Whether your dog charges the Eaton Canyon Nature Center trailhead on Altadena Drive every Saturday morning, splashes around the off-leash area by Brookside Golf Course after the Rose Bowl, trots through the Victory Park farmers market on Paloma Street, or mostly naps in a Bungalow Heaven craftsman — they deserve a vet who actually knows their neighborhood. South Pasadena Animal Hospital is an independently owned clinic in Alhambra, just 10 minutes south on the 110. We know the dogs of the SGV, and we treat them like our own.
Dog owners from across Pasadena make the short drive down the 110 to visit us in Alhambra.
Pasadena's climate, landscape, and lifestyle create specific health challenges for local dogs. Our team is familiar with all of them.
The San Gabriel Valley regularly hits 95–105°F in summer. Pasadena's sidewalks and asphalt can exceed 160°F on peak days — hot enough to blister paw pads within minutes. We counsel on safe exercise timing, signs of heat exhaustion, and paw pad care for active Pasadena dogs.
Foxtail grass lines the trail from the Eaton Canyon Nature Center parking lot all the way up to the waterfall. It's also thick along the Arroyo Seco near the JPL gate and through Hahamongna's Oak Grove area. These barbed seed awns embed in paws, ear canals, eyes, and nasal passages — sometimes requiring sedation to remove. After every trail run, check between your dog's toes and the base of their ears before getting back in the car.
Pasadena's abundant trees, ornamental gardens, and grass pollens make spring and fall particularly rough for allergy-prone dogs. Symptoms often show up as paw licking, face rubbing, hot spots, and chronic ear infections rather than sneezing. We build management plans that address root causes, not just symptoms.
Ticks are active year-round on the Hahamongna Oak Grove trails, the upper Arroyo Seco near Devils Gate Dam, and the brushy sections of Rubio Canyon in Altadena. Dogs that run these areas regularly need a consistent prevention protocol — not just a flea collar from the grocery store. We help you choose the right product and spot-check for ticks at every wellness visit.
Everything your Pasadena dog needs, at one independent clinic 10 minutes down the 110.
Annual nose-to-tail physical exam, weight check, dental grade, and health history review — the foundation of preventive care.
DHPP, rabies, bordetella, and leptospirosis. We build a schedule based on your dog's age, lifestyle, and local risk factors.
Professional scaling, polishing, and extractions under safe anesthesia. Most dogs show signs of dental disease by age three — often well before their owners notice anything wrong.
Safe, monitored surgical procedures with thorough anesthesia protocols and pain management.
Diagnosis and long-term management of environmental allergies — especially relevant for Pasadena dogs in high-pollen seasons.
Twice-yearly exams, comprehensive bloodwork, joint support, and monitoring for kidney, heart, and thyroid conditions.
Corporate veterinary chains have expanded rapidly across the SGV over the past several years. At SPAH, we've stayed independent — and that shapes every aspect of how we practice medicine.
Dr. Sylvia Chiang and Dr. Gina Navia founded this practice with the intention of building genuine, long-term relationships with their patients. Your dog will see the same veterinarians visit after visit. We remember their quirks, their history, their fears. That continuity matters clinically, and it matters for the experience of bringing your dog to the vet.
Our pricing is published online — no surprise bills, no pressure to agree to diagnostics you don't understand. We explain what we're recommending and why, every time.
Founded and operated by two veterinarians who live and work in this community.
All fees published online. No estimates that balloon at checkout.
On-site lab, X-rays, and urinalysis for faster answers at your visit.
Puppies, seniors, anxious dogs — every temperament and life stage.
From anywhere in Pasadena, the fastest route is the 110 (Arroyo Seco Parkway) southbound. Exit at Meridian Ave and turn right onto W Main St. We're at 3116 W Main St — about 10 minutes from Old Town, 12 minutes from Caltech. Free street parking directly in front of the clinic, no meters.
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Closed for lunch 1–2 PM daily.
Also serving Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, Altadena, and Alhambra. Looking for cat care? See our cat vet Pasadena page. Need a dog vet closer to San Gabriel? See dog vet San Gabriel.
From Pasadena dog owners we hear regularly.
About 10 minutes via the 110 (Arroyo Seco Parkway) heading south. Exit at Meridian Ave or Mission Street in Alhambra. Free street parking is available directly in front of our clinic at 3116 W Main St.
Yes. Dogs on the Eaton Canyon Nature Center trail, the Oak Grove loop at Hahamongna, the Arroyo Seco near Devils Gate Dam, or even the dog-friendly section of the Brookside Golf Course off-leash area face real risks — foxtail embeds, tick exposure, paw burns on exposed granite, and heat exhaustion on hot San Gabriel Valley afternoons. We address all of these at wellness visits and sick visits, and we'll walk you through exactly what to check before you drive home.
All dogs need core vaccines: DHPP and rabies, which is required by California law. Based on your dog's lifestyle — especially park and trail exposure in the Pasadena area — we may also recommend bordetella (kennel cough) and leptospirosis. We'll build the right schedule at your dog's wellness exam.
Yes. The Pasadena area has significant seasonal pollen from trees, ornamental gardens, and grasses, especially in spring and fall. We regularly treat SGV dogs dealing with itching, recurring ear infections, paw licking, and skin inflammation from environmental allergies. We build management plans that address root causes, not just short-term symptom relief.
Take Colorado Blvd west, head south on the 110 freeway, and exit at Meridian Ave. Turn right onto W Main St — we're at 3116, about 10 minutes from Old Town. The drive is direct and easy on the Arroyo Seco Parkway.
Absolutely. For dogs 7 years and older, we recommend twice-yearly wellness exams with comprehensive bloodwork to monitor kidney function, thyroid levels, liver health, and other age-related conditions. Early detection is key to keeping senior dogs healthy longer — and it's something we take seriously at every visit.
Book online in under a minute through our patient portal, or call us at (626) 441-1314. New patients welcome — we recommend booking a few days in advance for the best availability.
10 minutes down the 110. Independent practice. Published pricing. The kind of care your dog deserves.
3116 W Main St, Alhambra, CA 91801 · Mon–Fri 8am–6pm (closed 1–2pm)