Cindie's work with animals is incredibly effective - I've heard of dozens of success stories from…read moreher and her clients. I refer my patients to her services and hear great things in response! One in particular sticks out: A sweet dog was getting eye surgery and I recommended Cindie work with him. And when he came back for his post-surgical check up, the vet was astounded that the inflammation was totally clear - something the vet had never seen before! So if you're wondering whether it's worth it to have your pet receive some energy healing when you're already spending so much for their health - the answer is YES! It can make the recovery process easier and less drawn out for your pet (that means less costly too). If you're looking for an unforgettable experience, take a class with Cindie Ambar. I don't have pets now, but I love connecting with animals. I took my pregnant wife to a workshop at the pregnant mare rescue on how to bond with animals and we had the most magical time. The baby horses came right up to us and loved us up after we meditated with them. I can't think of a better gift to give another person than a magical experience like that! And if you want to build your skills as an animal healer yourself - take her Reiki classes! Cindie is the real deal - give her a call and step into her world. She's got brilliant talents and resources.

There are no words that can accurately portray just how profound and life-altering Cindie's work…read moreis! Cindie is exceptionally adept in understanding what your body, mind, and spirit require at any given moment while supporting you on your healing journey. Her powerful intuition, deep sense of compassion, and rich experience makes her invaluable as a healer and simply a wonderful human being to work with. Over the past 3 years, Cindie has helped me overcome some of the most challenging moments of my life through her vast repertoire of healing modalities; by breaking old patterns, tearing down ancient barriers, and shedding a multitude of layers, I feel a sense of hope and joy restored in my daily life! If you're looking to give holistic healing a try, look no further-I highly recommend booking a session with Cindie!

Dr Wells is very kind, thorough and intelligent…read more My Labrador suffers from laryngeal paralysis which is very difficult to treat. Dr. Wells was honest with me right away but also said it was worth trying some treatment. My dog has been much more comfortable and is breathing easier since receiving acupuncture, herbs and other modalities from Dr. Wells. It's been very stressful since getting his diagnosis but Dr. Wells has helped me and my dog feel much better.

We were fortunate enough to find Dr. Lynda Wells after our dog Honeybear was unfortunately…read morediagnosed with aggressive T-cell lymphoma. Simply put, she is one of the best vets we have ever encountered. We wanted to create a team to help us through this process. We combined our chemotherapy treatment with her alternative treatment to give Honeybear the best chance of living a happy and healthy life. She was very adamant that chemotherapy was the best treatment with the best results for longevity of his life, but the harmful effects of chemotherapy should be combined with alternative treatment to create the best possible outcome. She provided one of the most thorough examinations on our dog and looked at many things other vets missed. She also spent more time with our dog than any veterinarian we have encountered. Her treatment used a variety of different modalities that included homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic, and laser treatments. Our dog was able to live a happy and healthy life for the rest of his time on earth thanks to our team, but we feel Dr. Lynda Wells played a huge role in that process. We cannot thank her enough for all her help and support through this difficult time in our lives. We would give 10 stars if we could. Thank you Dr. Wells! Dylan and Jessica

Dr. Mathis! From…read morethe bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for helping and reviving our 14 year old Sunny Boy (Shitzu). He hasn't had any more seizures for almost 2 months, and he is so much peppier, engaged, playful and comfortable! As we shared with you, Sunny was looking lethargic and depressed for so long -- for months, if not years, and we just assumed it was "old age" plus his heart murmur -- and we thought there was not much we could do for him (especially in quarantine). And then the seizures started coming --almost every 2 days until you treated him. The herbs you prescribed on his first visit were right on point! No more seizures, and his appetite is also bigger and more enthusiastic and expressive. I'm so grateful I found you back in 2002 (I think) at VCA johnson to take care of our senior Chihuahua Queenie, then our Minipin Sparky, our Jack Russel Pearl, and our ancient 19 year old mini Chihuahua Tynee. Not only did you help us give them all comfort and care, you've been an incredible educator as a holistic pet vet that helped us be better caretakers, as well as better understand the unique "elemental" needs, personality and health issues of each our pets. Thank you for continuing to do the amazing work for these precious beings. We're so blessed to have you and wish you great health and prosperity in all your endeavors! Bless you! The Shemirani Family

