Peninsula Exotic Vets
Finding a veterinarian who truly understands exotic animals — rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, reptiles, and birds — is one of the hardest parts of owning one of these pets in the Bay Area. Most general practices in San Mateo County don’t see exotics, and the ones that do often prefer to refer out. Below is a curated list of Peninsula-area exotic pet veterinarians and emergency options, organized by city.
Before an emergency happens, call ahead to confirm the clinic’s current exotic animal availability — staff rotations change, and not every veterinarian on a given day is comfortable treating exotics. A quick call saves critical time when your pet needs help.
For a broader Bay Area list (San Francisco, East Bay, South Bay), see our San Francisco & Bay Area Exotic Pet Veterinarians page.
San Mateo
Bay Area Bird & Exotics Hospital (San Mateo)
Specializes In: 🐹 Small Mammals, 🦎 Reptiles & Amphibians, 🦜 Birds
Veterinarian(s): Dr. Leila Marcucci (Board-Certified Avian Specialist — the only ABVP Diplomate in avian medicine in San Francisco, San Mateo & Marin counties)
Focus: Exotics only — no dogs or cats. This lets them maintain a low-stress environment for prey species and birds.
Phone: (415) 566-4359 (main)
Website: birdandexoticsvet.com
Notes: Call to confirm which location (SF or San Mateo) your appointment is scheduled at. This is where our House of Guineas founder, Alexandria, previously worked as an exotic veterinary assistant — we work with this team's care standards.
Peninsula Avenue Veterinary Clinic
Specializes In: 🐹 Small Mammals (primarily rabbits and guinea pigs — call to confirm for your species), plus dogs and cats
Address: Between San Mateo and Burlingame
Website: peninsulaavevet.com
Services: Wellness exams, surgery, dentistry, urgent exams
Emergency: No; referral during business hours
Notes: General practice with small mammal experience. Call ahead to confirm they can see your specific species before booking.
Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital
Specializes In: 🐹 Small Mammals, 🦎 Reptiles (by request — confirm availability) — also sees dogs and cats
Veterinarian(s): Dr. Zunino has an interest in exotic animal medicine
Website: midpen.com
Emergency: No
Notes: Ask specifically for Dr. Zunino when booking an exotic pet appointment.
Burlingame & Hillsborough
Burlingame Family Pet Hospital
Specializes In: General practice with exotic animal experience (rabbits, guinea pigs) — call to confirm your species
Location: Burlingame, CA
Emergency: No; referral during business hours
Notes: One of the few Burlingame-located clinics with some exotic capacity. Please verify current exotic availability and which vets see which species before scheduling.
Redwood City
Wildwood Veterinary Hospital
Specializes In: 🦜 Birds, 🦎 Reptiles & Amphibians, 🐹 Small Mammals — avian and exotic only
Veterinarian(s): Dr. Chris Sanders
Address: 2900 Spring St, Suite 5, Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 366-9453
Hours: Monday & Friday, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM; Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Emergency: No
Notes: Exclusively treats avian and exotic patients — one of the strongest options for Peninsula residents with rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, or birds.
(Emergency Only) SAGE Veterinary Centers — Redwood City
Specializes In: 24/7 emergency and specialty care — primarily dogs and cats
Address: 934 Charter St, Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 417-7243
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Emergency: Yes (24/7)
Notes: SAGE does not specialize in exotics — call first to confirm they can stabilize or accept your pet. For exotic emergencies, Bay Area Bird & Exotics Hospital (business hours) or PETS Referral Center in Berkeley (24/7 exotic) are typically better choices. Save this number only as a last-resort backup for after-hours triage.
Los Altos (nearby South Peninsula)
Adobe Animal Hospital — Los Altos
Specializes In: 🐹 Small Mammals (chinchillas, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, rabbits), 🦎 Reptiles (snakes, turtles), 🦜 Birds, chickens — also sees dogs and cats
Address: 4470 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA 94022
Phone: (650) 948-9661
Hours: Monday - Sunday, 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Emergency: No overnight doctors, but extended daytime hours include evenings and weekends
Notes: Always call ahead to confirm an exotic-comfortable veterinarian is on duty — not all of their doctors see exotics. Dr. Curt Nakamura has historically been a noted guinea pig-knowledgeable vet in the Bay Area.
Palo Alto (Emergency)
Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) Palo Alto
Specializes In: 24/7 emergency care — does see exotics (confirm with your specific species when you call)
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Phone: (650) 999-3505
Hours: 24/7 emergency service
Emergency: Yes
Notes: Call before driving in — confirm exotic animal availability for your species. Useful Peninsula backup for after-hours exotic emergencies.
Local Resources
Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA — Center for Compassion
Services: Animal adoption (including exotic small animals), wildlife care, surrender, volunteer programs
Address: 1450 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010
Website: phs-spca.org
Notes: Not a full-service veterinary clinic, but the Center for Compassion houses adoptable small and exotic animals, and their staff can sometimes refer you to trusted local exotic veterinarians. If you're considering adopting a rabbit, guinea pig, or other exotic, this is the local starting point.
House Rabbit Society — Bay Area Rabbit Vet Directory
Services: Rabbit-focused veterinarian directory across the Bay Area; RHDV2 vaccination clinics
Location: Richmond, CA (with Bay Area-wide vet listings)
Website: houserabbit.org
Notes: Our founder, Alexandria, volunteers here as a medical assistant administering RHDV2 vaccinations. Excellent resource if you have a rabbit — they maintain the most rigorously vetted Bay Area rabbit vet list we know of.
Before an Emergency, Know Your Closest Option
Exotic pets hide illness until they physically can’t anymore. By the time you recognize a problem, you may have hours — not days — to get care. Save two numbers in your phone right now:
- Your regular exotic vet (during business hours)
- A 24/7 emergency option that accepts your species
For most Peninsula residents, the combination that works is:
- Primary exotic vet: Wildwood (Redwood City), Bay Area Bird & Exotics (San Mateo), or Adobe (Los Altos)
- After-hours backup: VEG Palo Alto or PETS Referral Center (Berkeley) — call first
Learn more about early warning signs in 5 Signs Your Guinea Pig Needs a Vet and Exotic Pet Emergency Signs.
Looking for someone to care for your exotic pet while you’re away? Our team provides in-home exotic pet sitting across the Peninsula — Burlingame, San Mateo, Foster City, and surrounding cities. We know these local vets, follow their care guidance when your pet is in our care, and coordinate directly in the unlikely event of an emergency during a visit.
Need exotic pet care while you travel?