I have seen so many vets in an attempt to figure out my dog's gut. I've been told I'm overreacting…read moreand that his various gut issues and skin issues (all related, I bet) could just be managed. I've also been referred for way more expensive procedures that I didn't think were necessary. Finally, we were referred to Dr. Richter. He listened to my dog's history, understood my thinking, told me it made sense, and told me he understood the pathway I wanted to take. For once, I wasn't automatically crazy or a "helicopter" pup parent. He really gets it. Dr. Richter had a very reasonable grasp on my dog's history and the reasons for his issues. I am so looking forward to continuing treatment with him in the coming months, focusing on the gut and on my dog's past mold exposure. I can't say enough about what it means to be truly heard and understood by a vet, and have them speak to you on a well-informed level. Dr. Richter is not only brilliant, he also has excellent people skills. Most vets try to talk down to me or put me in my place when I come with as much info as I do, and that gets me nowhere, just burning my bank account and morale. Thank you so much, Dr. Richter + clinic staff. You all make a huge difference in our lives and we could not be more grateful.

This place is so so wonderful. Compassionate, personal, professional. They coordinate a lot over…read moretext, which I love, and respond quickly. They've been really flexible, and I really like the doctors I've had through them! Can't recommend enough.

I haven't reviewed Creature Comfort in a long while, so I'm just posting an update. I both love and…read morehate my experience going there. Some of the vets are incredibly knowledgeable, especially regarding holistic treatments. They have helped me quite a bit with my current dog's medical issues. The support staff is like a revolving door of people and there is no consistency whatsoever. Since Covid, people are not allowed to come in with their dogs so it's very difficult to communicate with the staff. I have called and left messages and never got a call back. I have called with urgent requests with promises that a doctor will be notified and someone will get back to me and I've had to call three and four times to finally get a response. They have forgotten me out in the parking lot after I've checked in on a very hot day and I have a senior dog who is very fragile. Prices are very high. They do have some packaging for some of the services but even though I have a package they will often charge me and I have to remind them I have a package. There are so many different assistants/receptionist type people that I can't even keep track of them all and I have to explain my dog's very serious condition over and over and over again. On top of that, I am hard of hearing and having to talk to the doctor from the busy parking lot on my phone is very difficult for me. Also, their phone system and their process of phone triage which I don't think actually exists sucks. I know that everyone there is trying to do their best but they need to improve communication, service and consistency. If it wasn't for the fact that they are right around the corner from me and I've been taking my animals there for literally over 20 years, I would find another vet. When my dog needed surgery because she had a giant tumor on her foot that was actually impairing her ability to walk, they kind of threw me out into the wilderness to find a surgeon on my own. Her doctor at the time did not think it was a problem but it was getting worse and would have been inoperable if we would have waited longer. I was given an old paper list of surgeons, some who don't even practice anymore, and I ended up finding a surgeon that I used to see at Berkeley Dog and Cat who immediately saw the problem and took care of my dog. I complained to management and said that I wanted to talk to them about this situation but no one has ever sat down and talked with me about it so here it is in my review. I especially like Dr.Holliday & Dr. Herter. They are both very good at asking good questions and making really good suggestions. I have a rescue mutt who I literally rescued off the street when she was a puppy. She's been with me for 14 years and it's very important to me to have the very best care always in a consistent manner.

I started coming here more than 25 years ago and have been remiss in reviewing this place. I've…read moreused Creature Comfort (CC) initially to treat my GSD that had neurological issues. She was greatly helped with acupuncture. My present GSD came to CC for laser treatment for her ankle injury in the last year and a half. Instead of $12,000 that I might have spent on surgery to fuse her ankle ligaments, I was able to rehabilitate her with an ankle brace and holistic treatment; and spent less than $1000 on exams and procedures. I still have laser treatments in my CC "bank" (I purchased a treatment plan) to use if my GSD needs them in the future. I miss being able to bring my pup in to interface with the doctors which has been pretty standard practice at all vet clinics since Covid. But all the technicians that I've met have been pretty awesome.

We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Dasho and his team for the outstanding care they provided for our…read morelarge, fearful dog. After several challenging experiences at a traditional veterinary office, we reached out to his team for help, and we're so glad we did. They were kind, punctual, professional, and exceptionally skilled. Thanks to their thoughtful approach, we were able to complete all of our dog's vaccinations with minimal stress in a convenient setting outside the home, which helped avoid territorial issues. They guided us in choosing medications to keep him calm and followed up afterward to make sure he was doing well. We were very impressed by how confidently and compassionately they handled him. They also took the time to walk us through the risks and benefits of different options, helping us make informed, personalized decisions tailored to our dog's needs. We highly recommend Lotus to anyone looking for a low-stress alternative to a traditional vet visit.