This is a VERY long overdue review for Dr. Deb Mathis and I cant believe I havent posted on sooner…read more Deb has worked with generation of pets that have blessed my life. She began working with my W. Hybrid Dakota some time around 2000. Dakota was suffering from sequale of Cipro at the time. It was so heartbreaking to watch him deteriorate. Deb worked with him for years with not only great improvement, but she truly made his final years enjoyable for him. She also was a godsend for me, helping me to prepare for the day my love would be leaving this planet. How to read the signs and know he was ready. She treated him until until his final days and also treated my cat Tuxedo. My life was a mess at the time, working 70 hour weeks with twin boys at home and she was always such a blessing for our animals and family. And Yes, I finally quit that that job, as much as it hurt. Deb has since worked with my Yorkie Poo Max who joined the family in 2005. Max suffered from chronic seizures and ultimately 3rd Degree AV Block and now has a pacemaker. It's been a very tough journey with my animals at times, but having a resource for both Vet Care, Holistic Vet Care and Behavioral Training has been such a blessing. Most recently Deb has been coming by to help with my roommate's puppy. Her pup is a dear but was having a hard time learning boundaries and controlling his aggression which ultimately let to him attacking my Yorkie Poo and exposing the lead to his pacemaker through his neck. It was one of the most traumatizing events I have ever witnessed and Deb came to our rescue using behavioral modification. We have more work to do before the dogs can be in the same room without worry of another attack, but the pup has made amazing improvements. For the two people who posted negative reviews I am only sorry you never had the chance to truly get to know and work with Deb. She drives the Bay Area to do house calls and help these animals. She is a small business, not a corporate owned vet and I LOVE THIS ABOUT HER! What you get with that is quality healthcare for your pet, but you may not get a receptionist who can return calls daily. I get your frustration but it is truly unfortunate you wont get the chance to work with this amazing healer and human being.

Proceed with CAUTION ‼‼…read more I regret to say that my experience at The Whole Pet Vet Wellness was deeply troubling and misleading. From the initial phone conversations, I was given the impression that this clinic was welcoming, supportive, and genuinely invested in the well-being of my eight-month-old German Shepherd. However, once I arrived in person, the tone and treatment shifted dramatically. What was presented as straightforward care quickly became layered with unexpected and costly add-on fees that were never clearly disclosed beforehand. The experience felt structured to create trust upfront, only for essential information and services to be reframed later in a way that prioritized billing over transparency. The conduct of management--specifically Joe (manager) and Jenn (assistant manager)--was particularly concerning. Both displayed a dismissive and condescending attitude, speaking down to clients rather than communicating with professionalism or empathy. On one occasion, I personally witnessed front desk staff being reprimanded and spoken to harshly in front of me, which was uncomfortable and inappropriate in a client-facing environment. Most alarming was the refusal of assistance while I was present with my dog and seeking help, allegedly due to staffing limitations. A wellness clinic should not invite clients in under assurances of care only to later deny support because of inadequate veterinary coverage. In contrast, the front desk employees, MIA, Ava and Ashley were consistently kind and professional, despite being placed in difficult and clearly demoralizing situations. Trust is everything when it comes to veterinary care. Unfortunately, this clinic's leadership demonstrated poor communication, questionable transparency, and a troubling focus on revenue rather than patient well-being. I strongly encourage pet owners to ask very detailed questions and consider alternative clinics before committing to care here. I am extremely disappointed with my experience at Whole Pet Vet and feel it is important to share my concerns to warn other pet owners. Wait....Having said that.... It gets worse..... My eight-month-old German Shepherd was seen at this clinic, and throughout the process I experienced a troubling lack of communication, follow-through, and professionalism. I repeatedly attempted to contact the clinic for updates and clarification regarding my dog's care and diagnosis, often calling more than ten times before receiving any response. Even then, many of my requests went unanswered. A diagnosis of possible elbow dysplasia was delivered without adequate explanation, guidance, or timely follow-up, leaving me anxious and confused about my young dog's health. The lack of communication during such a serious situation felt negligent and deeply distressing. Additionally, I was initially led to believe that I would be shown how to administer Adequan injections to my dog during a visit. This was presented as a straightforward and supportive process. However, once in the room, I was informed by the assistant manager, Jenn, that she would refuse to demonstrate how to give a simple subcutaneous injection unless I paid an additional $49 fee. This was never clearly communicated beforehand and felt opportunistic, especially given the emotional state of a concerned pet owner. It was difficult not to feel that financial gain was prioritized over patient care. The veterinarians and management, including Joe and Jenn, did not demonstrate compassion, accountability, or integrity in my experience. I do want to note that the front desk staff--specifically Mia, Ashley, and Ava--were consistently kind, professional, and helpful. Unfortunately, their efforts were overshadowed by the actions and decisions of the clinic's leadership and medical staff. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this clinic. Pet owners deserve transparency, timely communication, and care that prioritizes the well-being of animals--not unexpected fees or unanswered calls. I strongly encourage others to seek veterinary care elsewhere.

