DR. CHRIS HOOLIHAN
Owner | Veterinarian
Dr. Christopher Hoolihan is a 4th generation native San Diegan. He is a 1988 graduate of Point Loma High School, and in 1992, he graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a Bachelor's Degree in Comparative Literature and a Minor in Music.
Dr. Hoolihan earned his degree from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. He completed a rotating internship in Emergency and Critical Care/Internal Medicine/Cardiology and Surgery at Southpaws Veterinary Referral Center in Virginia in 1998. From 1998 to 2007, Dr. Hoolihan predominantly practiced veterinary emergency medicine in San Diego, with a brief stint as a cardiology resident in Los Angeles, before moving into general practice.
Dr. Hoolihan and his wife owned Pacific Beach Veterinary Clinic from 2009-2019. After selling that practice, Dr. Hoolihan stayed on as the PBVC Medical Director until April 2020. In March of 2020, just as the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, he and his wife purchased Penasquitos Pet Clinic and in November of that same year, they purchased Bonsall Pet Hospital.
Dr. Hoolihan and his wife, Shana, always had a dream of opening a north county coastal veterinary hospital. For years they knew that so many people from all walks of their life would bring their furry family to see Dr. Hoolihan- if only he worked closer to home. Oceanside has a special place in Dr. Hoolihan’s life because he has been performing as Daddy Warbucks in “Annie” at the Star Theatre, just down the block from Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital, for the past fifteen years. After selling PBVC in 2019, they found the perfect spot in Oceanside to move forward with their dream and now Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital of Oceanside is a reality. We are so happy to be a part of your neighborhood!
Dr. Hoolihan has been happily married to the love of his life, Shana, since 1993. They have three children: Emily (25) who is a Cantorial graduate student in NYC; Bailey (22) who lives in Boulder, CO, and is preparing for Law School following graduation from the University of Colorado; and Rebekah (18) who is attending the University of California, Davis, following in the family tradition (Shana is a 1992 grad!).
The Hoolihan's live in Carlsbad with two dogs- Tess, a 9-year-old Lab mix and Gretyl a 16-year-old mini-Dachshund, and three cats- Legolas 13, Marius 7 and Wesley 1. Dr. Hoolihan is an avid golfer and wine collector and loves to travel in his RV.