Tender Care Veterinary Hospital

 

0

5

Kira F.

Petaluma, CA

if you care about your pets, don't bother with any other vet office.

their exam rooms are comfortable for pets, with carpeting and squishy beds to hang out in, rather than the slippy linoleum and stainless steel exam table that is so common. everyone in the office is committed to furry friends, and it really shows in the level of cafe they give to both the animals and the humans they deal with. as someone else said, i wish i could find a people doctor as wonderful as they are. they're supportive of alternative and holistic care, also, so they're a welcome change from vets who just want to stuff drugs down your pet's throat, or who urge you to dip your pet in chemicals that are harmful to them.

seriously, go there. they might not be accepting new patients, but go anyway.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

1

J D.

San Rafael, CA

While I agree about the many specific points other reviewers have made about Tender Care, there's a few things you need to be aware of. After Dr. Todd left Dr. Bouchard was the only one practicing any kind of alternative modalities, (Dr. Rachel Griffiths, while no doubt a nice person is 100% allopathic - I mean 100% in approach as well as training) and I've come to realize Dr. B's clinical approach is very standard in terms of many lab tests etc. where as Dr. Todd had better advice in terms of the practical reality of things, even if Dr. Bouchard's advice may be very complete. I understand they have maybe one other practitioner now and are looking to add another - the practice is growing (including staff) which means the personal attention you are used to will be variable, after all it is very much about who you deal with and the larger the group the more that will vary.

If we really care about our pets, we need to educate ourselves. Even if you have the money there is only so much they can and will tell you in lengthy consults, there are more direct ways to access information to better care for the health of our pets. I like the general atmosphere of the practice and there's probably still not many vets that would compare in a lot of aspects of the practice, (though some may be better in one or two areas, to be perfectly honest) but it is simply a mistake to think going to the right vet can replace the need for a well informed care taker. We have too much of a romantic notion about the "good doctor" - really good care has to do with what you do at home most of the time, not the limited amount of time spent at the vet's office.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

1

A R.

San Anselmo, CA

I've had lots of pets my entire life, from fish to horses to birds, and I've been to lots of vets - because, well, it goes along with the territory.  Tender Care Veterinary Hospital is wonderful!  I had to bring my 3 month baby with me to my dog's vet appt. and it was so nice to be able to comfortably sit on a couch in the clean comfy exam room and feed my baby with the dog exploring well the appointed room.  

Rachel Griffith has been our vet for 8 years.  My dog had developed a small lump on her chest, and I took her to two vets over the previous year (shots etc.) and asked them about the lump.  They both said that it "was nothing", and didn't even tell me they could check it to confirm.  When I moved, and brought my dog in to a vet in my new location (Rachel) to have her look at the now larger lump, she said "it's probably nothing, but let's check!".  She discovered that it was an aggressive form of cancer - and was able to remove it completely from my dog -  that 8 years ago.  Two years ago, at 11 years old, my dog caught a (presumably) tick-borne disease.  Overnight, she was lethargic and so delirious and weak, we had to carry her to into the vet.  She tested negative for everything.  After three days, I thought we were going to loose her.  Then Dr. Griffith figured out a treatment for an illness that wasn't diagnosed - and the dog I had carried into the vet that morning, expecting not to see again, bounded out to see me in the afternoon.  I'm sure Dr. Griffith saved her life twice by putting in the extra effort, when other vets may not have looked or given up.  In addition, she's always been a great source of information on nutrition and successful nutritional supplements to help with doggie arthritis.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

20

J H.

Corte Madera, CA

Hands down the best vet I've ever encountered.  One of the great things about this place is the staff and vets really care about the animals they treat.  They don't just throw them up on some stainless steel table and poke and prod, they actually *sit on the floor with the animals and give them treats, pet them, and talk to them* during the exam, which is all completed on the floor.  After my first visit there, I realized the stress throwing say, a dog up high on a table with no traction must cause because my dog seemed really relaxed during the entire visit.

Carolyn the receptionist is a great person, great sense of humour, sharp as a whip and KIND.  They also have a great program which is funded by donations which go toward treating pets of low-income families.  They charge about the same as the rest of the vet hopsitals around here.  One piece of advice:  park on the side streets to avoid the crazed Fourth Street meter maids and get a free two hours of parking.  Having said that, the staff actually gave me quarters for the meter once so I didn't get a ticket.  I'm telling you-no other place is like this one.

Was very sorry to see Dr. Todd move away, but am glad he was replaced by another animal lover, Dr. Rachel.  Seriously-these people love animals and treat both humans and four-legged guys with kindness and respect.  Actually found this vet through friends who lost their dog last year, a very difficult thing but they appreciated the way the process was handled with empathy and compassion.

I give Tender Care my highest recommendation.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

45

310

GIR ..

San Francisco, CA

Simply the best - if I could find doctors this skilled and caring for myself I'd be thrilled.

Seriously, this really is an amazing veterinary hospital with a level of care and types of services I have not found anywhere else. No, it is not cheap and it is PITA to get to, but after trying to find a vet in SF I've realized it  is well worth the effort to continue to schlep my pooch there.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review