VCA Tender Care Animal Hospital

We love Tender Care! Our previous dog (and one cat) was under the care of Dr. Rachel Griffith and she was amazing. Very thorough, thoughtful, compassionate and loving.
Our new pup has seen both Dr. Rachel and Dr. Kate. Both have been great! The vets here truly LOVE animals, it’s apparent in the way the relate to the dogs (and cats!).
The office staff and vet techs are awesome! So polite, caring and always go out of their way to make the experience better for both human and animal.
This is literally on of my dog’s favorite places to go! She starts whining in the car when we pull up because she loves it so much. Everyone treats her like a princess, with lots of love and treats.
The medical advice is always solid and consistent.

I came to VCA after another San Rafael vet said radioactive iodine therapy (cost about $ 1500k) was the only option for my hyperthyroid kitty that can’t tolerate the pill form of methimazole. The great doctors of VCA suggested trying administering it transdermally (in the ears). And so far so good! Also, the front desk staff AND technicians are truly kind and caring! It’s more than just business for them (like other San Rafael vets I’ve tried). That says A LOT about a practice in my book. Finally, Dr. Sulzer and Griffiths have great «bedside» manner with my furry babies AND me – in addition to being great doctors. Thanks to everyone at VCA!

I moved to San Rafael the end of last year and sought a new vet in the area. Dr. Amy Sachs was recommended by a coworker so I made an appointment. I have a 15 year old cat that was diagnosed with diabetes by my previous vet. He is on insulin twice a day. He was not responding to treatment and his quality of life has continued to diminish. He has trouble walking, can barely get up his steps to get on the bed. He urinates constantly and half the time it is outside the box. No matter what protection I put on the floor, it was ruined. It now needs to be replaced. He is not the same cat due to this uncontrolled diabetes. I made the difficult decision to put him down.
I made an appointment 2 weeks away and informed Dr. Sachs I only had enough insulin for 1 week. She said it won’t matter at this point. 2 hours before the appointment, she called me to tell me she would not perform the procedure. She said she thought there were other alternatives. She wanted me to rehome my cat! I was shocked! She told me I would have to go elsewhere or the humane society.
I would never give him away! That would break his heart and mine. I have the remains of cats he grew up with, including his brother and a 20 year old Tortie we lost last October. I don’t want to be without him.
I don’t feel it was her call to make. It was a heartbreaking decision to make in the first place.
I am returning to the previous vet today to send him to the Rainbow Bridge with love and compassion.
I will not be returning to this vet. I would rather drive to Novato to the Country Vet. It costs more, but worth it in the end.
I would prefer to give no stars but Unilocal won’t allow it.

For the last two weeks I have been really nervous about my dog Byron’s upcoming surgery. All that fear dissipated within the first 10 minutes of talking with Dr. Amy before he went in. She sat with me for 20 minutes with patience and sheer kindness, making me feel like all of my questions and concerns were not only heard, but understood. He came out great, and the entire staff did an awesome job of keeping me appraised of what was going on, and communicating the financial implications.
I highly recommend Tender Care if you are looking for an entire team of people who will treat your pet as though they were their own.

I have been hearing incredible things about Tender Care from my clients for years. Newly hired vet Dr Amy Sachs is AMAZING! She is a good kind soul who has helped Kitty Charm School with many of our rescue kitties (we do boarding, but we also do rescue on the side). She has helped us with incredibly challenging cases such as a shattered leg on an elderly cat (when surgery can’t be done), a severe burn victim, a cat born with no eyelids & other congenital issues — you name it. She even helped a male cat that had repeated crystals and needed to be re-​wired to urinate like a female instead. And every one of these difficult cases has since healed perfectly, thanks to Amy’s experience, knowledge, creativity ideas, and loving tenacity. Just ask Ashley, Mondo, Nala, Felix, and all the others that were literally on the edge of death until she came along. Kitty Charm School highly recommends Dr Sachs and Tender Care.

