How CBX Pet Care Works

The Same-Day Commitment

Every CBX Pet Care appointment follows the same-day model. Your pet leaves your hands in the morning and returns to you the same afternoon. No overnight stays. No multi-day hospitalizations. No international travel required from you.

That is not a marketing claim — it is a deliberate design constraint. We built the service around the reality that most San Diego pet owners are not going to cross an international border repeatedly for cancer treatment or surgery, no matter how much money they save. The same-day, you-stay-in-San-Diego model removes that barrier entirely.

Here is exactly how each appointment works, from the moment you book to the moment your pet comes home.

Before Appointment Day — Getting Your Estimate and Booking

Everything starts with a free estimate. Text or call 619-914-2990, or submit the form on our contact page. Within two hours, a CBX coordinator calls you back to discuss your pet’s diagnosis or the procedure your veterinarian recommended.

During that call, the coordinator gathers basic information: your pet’s species, weight, age, and breed; the procedure needed; any existing records or test results; and your pet’s current vaccination status (rabies is required for dogs to enter Mexico). Based on that, they provide a specific price — not a vague range but an actual estimate you can compare against your San Diego quote.

If you decide to proceed, a $50 non-refundable deposit is collected to secure your appointment date. That deposit applies fully toward your final invoice. You choose your meeting point (National City or Chula Vista Walmart, or door-to-door for an additional fee) and your appointment date. The coordinator confirms the time window for drop-off — typically somewhere between 7:00 and 9:00 AM.

The Day Before — What to Prepare

Your coordinator will review pre-appointment instructions specific to your pet’s procedure. For surgeries and anesthesia-based procedures — dental cleaning, tumor removal, TPLO, MRI — your pet will typically need to fast from the night before (no food after midnight, water until 2 AM or as directed). For chemotherapy sessions, fasting is usually not required, but your coordinator will confirm.

Gather what you need to bring:

• Your pet’s current rabies vaccination certificate (for dogs — Mexico requires proof of current rabies vaccine for entry)
• Your dog’s microchip number, if they have one (required for US re-entry per CDC regulations; if your dog does not have one, the clinic will place an ISO-compatible chip during the appointment)
• Any current medications your pet takes — the veterinarian needs to know about them, and some may need to be given or withheld before the procedure
• Recent vet records or lab results, if you have them — especially useful for cancer cases, where prior bloodwork helps the oncologist prepare
• A leash or carrier appropriate for your pet’s size and temperament

You do not need to organize any border paperwork. CBX handles the CDC Dog Import Form for the return trip, including the $5 fee. Our coordinators are experienced in this process and do it for every single appointment.

Drop-Off — 7:00 to 9:00 AM

You arrive at your meeting point within the drop-off window confirmed by your coordinator. The two meeting locations are:

Your coordinator is already there when you arrive, identifiable and expecting you. They greet you and your pet, verify appointment details, collect any records or medications you brought, and address any last-minute questions. The handoff is unhurried. You have time to say your goodbyes.

Dogs ride in appropriately sized secured crates or with automotive safety harnesses, depending on size and temperament. Cats ride in carriers secured against shifting. The transport vehicle is climate-controlled — this matters in San Diego County, where summer temperatures can exceed 90°F in some inland areas. Fresh water is available during transport.

Border Crossing and Clinic Arrival

After drop-off, your coordinator drives to the border via the San Ysidro or Otay Mesa crossing. Entering Mexico with dogs requires proof of current rabies vaccination, which the coordinator carries. Cats have no entry requirements.

Border crossing time varies. Our coordinators know the best crossing times and use SENTRI lanes when available. They factor typical wait times into the schedule so that your pet’s clinic appointment is not affected by normal border variability. In the rare event of an unusual delay, the clinic is notified and the appointment adjusted.

Transport time from the meeting point to the clinic is approximately 30–45 minutes once across the border. Your pet is checked in with the veterinary team and the clinical portion of the day begins.

The Check-In Call — You Speak With the Veterinarian

Before any procedure begins, you receive a phone call. The treating veterinarian is on the line with your coordinator. This call is not optional — it happens for every single CBX appointment, every time.

