Gary J Amaral DVM

4.9 (39)
3916 Allen School Rd, Bonita, CA 91902, USA

Hours:

How to Save Money at Gary J Amaral DVM

Schedule Regular Vet Visits

One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.

Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions

Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.

Pet Insurance

Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.

How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?

Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 889
4.7 ASPCA 11,392
4.9 Embrace 14,179
4.9 Fetch 1,995
4.4 Figo 2,561
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,475
4.9 Lemonade 781
3.2 ManyPets 2,145
4.6 MetLife 487
4.8 Nationwide 21,391
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 110
4.5 Pets Best 7,194
4.3 Pumpkin 1,131
4.7 Spot 5,194
4.9 Trupanion 60,280
4.8 Prudent Pet 124

Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.

Thinking of insuring your pet?

Get Quotes & Compare

Getting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask

Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:

Tell me about your experience with [pet type].

Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.

How do you handle emergencies?

You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.

How do you communicate with pet owners?

Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.

Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?

Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.

Do you have any questions for me about my pet?

This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.

Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?

Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.

Reviews from Google

hand swipe
Hope Keesling

Dr. Amaral has helped us out a number of times over the years. Responsive, easy going, reasonably priced. We're lucky to have him in San Diego County!

posted: 07/01/2023

Deborah Cooper

Equine Veterinary Excellence. Dr. Amaral has always provided the very best care for my horse “Fibi.” Clearly a veterinarian with compassion, immediately addressing my concerns as a horse owner, whilst providing definitive precise diagnosis and on going support as needed. Thank You Dr. Amaral for sharing your knowledge, truly admirable. Wanda, Dr. A’s lovely ‘back up support’ is amazing, she talks to me as if I am family! Thank You Wanda, for always listening so carefully to my detailed reports.

posted: 02/22/2022

Kait Barnett

Gary is BY FAR THE BEST VET I HAVE EVER WORKED WITH in my years of horse ownership and riding. I completely trust him and know that he always looks out for what is best for me and my horses. He and Wanda are an amazing team and I can't recommend them highly enough. Thank you for everything you do Dr. A!!!

posted: 09/13/2021

Sharena Guadiana

I’ve known Dr. Amaral since I was 10yrs old he’s been my vet every time my sister and I saw his truck we’d run over and visit and he didn’t mind it was definitely a learning experience. Dr Amaral was such an inspiration to me my dream was to become a veterinarian. Gary is a wonderful veterinarian he has always been there for me and my horses he’s honest straight forward very explanatory. He saved my orphans foals life etc. Gary and Wanda are Amazing Awesome and Caring I love you guys for all you’ve done and continue to do not only for my Pets but for everyone’s ❤️🙏💪🏻😇🏆🚑

posted: 06/14/2019

russell sylvester

Dr. Amaral is definitely a cut above the rest. His concerns are for your animal and what can be done. He is just a down to earth guy. So many vets today are more concerned with their profit margin and what they can do to inflate your bill instead of concern for your animal. I look at Dr. Amaral as a friend and its always a pleasure to speak with him. If your ever in need of a vet he is the only one to see. Speaking for myself when my animals are hurting so am I. It tears me up inside because I love them more then anything else. It's a relief to know that they are in the care of the best when needed.

posted: 05/24/2020