Dr Rachael clearly loves her work and her patients. She's gentle and compassionate and thorough,…read moreand is well versed both in traditional veterinary medicine and in alternative modalities. My cat has a seizure disorder, and she of course prescribed pharmaceutical solutions, but also offers acupuncture that clearly keeps him feeling calm and settled. She will offer new services that she thinks will help with his various aches and pains, and she and her staff are always happy to show up and help out, even on short notice.

I can't say enough wonderful things about Alternatives for Animals and Dr. Rettig. If you're…read morelooking for compassionate, thoughtful, and effective care for your animals, I wholeheartedly recommend them. When my older dog started struggling with arthritic joints, we decided to try acupuncture, and it truly turned things around. Before long, he was back to hopping onto his favorite spots -- the couch and the bed -- without any trouble. Seeing that kind of improvement meant everything to me. One thing I appreciate most is that I never once felt upsold. Dr. Rettig only recommended therapies she genuinely believed he needed, and that honesty and integrity are so refreshing. You can tell she truly cares about her patients and their quality of life. The entire staff has always been professional and kind, and everyone there is wonderful with humans too -- which matters so much. When my dog was diagnosed with untreatable cancer, Dr. Rettig helped give him the best months he possibly could have had. That gift of time, comfort, and dignity is something I'll always be grateful for. I also love that they carry really high-quality foods, treats and other products, which makes it easy to support your pet's health in every way.

I need more stars to give. Dr. Rettig is essential to our family, and I have told her that if she…read moreever moves away, she should just plan that we are coming along with her. From our very first visit, she completely understood and intuited the needs of our sweet dog Jojo, and has kept her healthy and vibrant well into her "senior years" (I use quotation marks because Jojo is about 13 years old but is frequently mistaken for a puppy, given how youthful and energetic she is). I can't even begin to express what a tremendous gift it has been to feel secure that we can handle any health issues that come up for Jojo, with the support of Dr. Rettig and her team. We animal guardians love our little ones so much, and there's nothing worse than watching them suffer and not knowing how to help. Whenever I can surrender enough to completely hand over the assessment and decision making to Dr. Rettig, we always get a good outcome. On more than one occasion, we have seen resolution of an acute issue within 24 hours of our treatment session. It's been truly remarkable. Dr. Rettig is an expert in holistic animal care, but on the few occasions that Jojo has needed specialty help from a traditional vet, Dr. Rettig communicated that to us immediately and supplied us with wonderful referrals. We trust her recommendations completely. Jojo loves Dr. Rettig, too! She is often eager and excited when we arrive at the clinic, which is not the case with ANY other vet we have taken her to see. We all know how lucky we are to have access to such a unique healing practice!

I was very disappointed with this animal care business. Their staff and treatments may be great,…read morebut we didn't get that far. Today I called for an acupuncture appointment for my cat, to be told that she needed to be seen by their vet first. We had just been to a new vet a few days ago, to the tune of $500. So I asked if this place could just use those records. No, they couldn't. That meant a superfluous vet visit for another $100+ and then acupuncture for $200. Maybe other pet parents around here haven't felt the bite of inflation, but we have! All this was not doable, or even reasonable since we already have a vet, but most of all I was sad for my cat.

Beth was a great help to my dog, Mitch, with his digestive problems -- and provided a frozen treat…read morefor him at the start of every treatment. He tolerated the treatments very calmly, and seemed like he was just relaxing on the table while the needles went to work. I recommend Beth, and would use her again, if needed.

Great in every way . Versatile, skilled, compassionate. I…read morehave known Dr. Reed for over 20 years and she just gets more knowledgeable all the time.

I think my puppy must have fallen in love with Dr. Bane immediately, because by the time the two of…read morethem came out to the sidewalk (Covid precaution) to continue our quite extensive initial appointment, she had his absolutely devoted attention, cooperation, & trust. Dr. Bane's exam (March 2021) was comprehensive and well-beyond helpful. She noted that he had an undescended testicle (totally missed by the staff at a local corporately owned vet hospital, and by me), and spent lots of time offering much needed guidance about his diet -- including offering me a basic recipe that greatly improved upon his home-cooked meals and analyzing what vitamins and minerals should be added to make them optimal. Since I also feed him Carna4 kibble, she went over those ingredients thoroughly as well. As is common with doodles, my pup has a somewhat sensitive gut and itchy skin. When Animal Biome sent a detailed report on his microbiome, Dr. Bane spent half an hour of her own time (no charge to me) consulting with their microbiologist, and then spent lots of time (at a very reasonable cost) going over their report with me and making recommendations. She's been wonderfully accessible and thoughtful whenever I've needed guidance -- most recently about a minimally invasive approach to his cryptorchid neutering and gastropexy, and in a short time I've come to trust her completely. I'm very thankful we found our way to All Paws and especially to Dr. Bane!

great massage! easy to schedule and very kind. have been going since she was on san pablo in…read moreberkeley. can't recommend her enough!

