Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists - Veterinary Dermatology, Surgery & Oncology

4.7 (43)
4460 Redwood Hwy Suite 11, San Rafael, CA 94903, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists - Veterinary Dermatology, Surgery & Oncology

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 11,411
4.9 Embrace 14,234
4.9 Fetch 2,051
4.4 Figo 2,579
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,153
4.6 MetLife 493
4.8 Nationwide 21,393
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 110
4.5 Pets Best 7,196
4.3 Pumpkin 1,163
4.7 Spot 5,260
4.9 Trupanion 60,297
4.8 Prudent Pet 125

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

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I can’t say enough about how wonderful Dr Farese and staff are. They listened to all my fears about surgery and accommodated me and my little one in every way possible. Jacqueline, who is one of the doctors staff members is a angel.. She held Flossie wrapped in a blanket till they were ready for surgery. She never had to be in a kennel. I will forever be thankful. Every follow up visit has been so caring and kind. I would be happy to speak to anyone who is considering surgery from this practice.

posted: 04/20/2023

Vivien Gay

I cannot say thank you enough to Dr Jim Farese and his whole team at Golden Gate Vet Specialists. Truffles, my two year old pup, had an aggressive mass on her cheek, just below her eye. Dr Farese professionally and empathetically went over the course of different actions we could take and we agreed on aggressive surgery. Truffles came through like the trooper she is and one month later you can hardly tell that she had this surgery. On the day of the surgery I was kept fully apprised of what was going on by text from the surgery and since then have been able to check in on a regular basis as she continues to heal…..We are so fortunate to have such a skilled canine oncology surgeon, Dr Farese, in Marin. I cannot thank him and his team enough!

posted: 10/07/2022

Kevin Rogers

My dog June Bug was born with a congenital knee issue. As a result we have to have pretty extensive knee surgeries for both of her rear legs. This is the only clinic in the area that does these kinds of surgeries. In fact, three different vets recommended Dr. Farese as the best. And he is! The service here is fantastic. Despite a three month wait, they were able to work the surgery in for us. The communication was always prompt, and clear. Dr. Farese explained to me very clearly precisely what the issue is, and how he would address. On the day of surgery there was a text line that updated me on where June Bug was in the process. We also received photos of her throughout the day. Upon release we were given very clear instructions on her home care. And we were still able to text the helpline during the following weeks to ask questions about concerns that emerged. I have to say this was one of the best vet experiences I have ever had. And the surgery was perfect. Which is in itself very impressive because of how complicated the knee joint and tendons are, and what was required. I have complete confidence in recommending this clinic for any of your pet needs.

posted: 04/29/2022

David Whitney

My Golden Retriever was diagnosed with an aggressive fibrosarcoma in his upper jaw. We were devastated and prepared our family that we would need to euthanize him in the next couple months. We took him to see Dr. Farese at Golden Gate Veterinary Specialist for a surgery consult. After performing a CT Scan Dr. Farese felt confident that he could remove the tumor with clean margins if he did a maxillectomy. Dr. Farese is a miracle worker! Recovery was smooth with excellent pain management. He ate his breakfast the next morning! Everyone at Golden Gate Veterinary Specialist were professional and caring. We are forever grateful to have our dog cancer free 8 months later and he still looks beautiful! We are so lucky to have Dr. Farese and GGVS in our area. I highly recommend them.

posted: 10/02/2022

Spirit War

🌟💥be aware they will try to get another procedure lined up that your pet may not need right away. 🌟💥 My friend🐱 needed an emergency knee reconstructive surgery. This was the only place that could see him with a 🙏🏼🥰two week wait👍😄 we were so grateful they could care for our best friend during his serious injury. He healed quickly, it was worth the price. This location is more expensive but they offer much more for the price. They text you when your pet is getting ready for anesthesia, they text you as soon as pet is under, text during surgery, after surgery. The surgery cost includes a follow up appointment also I think. After a check on his other knee my cat 🐈 was limping afterwards. I think the drs exam is painful as he probably sees how loose the knee is by trying to dislocate it. They tried to suggest our cat needed another knee surgery right away. We did not agree!!! I would ONLY use this surgeon for emergencies. He is great for that. 🌟💥But be aware they will try to get another procedure lined up that your pet may not need right away. 🌟💥

posted: 09/16/2023