Tender Care Animal Hospital saved my wonderful, old, diabetic cat, Puddy. Most would have suggested that he be put down but, the Tender Care he received changed every thing. Hopefully he’s good for a couple more years. I love you VCA Tender Care Animal Hospital. Best Regards to all of the staff, Margot Jones

We can not say enough good things about Tender Care. We’ve only been coming here since we moved to SR last November, but in that time we’ve spent so much time in and out of their offices, on the phone, and emailing with them that they’ve practically become like our second family. Dr. Connolly and Dr. Griffiths have been fantastic. We’ve had less contact with Dr. Bouchard, but it was also positive. All of the technicians and front office staff have also been incredibly helpful, empathetic, supportive, etc. Tender Care’s hours (7 days a week) have literally been a lifesaver, and we never have any trouble parking.
We’ve had a string of amazingly bad luck with our three kitties since we moved to SR last fall. Our 10-​year-​old Abyssinian became very sick 2 weeks after we moved, and it was clear that we needed to find a new vet quickly. We discovered Tender Care by walking by their offices one day, checked them out on Unilocal and figured we’d give it a shot, and booked an appointment. Fortuitous, in hindsight. Since then, they’ve been with us every step of the way. Our Abyssinian was subsequently diagnosed with end-​stage cancer, with only weeks to live. We managed to give him a few more months, thanks in huge part to Dr. Griffiths and all of the staff, who partnered with us very closely and were very supportive in helping us ensure he was as comfortable as possible to the end. As we were coping with all of that, our 13-​year old rescue kitty was diagnosed with a thyroid condition and small cell-​lymphoma; Dr. Connolly has been terrific about keeping tabs on her and helping to coordinate care and treatment with PETSCM and UC Davis. Aside from dental work/​tooth extractions, our third cat has been relatively healthy — but if that changes, we know she’ll be in very good hands too.
These days we’re no longer in Tender Care’s offices on a daily weekly basis, but it does give me great comfort to know they’re there, and open 7 days a week, when we need them.

I’ve taken my dog here on multiple occasions and they are great. Dr. Griffiths is my usual vet Dr. Bouchard has also been fantastic. I really appreciate the thorough care and not feeling pressured into every test and costly items. I also appreciate the follow up calls to check in on how she’s doing. Only downside is the location (takes a while for me to get to) and limited parking. Staff and doctors are great. I highly recommend!

The one star is for VCA and not a reflection on any of the wonderful doctors or staff members at Tender Care. If I could give VCA no stars, I would.
Let me start by saying that I’ve been bringing my pets here (2 dogs and a 21-​year-​old-​cat) for a number of years. I’ve always enjoyed the tremendous care from the doctors and staff but with the recent purchase of Tender Care by VCA, I’m wondering how long I will be able to continue to bring my pets here.
I come in twice a week with my cat (she gets fluids) and I’m no longer able to see the vet techs my cat has come to love because VCA is apparently unable to have any flexibility with the staff’s scheduling. The front desk staff has been told not to speak so much to the clientele and the morale is definitely circling the drain. Staff is jumping ship and some have been unfairly terminated. Prices are higher and it makes me wonder how a corporation could do so much damage in such a short amount of time.
My message for VCA is this: if you bought this place thinking it was a good investment, continue to allow Tender Care to run with the business model it previously employed, because the one you are using isn’t working.

Our dog is like a member of our family. We heard great reviews on this place after moving to the area and decided to give it a try. After making an annual appointment for our dog, so she could get her heartworm checkup, we arrived with high hopes. That’s where it ended :-(
First, they «misplaced» our appointment and asked if we could come back in a couple hours. Really? You screwed up and cant fit us in? We live about 15 min away and had a squirrly dog with us. Lame!
So we came back and they did the required bloodwork, but then the rest is what concerned me. We clearly explained we were interested in Western Medicine, not Holistic. I don’t have issue with Holistic medicine in principle, however its simply not for us. In doing the annual exam, the doctor never did any traditional diagnostics and told us «they didn’t believe in testing for Parvo, and other such ailments at the required intervals». I think that was the kicker.
I want a doctor who can preventatively diagnose issues, that’s why we pay the big bucks at he vet. I don’t want to hope bank on their good «intuition».

