Guided Tours

We cannot guarantee that you will see animals or procedures in the Veterinary Hospital as the needs of our animals change on a daily basis. The staff/Docents that lead Veterinary Hospital tours do not know which animals are at the Veterinary Hospital on any given day. We do show guests short video snippets of zoo animals undergoing medical exams or procedures.

You will not get to see animals in quarantine as they are housed in a special area of the Veterinary Hospital so that they will not be exposed to any airborne germs. This is both for the animal's protection and the human's protection. You do get to see a fun video snippet of our black bear cubs when they were housed in our quarantine facility when they first arrived at Oakland Zoo in 2017.

At Oakland Zoo we practice "protected contact"—that means that in most instances there is a barrier between the animal and the human. This is for the animal's protection and the human's protection. The only animals that guests can touch at Oakland Zoo are our goats, sheep, rescued domestic cats and an ambassador dog in the Petting Yard. The Petting Yard is located in the Wayne and Gladys Valley Children's Zoo.

We cannot guarantee you will meet a veterinarian or another vet hospital staff.

Services dogs are permitted in certain locations within the Hospital. For the safety of our animals and in accordance with the American’s with Disabilities Act and the health standards governed by the Veterinary Medical Board, USDA and CDFW, all service dogs visiting the Hospital must be under the control of their handler on a 6 ft. or shorter leash, remain quiet, and have no appreciable signs of illness (coughing, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhea) within 24 hours.

Service dogs are not permitted to share any spaces with Zoo patients and as such will be limited to the lobby and hallways, with all treatment areas and the Ward excluded.  If at any time the service dog barks, vocalizes or is not under the aforementioned control, the service dog and it’s handler will be required to end their tour and asked to leave the hospital.

If you will be accompanied by a service dog, please email lcraig@oaklandzoo.org to book a tour.

You are welcome to take photographs of the outside of the Veterinary Hospital. Photographs are not permitted inside the hospital.

Parking and Zoo Admission are paid for separately.  They are not included in the tour fee.

We can accommodate up to 20 participants. Children age 5-17 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.

The tours can accommodate up to 20 participants.

Food and drink are not allowed inside the hospital.

Please dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes, such as sneakers.