Animal Specialty Group

What Animal Specialty Group does

Animal Specialty Group (legal name VCA Animal Specialty Group, DBA VCA ASG) is a single-site specialty and emergency veterinary hospital located at 4641 Colorado Blvd in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1990 and operating with approximately 63 employees, the hospital delivers advanced veterinary care across seven specialty departments: Cardiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Emergency and Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, and Surgery. The facility maintains AAHA accreditation (held for approximately 25 years) and is part of the VCA Animal Hospitals network, which is owned by Mars Inc.

The hospital's technical platform is built around capital-intensive diagnostic and surgical equipment including MRI, CT scanning, digital radiography, fluoroscopy, comprehensive endoscopy (bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, esophagoscopy, gastroduodenoscopy, rhinoscopy), minimally invasive surgical suites (laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, arthroscopy), advanced anesthetic and cardiac monitoring, mechanical ventilation, and ultrasound-guided biopsy capabilities. Neurology services include EMG, nerve conduction velocity, myelography, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and spinal surgeries (dorsal laminectomy, hemilaminectomy, ventral slot). Surgical capabilities include total hip replacement, TPLO, corrective osteotomy, and spinal stabilization. Oncology is delivered through the VCA Pet CancerCare Alliance network.

Revenue is generated entirely through fee-for-service professional services billed on a pay-as-you-go basis across three streams: specialty veterinary services, 24/7 emergency and critical care, and diagnostic imaging. The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer walk-in emergency intake, consumer-initiated specialty appointments scheduled by phone, and a formal DVM referral program with dedicated referral forms, record-transfer workflows, and continuing-education engagement with referring primary care veterinarians. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; a reduced emergency care exam pricing pilot became effective at this location on 12/08/2025. Marketing channels include the VCA corporate website, organic social (Facebook, Instagram), Yelp, email newsletter, Google Maps/local SEO, and the DVM referral channel.

Name

Animal Specialty Group

Legal name

VCA Animal Specialty Group

Website

https://asgvets.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

VCA Animal Specialty Group is a single-site specialty and emergency veterinary hospital in Los Angeles offering cardiology, neurology, oncology, surgery, internal medicine, diagnostic imaging, and 24/7 emergency care to pet owners and referring veterinarians within the VCA/Mars network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Specialty Veterinary Services: Revenue generated from specialty veterinary medical services including cardiology, neurology, oncology, surgery, internal medicine, and diagnostic imaging. Services are billed on a fee-for-service basis based on the specific procedures, treatments, and care provided.
2. Emergency and Critical Care Services: 24/7 emergency veterinary care services including emergency exams, critical care, transfusion therapy, and advanced monitoring. Emergency services are available without referral on a walk-in basis.
3. Diagnostic Imaging Services: Advanced imaging services including MRI, CT scanning, digital radiography, ultrasonography, and fluoroscopy. These are billed as standalone diagnostic services or as part of comprehensive treatment plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Animal Specialty Group (VCA Animal Specialty Group) is a specialty and emergency veterinary hospital in Los Angeles, California that delivers advanced medical care for dogs and cats across seven specialty departments: Cardiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, and Surgery. The hospital operates 24/7 emergency services on a walk-in basis and accepts scheduled specialty appointments, including those referred by primary care veterinarians throughout Southern California.