I have been Yoko's client for more than 4 years, initially at her Berkeley location and now in…read moreOakland, so this review is long overdue. She has the most intuitive and healing touch and is my favorite massage therapist. Yoko clearly takes the time to listen to my requests, but the best part is she's is able to discern what I need without me having to tell her. Sometimes I have no idea how much work I need until she's already on it. As a fitness instructor, my job can be hard on my body, so maintenance is key. After Yoko's massages, I not only feel blissfully relaxed but I also know that she has worked out kinks in my muscles to achieve better alignment and overall body function. During both of my pregnancies, Yoko routinely gave me prenatal massages. I have been to prenatal massages by other practitioners that were acceptable/passable. However, Yoko applied the perfect amount of pressure in the exact right spots to make me melt. I saw her every 2-4 weeks at points during my pregnancies but wish I had boundless financial resources to see her even more frequently. Now that my second child is a few months old, I continue to rely on and put all of my trust in Yoko to help relieve intense muscle tension that I'm sure all mothers of little ones experience. Scheduling appointments with Yoko is quick and easy. I always receive an email reminder, which saves directly into my Gmail calendar. That's a plus! Her Oakland studio is warm and inviting, to match her personality. Yoko is an absolute gem!

I also am a "woman of a certain age" and have used vets all my life and Dr. Dunn is far and away…read morethe best. She is kind, funny, and insanely knowledgeable, catching things that no other vet did. She also really puts herself in the pet's mindset and won't push or suggest things that she thinks would compromise their quality of life even if it might make them "better" but she gives you all the info and lets you make the decision that is right for you and your pet. I have cats, and I would for sure call her the cat expert. When it was time to put my cat down whom she had known for probably 13 years, she made a housecall. She's just the best.

The BEST This is…read morethe best vet all around office clinic I have ever known in my life and at the age of almost 60 and having had many animals and known many vets. We recently moved from the East Bay to Marin however I will still take my animals to this vet office. Best most knowledgeable team of veterinarians best front office. Friendly and committed to good service best policies.. This is a general vet office that offers holistic options This team could also recommend some good specialist and I have other reviews for internist cardiologist etc.

Charly is an angel. She really helped me deal with the loss of my sweet kitty, Charlotte. I…read moreoriginally made the appointment when Charlotte was still alive and struggling. She stopped eating and we took her into the emergency vet. We had to put her down and it felt so sudden. It was a real shock. I cancelled my appointment with Charly, but then changed my mind and rescheduled it. During our session, she told me that the moment she received my request, Charlotte came through to her and said she was ready to go. This was a great comfort to me. She said many other things that deeply comforted me and confirmed that Charlotte's spirit will never leave me. I am still very sad, but this session helped tremendously. I also had a healing done for myself, which was so very helpful. I felt lighter and less devastated. I also felt Charlotte's spirit all around me. I highly recommend Charly for pet communication and healing for your fur baby or yourself. She is a very sweet and empathetic soul and I feel she is the real deal. I know there are skeptics and naysayers, but I don't care. This experience made a huge difference for me in my grieving process and connection to Charlotte.

OMG Charly saved my cat. I had accidentally poisoned her (flea treatment) and Charly saved her…read morelife. I will be forever grateful for her help and ongoing concern over the days following my mishap. Her communication with Cassie was amazing since it sounded exactly as if Cass was talking to me!! I will refer clients to Charly any time I hear of someone who needs her expertise.

Found this updated post in my draft folder from a year ago or so. Oops. (Dedicated to Moo-Moo.)…read more Kitty showed improvement after just 2 visits. Our local vets didn't think it was possible. More key points I learned: (6) 50-60°F Cold compresses for 2 minutes, then (5) 105°F hot for 2 minutes. Start with cold & end with cold. This gets the blood moving in & out of the area. Warmth is inflammatory, that's why you need to start & end with cold. I bought a bunch of microwavable heat/cold pads. I would put the hot pads in a pot of hot water while using the cold pads to heat them back up. Make sure the urine stays clean looking (bladder emptied 2 or 3 times a day & antibiotics if an infection develops), the skin & genitals get cleaned & dried well to or not get a skin infection. Females - don't cross-contaminate by bringing feces bacteria to the genitals. Infection = sepsis Products I found helpful: cat waterless shampoo, A+D diaper rash ointment & skin protectant (vet recommended because no toxic zinc in it) , & Honey Pot anti-itch wipes.

We just love Dr Maeg! Her holistic approach has been beyond helpful in all areas related to our…read moredog. She has great recommendations! Our dog fell off our bed and hurt his hip and started limping and couldn't sit anymore. It was so sad to see a dog that walked 2 miles daily starting to limp. We were worried about coming to see Dr Maeg bc our dog is a bit reactive and not good with new people. However, he loved Dr Maeg immediately. After his first visit his limp was gone and he could sit normally. After our second visit he was like new. We bring him regularly just bc his appts make him so happy. We are so grateful for you Dr Maeg!