Aliso Beach Animal Clinic provides comprehensive veterinary care for dogs, cats and many exotic pets in Laguna Beach. Our services range from preventive medicine and same-day urgent care to advanced diagnostics, orthopedic surgery, international pet health certificates, acupuncture and therapeutic laser treatment.
Every pet has different medical needs. Our veterinary team takes time to understand your concerns, examine your pet and recommend a personalized treatment plan based on your pet’s age, species, lifestyle, medical history and current condition.
Use the service categories below to learn more about the medical and surgical care available at Aliso Beach Animal Clinic. From routine preventive visits to sudden illnesses, specialty surgical consultations and international travel documentation, our team can help you determine the appropriate next step.
Call us when you are uncertain which service your pet needs or when your pet has developed a sudden medical concern.
Routine veterinary care provides an important foundation for your pet’s lifelong health. Regular examinations allow our team to monitor changes, discuss prevention and identify potential concerns before they become more serious.
Preventive-care recommendations are personalized according to your pet’s age, species, lifestyle, health history and potential exposure risks.
We focus on care that is appropriate for the individual patient. Not every pet requires every available screening test, vaccine or treatment.
When your pet suddenly becomes sick or injured and cannot comfortably wait for a routine appointment, call Aliso Beach Animal Clinic. We provide same-day urgent veterinary care during regular clinic hours for new and established clients. Walk-ins may be accommodated when availability allows; call first to check openings.
We evaluate many non-life-threatening concerns, including vomiting, diarrhea, limping, minor wounds, eye or ear discomfort, skin reactions, urinary symptoms and sudden behavioral changes.
If your dog, cat, or exotic pet needs prompt attention in Laguna Beach, South Laguna, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, or Emerald Bay, call Aliso Beach Animal Clinic at (949) 499-4190. We offer urgent appointments for new and established patients when openings permit. Please call before arriving so our team can review your pet’s symptoms, confirm availability, and help you determine the right level of care. Learn more about our same-day urgent veterinary care.
Please call before arriving. Our team can assess your pet’s condition, confirm current availability and help determine whether our clinic is the appropriate destination.
Dogs with sudden back-leg limping, difficulty rising or possible knee instability may need an orthopedic examination. Learn more about cranial cruciate ligament (CCL/ACL-type) injuries and their treatment options.
Important: Aliso Beach Animal Clinic is not a 24-hour emergency hospital. Pets experiencing severe breathing problems, collapse, uncontrolled bleeding, major trauma, repeated seizures or another life-threatening condition may require immediate treatment at a 24-hour emergency facility.
Diagnostic testing helps our veterinarians investigate symptoms, evaluate organ function, monitor ongoing conditions and gather important information before certain medical or surgical treatments.
Depending on your pet’s condition, recommended testing may include bloodwork, urine or stool testing, diagnostic imaging or other laboratory services.
The tests recommended will depend on your pet’s symptoms, examination findings, age and medical history. When additional expertise is appropriate, our team can help coordinate specialist consultation and advanced diagnostic interpretation.
We understand that the thought of surgery can be stressful. Our veterinary team takes careful steps to prepare each patient, monitor vital signs, manage discomfort and support recovery before, during and after a procedure.
Surgical recommendations are based on a complete veterinary evaluation and your pet’s individual medical needs. Pre-anesthetic testing may be recommended to help us assess health risks and develop an appropriate anesthetic plan.
Advanced orthopedic surgery in Laguna Beach. For selected orthopedic and complex surgical cases, Aliso Beach Animal Clinic coordinates care with Zachery “Zack” Smith, DVM, DACVS, a board-certified veterinary surgeon who performs eligible procedures at our clinic by appointment.
A dog with a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), sometimes called an ACL tear by pet owners, may develop persistent limping, knee instability, discomfort and progressive arthritis.
Surgical options for selected patients may include tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) or another procedure recommended after orthopedic evaluation. Treatment depends on the dog’s size, anatomy, activity level, joint stability and overall health.
Learn about dog knee surgery, CCL tears and treatment options or read our week-by-week TPLO recovery guide to understand postoperative activity restrictions, follow-up appointments and healing.
Availability depends on the type of procedure, the patient’s condition and the surgical schedule. Some pets may require referral to a specialty or emergency hospital.
Traveling internationally with your dog, cat or another companion animal can require more than a routine veterinary examination. Depending on the destination, your pet may need specific identification, vaccination records, laboratory testing, import permits, parasite treatments and a government-endorsed veterinary health certificate.
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic helps pet owners in Laguna Beach and surrounding South Orange County communities prepare for international pet travel, identify potential timing problems and organize required veterinary documentation.