Product overview

VCA Animal Specialty Group is a veterinary specialty and emergency hospital offering comprehensive medical services through seven specialized departments: Cardiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, and Surgery. The facility provides diagnostic imaging (CT, MRI, digital radiography, ultrasonography), advanced endoscopic procedures, 24/7 emergency and critical care, neurological diagnostics and surgery, oncological treatments including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and comprehensive orthopedic and soft tissue surgical services. The hospital operates as an AAHA-accredited facility and VCA Pet CancerCare partner, serving as a referral center for primary care veterinarians in the Los Angeles area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Veterinary Cardiology Specialty cardiology service for companion animals offering diagnostic and monitoring procedures including echocardiography, electrocardiography (ECG), and Holter monitoring. Target customers are pet owners whose dogs or cats require advanced cardiac evaluation.
• Diagnostic Imaging Advanced veterinary imaging service providing computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), digital radiography, fluoroscopy, abdominal and thoracic ultrasonography, OFA and PennHip evaluations, and ultrasound-guided biopsy and fine needle aspiration for pet patients.
• Emergency & Critical Care 24/7 emergency and critical care service available on a walk-in basis without referral, including aggressive analgesia, cardiac output monitoring, mechanical ventilation, transfusion therapy, central venous pressure monitoring, continuous ECG telemetry, direct blood pressure monitoring, and nasal and transtracheal oxygen therapy.
• Internal Medicine Specialty internal medicine service offering advanced endoscopic procedures including bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, esophagoscopy, gastroduodenoscopy, and rhinoscopy, as well as foreign body removal, esophageal stricture management, liver shunt management, and supplemental feeding tube placement.
• Veterinary Neurology Specialty neurology service providing diagnostic testing (BAER, EMG, NCV, myelography, cerebrospinal fluid analysis) and surgical interventions including dorsal laminectomy, hemilaminectomy, ventral slot surgery, and spinal distraction and stabilization, along with seizure and neuromuscular disease management.
• Veterinary Oncology Comprehensive veterinary oncology service offering cancer staging, chemotherapy, electrochemotherapy, immunotherapy, and palliative treatment of cancer pain, delivered as part of the VCA Pet CancerCare network of oncology centers.
• Veterinary Surgery Advanced veterinary surgery service providing orthopedic procedures (total hip replacement, TPLO, arthroscopy, corrective osteotomy, distal femoral osteotomy for MPL), minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy, thoracoscopy), laser surgery, brain and spinal surgery, bone and joint surgery, and emergency surgery with advanced peri-operative anesthetic monitoring.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VCA Pet CancerCare AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCA Animal Specialty Group is designated as a VCA Pet CancerCare Center, part of a network of oncology centers within the VCA hospital network. These centers design individualized cancer treatment plans for pets using advanced treatments similar to human medicine, with emphasis on fewer side effects and maintaining pet comfort during treatment. The centers foster collaboration between oncologists and primary care veterinarians across the VCA network.
• Mars Inc.minorOthersVCA Animal Hospitals, including Animal Specialty Group, is an affiliate of Mars Inc. Mars Inc. owns multiple pet care and veterinary service brands as part of its portfolio.
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal Specialty Group maintains AAHA accreditation, which requires compliance with over 900 standards of veterinary excellence covering patient care, surgery, pharmacy, laboratory, exam facilities, medical records, leadership, and continuing education. AAHA accreditation is a distinction earned by only approximately 12-15% of animal hospitals in the US and Canada.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• MedVet: Multi-specialty and emergency veterinary hospital network offering specialty referral services and 24/7 emergency care across multiple US markets. Closely aligned operating model to ASG with comparable specialty departments and referral-based acquisition.
• BluePearl Veterinary Partners: National network of specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals with 24/7 emergency services and multi-specialty departments (cardiology, oncology, neurology, surgery, internal medicine, imaging). Directly comparable operating model and referral-driven GTM.
• ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospitals: Multi-location specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals in Southern California offering cardiology, oncology, neurology, surgery, internal medicine, and advanced imaging. Direct regional competitor with nearly identical service mix and referral model.
• Pet Emergency & Specialty Center: Specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals in Southern California providing 24/7 emergency and multi-specialty referral services. Direct competitor to ASG in the LA-area referral landscape.

Emerging players

• Guardian Veterinary Specialists: Independent multi-specialty and emergency veterinary hospital offering specialty referral services. Comparable single-site specialty/emergency operating model, though smaller geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• VCA Animal Hospitals: Parent-affiliated network and broader veterinary hospital system operating primary care, specialty, and emergency hospitals nationwide. Comparable as the parent network and as a broad incumbent offering the same multi-specialty services across geographies.
• NVA (National Veterinary Associates): Large community of specialty, emergency, and general veterinary hospitals across the US. Operates comparable specialty referral hospitals with similar multi-department structures.
• Thrive Pet Healthcare: Multi-specialty veterinary hospital and general practice network with a growing presence in specialty and emergency services. Comparable in offering multi-specialty referral services within a wider hospital portfolio.

Regional players

• Advanced Veterinary Specialists: Specialty and emergency veterinary hospital based in Santa Barbara, California, offering multi-specialty referral services. Comparable specialty/emergency model within the broader California region.
• Veterinary Specialty Hospital (San Diego): Multi-specialty referral and emergency veterinary hospital serving the San Diego/Southern California market. Comparable multi-specialty model with shared referral catchment across Southern California.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ASGvets
• Instagraminstagram.com/asgvets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/animal-specialty-group

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Animal Specialty Group