy young animal and the more complex management of a senior pet with a chronic condition.
This is why choosing a full-service animal hospital matters more than choosing the nearest or most convenient option. A clinic that offers pet surgical services, nutritional counseling, microchipping and identification, and comprehensive wellness and preventive care can serve as a true medical home for your pet across every life stage — not just a pit stop for vaccines and check-ups.
Comparing Your Options: What to Look For at a Glance
Here is a practical comparison of what distinguishes a comprehensive animal hospital from a more limited practice when you are evaluating your options in Clovis:
| Factor | Full-Service Hospital | Basic Clinic |
| In-House Diagnostics | Same-visit results (30 min) | Sent to outside lab (1–3 days) |
| Walk-In Availability | Yes, same-day urgent care | Scheduled only |
| Surgical Services | On-site surgical suite | Referred to specialist |
| Dental Care | Full dental X-rays, cleaning, extractions | Basic polish only |
| Senior Care | Specialized plans and monitoring | Standard exam |
| Languages Spoken | English, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi | English only |
| Multilingual Support | Yes | Rarely |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What should I bring to my pet’s first appointment?
Bring any previous medical records, vaccination history, and a list of current medications or supplements. If your pet is on a specific diet, note the brand and formulation. The more information your new vet has from the start, the better they can personalize care.
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How do I know if my pet needs urgent care versus a regular appointment?
Signs that warrant immediate attention include difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, collapse, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, suspected poisoning, seizures, or a painful abdomen. For these situations, contact a vet immediately. Alta Animal Hospital offers urgent same-day care for situations that cannot wait — call (559) 298-6509 if you are unsure whether your pet needs to be seen right away.
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How often should my pet have a wellness exam?
Most adult dogs and cats benefit from an annual wellness exam. Senior pets — generally defined as those over seven years for dogs and cats — are typically seen every six months to catch age-related changes early. Puppies and kittens require a series of visits in their first year to complete vaccination schedules and monitor development. Your vet at Alta Animal Hospital can build a customized wellness plan that fits your pet’s individual needs.
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Can I visit the clinic without an appointment?
Yes. Alta Animal Hospital welcomes walk-ins at their Clovis location. If your concern is urgent, same-day appointments are also available. The clinic is open Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm, and closed on Sundays.
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Does the clinic treat both cats and dogs?
Yes. Alta Animal Hospital provides comprehensive care for both cats and dogs, covering everything from routine wellness and vaccinations to surgery and dental procedures. Contact the clinic directly to ask about care for other species.
The Right Veterinarian Makes All the Difference
Choosing a veterinarian is not simply a matter of finding the nearest clinic or the one with the shortest wait list. It is about finding a team that will genuinely partner with you in caring for an animal that is, for most people, a member of the family.
When Clovis pet owners search for the best veterinarian near me, the qualities they are really searching for are trust, competence, compassion, and accessibility. A clinic that offers all of these things — and has been doing so for over 45 years — is one worth looking into seriously.
Alta Animal Hospital at 585 W Shaw Ave, Clovis, CA 93612 has served the Clovis and Fresno communities since 1978. Under the care of Dr. Hukam Singh and a multilingual, experienced team, the hospital brings together modern diagnostics, compassionate clinical practice, and genuine accessibility in one location. Walk-ins are always welcome. Same-day urgent care is available. And for anything from a routine vaccine to a complex surgical procedure, their full-service team is equipped to help.
Ready to schedule your pet’s first visit? Call (559) 298-6509 or visit altaanimalhospitalclovisca.com to book an appointment. Your pet deserves a veterinarian who treats them like their own.