During the check-in call:

• The veterinarian reports their examination findings — what they observed when they assessed your pet in person
• They confirm the planned procedure and explain exactly what they intend to do
• If they found anything unexpected during the exam, they explain it and discuss options before proceeding
• You ask any questions you have — about the procedure, about anesthesia, about what to expect
• You give verbal approval for the procedure to go forward

Nothing is done to your pet without your approval on this call. If the vet found something unexpected that changes the scope or cost significantly, you have the chance to decide whether to proceed, modify, or postpone before it happens.

The Procedure

After the check-in call, the veterinary procedure is performed. The specifics depend on what your pet needs:

• For chemotherapy: bloodwork first, then drug administration with anti-nausea support and observation period
• For orthopedic surgery: induction, surgery, recovery from anesthesia with multi-parameter monitoring throughout
• For dental cleaning: anesthesia induction, digital dental X-rays, full cleaning and scaling, extractions if needed, recovery
• For MRI: anesthesia for positioning, scan, radiologist read, digital images prepared for you on USB
• For tumor removal: pre-surgical assessment, excision, closure, recovery

Your coordinator is available throughout the day. Text updates are sent at key milestones: clinic arrival, procedure start, procedure complete, and departure for return trip. If any development requires your input or decision during the day, you are contacted immediately — not at the end of the day.

Recovery and Return Border Crossing

Once the procedure is complete, your pet is monitored in the clinic’s recovery area until they are stable and alert. For surgeries involving general anesthesia, this means full recovery from anesthesia with normal vital signs. Your pet does not leave the clinic until the veterinary team confirms they are safe to transport.

For the return crossing into the United States, dogs need an ISO-compatible microchip and a completed CDC Dog Import Form. CBX handles the form — our coordinators fill it out and pay the $5 fee. If your dog did not have a microchip before the appointment, the clinic will have placed one during the procedure. Our coordinator has all documentation ready for the CBP inspection at the crossing.

Cats require nothing for the return crossing. No forms, no microchip, no certificates.

The Checkout Call — Results and Aftercare

Before or during the return trip, you receive the checkout call. The veterinarian reports:

• How the procedure went and what was found or accomplished
• Any unexpected findings during the procedure
• Specific aftercare instructions — activity restrictions, wound care, medication schedule
• Medications your pet is going home with and how to administer them
• Normal post-procedure symptoms vs. signs that warrant concern
• Whether follow-up appointments are recommended and when

This is not a rushed five-minute call. The veterinarian takes the time to make sure you understand exactly what happened and what to do next.

Pickup — 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Your pet is returned to you at the same meeting point where you dropped them off. Pickup is typically between 1:00 and 4:00 PM, depending on the procedure and recovery time. Your coordinator gives you a narrower time estimate when they leave the clinic.

At pickup, your coordinator hands over your pet along with discharge paperwork in English, any prescribed medications, and imaging results if applicable — MRI and X-ray files on USB, written radiology report included. If your dog received a microchip during the appointment, the chip documentation is included.

Your pet may be groggy if they had anesthesia. That is normal and typically resolves within a few hours at home. Your aftercare instructions will describe exactly what to expect.

Preparing Your Mexico Trip to Align With the Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am running late for drop-off?

Call or text your coordinator as soon as you know you will be late. Small delays are manageable. Arriving after the drop-off window closes may require rescheduling — the coordinator needs to cross the border with enough time for the clinic appointment to run completely before the afternoon return trip. We will always try to accommodate you.

Can a family member drop off if I can’t make it?

Yes. The person at drop-off does not need to be the account holder, but they should know your pet’s medical history and be reachable by phone for the check-in and checkout calls. Let your coordinator know in advance if someone other than the account holder will be dropping off.

What if my pet is stressed about car travel?

Let us know when you book. Your coordinator can advise on pre-travel anti-anxiety options or mild sedation that your San Diego vet can prescribe. Our transport vehicles are set up to minimize stress — secure containment, climate control, no loose animals, and experienced handlers. Most pets travel without issue.

Can I follow the coordinator to the border crossing?

Our service is specifically designed so you do not need to cross the border. If you want to observe the meeting-point handoff, you are welcome to stay as long as you like. Most clients drop off and either wait at the Walmart or go home. We discourage following the transport vehicle as it can create complications at the border crossing.

How are medications and records returned to me?

All medications prescribed after the appointment are sent home with your pet in labeled packaging. Written aftercare instructions are in English. Lab results, imaging files, and surgical reports are provided in printed and/or digital format (USB for imaging). If your San Diego vet needs records, we can email them directly — ask during the checkout call.

Last updated: April 2026