As veterinary care costs rise in San Diego, some pet owners are turning to clinics in Tijuana for more affordable treatment. One local company is helping make that possible by transporting pets across the border for veterinary appointments. MexiVet Express, based in San Diego, takes pets to v eterinary clinics in Tijuana on behalf of their owners. The company coordinates appointments, transports animals, and provides updates to owners while their pets receive care. Vet costs in San Diego push pet owners to Tijuana Wes Daniel says veterinary and pet insurance costs have pushed him to look at Tijuana for his dogs’ health needs. Wes Daniel recently used the service for his three rescue dogs — Noche, Meimei, and Tanqueray. He said veterinary care in Mexico can cost significantly less than in San Diego. “Probably at least 50%,” he said. “They’re going to do full dental cleanings, full veterinary visit. It’s probably going to cost me around $2,000.” Noche, Mei Mei, and Tanqueray have been going to Tijuana for their veterinary care in the last several years. As his dogs get older, Daniel said the cost of caring for them continues to climb — including pet insurance premiums that currently run him about $400 a month. “We’ve reduced our coverage every year over the past four years, because if we wouldn’t have, the premiums would probably be like 700 bucks a month,” Daniel said. Should you take your pet to Mexico? Vet the vet Before deciding to seek care in Mexico, Daniel said a local veterinarian warned him against it. “And she was, ‘Oh my gosh, no, it’s so dangerous,’ and ran through the whole thing,” Daniel said. NBC 7 Responds has previously reported on the importance of thoroughly researching veterinary clinics in Tijuana before taking pets there. A San Diego veterinarian also shared stories of botched procedures performed south of the border that required follow-up care in the United States. The San Diego County Veterinary Medical Association told NBC 7 Responds that it cannot endorse or advise on receiving veterinary care from anyone who is not licensed to practice in the United States. Pet owners are encouraged to do their own research before deciding whether veterinary care in Mexico is the right option for them. Still, Daniel said he decided to try it — and has since returned to Tijuana clinics multiple times for his dogs’ care. Local courier services do the work for you Anna Ginsky, owner of MexiVet Express, said they transport about 80 pets to Tijuana veterinary clinics each week, and demand continues to grow. Anna Ginsky, owner of MexiVet Express, explains what she looks for in a veterinary clinic before recommending them. “The unaffordability of vet care in San Diego is a huge driving force why people even find us in the first place,” Ginsky said. She added that the company works with about 10 veterinary clinics in Tijuana that she has personally reviewed. “We know that they are clean, we know that they have high standards, and we know that they have consistent good outcomes with the services that they offer,” Ginsky said. She said the clinics must meet several standards before the company will recommend them, including price transparency, easy communication with pet owners, private parking and follow-up services. Clinics should also have English-speaking staff so owners can easily communicate about their pets’ care. “Ideally, they have a U.S. phone number, ideally they’re on WhatsApp, ideally owners can get through to them and vice versa,” Ginsky said. One of the Tijuana clinics the company works with is Patas Felices or Happy Paws. Tijuana vets say their services are on par with those in San Diego Dr. Rachel Medina said she’s confident that veterinary care in Tijuana can match the standards found in Southern California. Dr. Rachel Medina from “Patas Felices” in Tijuana perfoms a preliminary check on one of the clinic’s patients. “I can provide them with what any vet in the States is offering…and not just me, a lot of vets in Tijuana,” Medina said. Medina said her clinic often treats pets belonging to U.S. owners who may feel nervous the first time their animals cross the border for care. She said the clinic provides updates so owners know what is happening with their pets. “At no point do they not know where their pet is or what is happening to them,” Medina said. Daniel said seeing video updates from the driver transporting his dogs helped ease his concerns. “You saw the dogs, they looked really cute. So I saw everybody fawning all over them and knew they were going to be fine,” Daniel said. Over time, he said, the initial worry fades, and the experience becomes something else. “It kind of makes you feel almost like they’re on a little vacation,” Daniel said. MexiVet Express says it also helps pet owners organize the paperwork needed for animals traveling between the United States and Mexico. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less