West End Animal Center

4.9 (47)
1660 Second St, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at West End Animal Center

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

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Tyler Montobbio

I've been seeing Dr.Fry and his team for years. I value their transparency and for answering my silly questions. I have never gotten the sense that I'm being taken advantage of or upsold products or services. Taking my 8 year old lab here is easy, and they treat her well. Keep doing what you guys are doing! ♥️

posted: 09/13/2023

Donna Lemmon

Dr. Frye, Diane and all the staff are compassionate and respectful of my dear dog. I am never kept waiting long, even when he's finishing up surgery. They have guided me in understanding the health issues of my pooch. She's now 15 1/2 yrs old, and thanks to the level of care, she's been well. Thank you

posted: 06/06/2023

Emi Bruemmer

Shortly after moving to San Rafael my little Isis got sick. I noticed this veterinary clinic within walking distance from our new apartment and I saw they had good reviews so I felt comfortable enough to try them out. I put my little girl in her pink kitty stroller and we went to see Dr Frye. Everyone at West End was very nice and even though Isis does not like to be handled/picked up....she actually allowed the vet assistant to get her out of the stroller. Isis was also very calm during her check up also. They were very gentle with Isis and I highly recommend them to anyone needing a good veterinary clinic.

posted: 09/17/2016

Rachel Ahn

Dr Frye genuinely cares about his patients. He’s extremely knowledgeable and advises what’s best for quality of life

posted: 07/06/2023

This T

My dogs have been patients of Dr Frye’s practice: West End Animal Center, since for years. He is extremely skilled as a veterinarian and as a surgeon, and he professional and personable. I trust his advice and diagnostics. I don’t feel like a number at this practice, as I have felt in the past at VCA practices.

posted: 01/16/2023