Bryan Hayter, DVM — USDA-Accredited Veterinarian
Dr. Bryan Hayter, owner and medical director of Aliso Beach Animal Clinic, maintains USDA veterinary accreditation in California. He can issue qualifying international veterinary health certificates and coordinate USDA APHIS endorsement when required.
For an overview of veterinarian-issued documentation and USDA endorsement, see our international pet health certificate services in Laguna Beach.
Before scheduling the final health-certificate examination, use our online International Pet Travel Planner. It collects information about your pet, destination, travel dates, microchip, vaccination history and other relevant records to create a preliminary personalized checklist.
The planner can flag potential documentation problems, missing information and important timing or sequence issues. It also provides links to official government resources and information about professional document review.
Planning early matters. Some destinations require preparations weeks or months before departure, even when the final veterinary health certificate must be issued close to the travel date.
International animal-entry rules vary by destination, species, travel history and itinerary. A preliminary checklist does not establish eligibility for entry. Current government requirements and the issuing veterinarian’s independent review control the final certificate.
For rabbits, birds, reptiles and other exotic species, please contact us before scheduling. Species-specific restrictions and accreditation requirements may affect whether a certificate can be completed.
Serving international pet travelers from Laguna Beach, South Laguna, Three Arch Bay, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Newport Coast, San Clemente and surrounding South Orange County.
Our integrative approach combines conventional veterinary medicine with carefully selected supportive therapies when appropriate. Holistic care considers the complete patient, including diagnosis, comfort, mobility, nutrition, environment and quality of life.
Integrative treatments do not replace necessary diagnostic testing, medication, surgery or emergency care. Instead, they may be incorporated into a broader treatment plan based on your pet’s condition and individual needs.
Dr. Bryan Hayter trained in veterinary acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and evaluates each patient before recommending an integrative treatment.
Acupuncture and therapeutic laser treatment may be considered as supportive care for selected orthopedic patients, including those recovering from surgery. These treatments do not correct an unstable joint or replace indicated surgery.
Birds, rabbits, reptiles and small mammals have medical, nutritional and environmental needs that differ from those of dogs and cats. Our team provides veterinary care and guidance for many exotic species.
Because exotic animals often hide early signs of illness, changes in appetite, stool production, breathing, posture or normal behavior should be taken seriously.
Rabbit owners can also explore our rabbit veterinarian and rabbit care in Laguna Beach for preventive care, dental evaluations, and signs that require urgent attention.
Call before scheduling or arriving so our team can confirm that we treat your pet’s species and determine how urgently your animal should be evaluated.
Traveling internationally with an exotic pet? Read our international pet travel planning guide for preliminary documentation and eligibility considerations. Not all species may be eligible for import into every destination.
When a pet’s comfort or quality of life has significantly declined, our veterinary team can help you understand the available options and make a compassionate, informed decision.
End-of-life consultations may include a review of your pet’s medical condition, comfort, mobility, appetite, behavior and quality of life. When euthanasia is selected, our team strives to provide a peaceful and respectful experience for the pet and family.
We take time to listen to your concerns, examine your pet and explain recommended treatment options.
Our team provides medical care for traditional companion animals as well as many birds, reptiles, rabbits and small mammals.
When medically appropriate, conventional care can be combined with supportive acupuncture and therapeutic laser treatment.
We offer same-day evaluation for many sudden illnesses and minor injuries for new and established clients when openings permit. Call first.
Selected complex orthopedic procedures can be coordinated with a board-certified veterinary surgeon at our clinic.
Dr. Bryan Hayter provides qualifying international pet health-certificate services and travel-documentation planning.
Our locally led veterinary team focuses on individualized care and continuity between visits.
Located on Coast Highway directly across from Montage Laguna Beach, serving Laguna Beach, South Laguna, Emerald Bay, Three Arch Bay, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, and nearby communities.
Learn more about our comprehensive veterinary care and coordinated specialist services in Laguna Beach.
Contact us when you are unsure which service to select. Tell our team about your pet’s species, symptoms, medical history and how long the concern has been present.
We can help determine whether your pet needs a routine appointment, same-day urgent care, an orthopedic evaluation or treatment at a 24-hour emergency hospital.
If your question involves international pet travel, provide your destination country, planned travel dates, pet’s species and any available vaccination or microchip records. You can also begin with our interactive pet travel planner .
Do not use an online appointment form for a life-threatening emergency.
Medical review: Bryan Hayter, DVM | Owner & Medical Director,
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic.
Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
Website service information updated: November 11, 2026.
Contact Aliso Beach Animal Clinic for preventive care, same-day urgent care, diagnostics, advanced orthopedic surgery, international pet health certificates, holistic treatment, exotic-pet care or help managing an ongoing medical condition.
New to ABAC? Our clinic welcomes first-time patients, including same-day urgent-care appointments when openings permit. For urgent symptoms, call rather than relying on the routine appointment request form.
Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