Hands down, the most amazing vets ever! Hands down!
First, to those that complained about prices — you get what you pay for in this world. And medical tests are an expensive necessary reality. I came to Tender Care after seeing 2 different vets in Mill Valley — all with huge practices and stellar reputations — none of them were able to diagnose what Dr Pam caught. None of them! And guess what, they all ran very expensive tests. But it was the tests that Dr Pam ordered that provided her with the data she needed to make the correct diagnosis. HELLO?! Nothing medical is simple, nothing is inexpensive and not one drug fits all. Aren’t you at the Vet’s in the first place to figure things out? Dr Pam is scary smart, she’s so seasoned and experienced, she’s a sleuth when it comes to figuring things out. What 2 Vets couldn’t do, she did in a matter of 2 visits, and again, I know tests provided her with the specific information she needed to make the correct diagnosis that other Vets simply missed.
Dr Pam calls and follows up, unsolicited calls that I don’t get charged for. And she spends time with me explaining arthritis, degenerative arthritis, hip dysplasia, pain management and how muscle responds to acupuncture. My severely afflicted dog is beating the odds given to me by other vets because of Dr Pam’s care and her ability to execute acupuncture; I see discernible improvement, it’s fantastic. The very expensive dog ZD dog food one vet recommended was actually making my dog sick, Dr Pam caught that the first time, she had me change his diet and voila, sounds simple, right? Not really.
Oh and before I forget. The staff. The front desk people and assistants? They’re all saints. These people are saints. Someone perceived attitude? Someone was offended by their tone? Give me an eff’n break, do you know what these folks deal with all day? It’s life and death in that office every day, it’s severely ill patient (yes, they call the pets «patients», I’ve never heard that in any vet office in the 4 states I’ve lived in for the past 50 years!) — they see very sick animals all day and its because they care deeply that they are affected. And least we forget they deal with highly articulate (for the most part) entitled (for the most part) Marinites all day who are both demanding and intense. One of them runs a shelter for stray dogs, one takes in rescue dogs and all of them are nothing short of patient and compassionate. Think ER nurses but the patients can’t speak.
I’ve been to people doctors that don’t spend as much time, aren’t as thorough, and aren’t as compassionate. These folks care about not only your animals, but they care about you. They see the big picture. They want to help. And they do.
Seriously, you can not go wrong at Tender Care, you simply can’t get any better animal care anywhere else. Phenomenal, just phenomenal. Hands down.

I want to write this while the memories are still fresh. As another review expressed… I too never wanted to make that terrible decision to put a pet down. Many years ago we had to put a cat down and it was a horrible memory that was hard to shake, a medical procedure in a room with bright lights and a stainless steel table. I didn’t know there was another way.
The day I brought Dali in was a Sunday, and thank God they are open on Sundays. Dali was my 14 and a half year old black pug who has been by my side through some of life’s biggest challenges. I couldn’t bare the thought of losing her. I had my 1^st appointment with Pamela around 1 p.m. It was near the end and I was hoping Dali would do it on her own. Pamela gave me several options, the last of which was the one I just couldn’t face. I wasn’t ready but she could see that Dali was. I told her I’d make the decision in 2 days. As I left she said…“in case you change your mind I’ll be here until 5:30.“
At home it became clear… if she didn’t go by 5:00 I would take her in. And that’s what I did. I couldn’t believe what happened when we got the. My friend and I were ushered into a candle-​lit room that had been prepared for us. A beautiful orchid in full bloom and a statue of a dog sitting in lotus greeted us. Then a woman brought us hot tea. All the while I thought this was the waiting room and we would soon be going into the «other» room. But no, it all took place in that warm and nurturing space with Pamela who is nothing less than an angel. It was like I was letting my beloved pet go into the hands of the divine, absolutely the farthest thing from a medical procedure that you can imagine and more like a sacred ceremony. I am so thankful that I have this memory to cherish as our last moments together.

This was the first vet in my life to call me at 7:30 PM out of the blue! I am impressed.
My cat Duma (see him in the pics section) has been to several vets for asthma or Bronchitus. They wanted him on Predisone for life. I had to search for a more holistic approach to treating this. I am very impressed by the doctors here. Pamela called me at night and spent time looking at previous vet’s x-​rays and wants me to email her all the vaccines he has had his whole life. I feel like I am in nirvana now. If you are struggling with an ailment and want a second opinion I would come here. I think I may stay here for life.
Aside from his asthma Duma is an active happy healthy cat!
P. S. The office is an old Victorian house/​building with stained glass windows. In the examining room there is a window to the street which gets my cat’s attention and makes him relax. There is also a cozy couch/​sofa in there. The street is busy so I am going to ask one of the folks from the front desk to walk me across the street with my cat in a lion cage on wheels. My cat really is that big. I would hate to get hit by a car slowly wheeling my lion cage across busy 4^th street. I am sure they will help walk with me and the cars will let us cross.

Hey,
Vets are always busy but these people give you some attention and kindness and their rooms are very pet friendly. They have western and alternative medicine. Our dog is old and dying and they act as sad as we do. Definitely would recommend.

My dog, Chopsticks, is my life. She is my best friend and the most loved member of my family. We bring her to Tender Care when she needs some, well, tender care…
The staff loves her and remembers her from when she was a puppy. The gentle staff showers her with liver treats and make her feel as comfortable as possible. I have never had any problems with the treatments she has been given. I appreciate the more natural approach Tender Care Vet Hospital takes: no over vaccinations which can often lead to weakened immune systems, dietary recommendations, etc.
I would recommend Tender care for everyone and their four legged furry friends :)

Doctor Griffith is wonderful, dr. Kim is good, but Pamela Bouchard racks up the bills when she is forced to use Western medicine (X-​rays and such).
I recently brought in 2 cats with the same condition. When Rachel took care of him, the bill was reasonable. When Dr. Bouchard took care of the next cat, the bill was 10x more expensive.
Also, Karen at the front desk is snooty, short and has attitude. She un-​muted the phone per accident, and what she said about me was outrageous.
I do not need such an attitude, she has given my husband heat too for something they messed up.
I’ll take my 5 animals elsewhere from now on, even though I love Rachel.

The crew at Tender Care are out of this world! Dr. Kim has been taking care of our dear mini long haired dachshund for the past year & change and we’ve always had a great experience here.
The ladies at the front desk, lending their expert hands, are really some of the most competent & caring people I’ve met in the pet care industry. Our little doxie gets star treatment here and I would honestly say that Tender Care always goes above and beyond my expectations when it comes to his well being. When we had to have him neutered and undergo a few other minor surgeries, I had to leave him there with them for the day because I had work until 5:00. I came back to a slightly groggy, but extremely happy dog (considering what he had gone through that day) with freshly cut nails and trimmed paws all the way around. Not only that, I had found out that one of the ladies had come in on her day off (!) to puppy-​sit him in the backroom. WOW! It’s no wonder he loves coming here. He gets spoiled every second he’s with this group!
Dr. Kim has always been an exceptional help to us. It is evident she loves doing what she does and genuinely cares about our little one. It’s not about selling vitamins or add-​on care to rack up the bill. With every visit she meets Otto at his level, makes sure he’s comfortable, and then gets to the business at hand. We haven’t followed EVERY suggestion that she’s given us, like home-​cooked meals everyday, but we have followed most. He’s been happy & healthy ever since and we look forward to many more happy & healthy years together. I don’t think Otto has ever been nervous around here, except when his temperature needs to be taken…
Five stars, easy. If Otto could rave about Tender Care, I’m sure he would too.

When I first called Tender Care and they asked whether we were interested in «alternative eastern medicine» for our Lab I thought, «here we go, a hippie northern california vet looking to practive accupuncture on my puppy». We went anyway though because the reviews here on Unilocal were so solid.
I am happy to report back that we, and our Lab Casey, really enjoyed our visit. They took the time to understand his medical history and made a lot of suggestions but were not pushy or over bearing about trying to sell things/​services. They came across as very credible, as all of their suggestions came with logical explanations that made sense to us. I always felt they were focused on the dog’s best interest as opposed to revenue maximization.
We’ll be back for his future care.

Tender Care is the best Vet I have ever been to. Bentley, my beagle, has always been so afraid of the vet. He would shed about a pound of hair, try to jump on my lap while we were waiting, whine, and keep heading toward the exit, nose against the door, pulling on the leash, etc. the entire time. It was a trauma for both of us.
We have been going to Tender Care for two years, and he now goes in the door willingly, and is his usual happy dog-​self. They feed him liver treats, the really expensive ones, non-​stop. Whatever they do, we both don’t dread the experience anymore. It’s a miracle. Everyone in the office is great, and they take special care of us.

I’ve come to the conclusion that dogs are like houses. They look all great during the searching and buying process, but once you take the plunge then you discover the roof leaks, the deck’s on the verge of collapse, and there’s a funny smell you just can’t get rid of — so you end up spending what little cash you have left on fixing ‘em up.
Tender Care is our General Contractor who takes care of Mutt Maintenance. Docs Griffiths and Kim have all dealt with Dudek over the past 2 – 3 months via checkups, dealing with his Demodicosis, and occasional phantom disease my paranoid wife thinks he has. The staff are, for the most part, friendly — although I got yelled at for stopping by without 24 hours noticed to try and get his prescription refilled — but they treat the mongrel amazingly — to the point he actually loves going there. The vets are super considerate, and offer a very wide range of treatment options from typical western medicine to acupuncture and aromatherapy. (Aromatherapy for dogs. Christ, only in California…)
They’re not cheap. They’re NOT cheap. Have I mentioned that they’re expensive? But if your puppy’s part of the family, then the pooch’s worth it.