Not a great experience. Some staff members are nice but their fees are over the top even for a vet…read morein 2026. They will have so many line item up charges most of which you can cross out and then if you leave for 20 min while the pet is being worked on they charge another $67 fee. It's like can't the $2K cover the 20 min?

Needed to find a dentist that did not use anaesthesia for cleaning teeth because my dog is allergic…read moreand I nearly lost him. Hallelujah for Doctor Annette Richmond my Moki comes out wide awake and happy.

THIS PLACE IS NOT HOLISTIC. They push toxic meds and it's their number one strategy. I used to…read moretake my dog to this vet. They have gone corporate. As you can see from their description here where one of their top two draws is giving vaccinations. I love the actual veterinarian here who is very good. I'm not sure if she knows her office is turning away sick clients due to vaccinations. I have a ten year old dog who has had issues with chronic diarrhea and they refused to see him unless I gave him a rabies shot. He has had all his vaccines in time all his life but he's ten now and having issues and the last thing I am doing is adding more toxicity. I asked for a titer test instead they refused when we all know those vaccines last 7 years or more. Since when is it their job to police these things ? They send constant emails with specials on toxic meds that kill dogs like nexgard and heartgard. They don't care about my animal #firstdonoharm.

Emily is EXACTLY what we were hoping for in a dog trainer. She's punctual, friendly, knowledgeable,…read morekind towards all and SO very good at her craft. We have a year old Boston Terrier who was nipping, bolting and pretty out of control most days. Emily came in, and within a session, we can see a big difference in our pup. We can't recommend Emily enough!!!

I called for help with my 6 month old Yorkie - he was given to me by my parents who were in over…read moretheir head with a puppy, who IMHO was taken away from his mother too young. Georgie (the Yorkie) was mouthy, marked everywhere and quite undisciplined. My only other dog was a golden retriever mix so I didn't know the difference between a dog who wanted to only please me (retriever) and the stubborn Yorkie I had inherited. After unsuccessfully housebreaking Georgie for several weeks, I decided to enlist a professional so I didn't make mistakes with him down the line. And with my busy schedule (divorced mom of two and full time workaholic) I didn't want to neglect the sweet little addition to my family. Emily was able to find four days to work with my pup that fit my busy schedule as well as give me the tools I needed as a Yorkie owner. She is patient and left me detailed notes on what I need to do to keep the commands she taught him. She even worked with my kids so they could use the same commands. She also made sure to take him around town to socialize him with other dogs and people - he came home exhausted from the fun day! I'm proud to say we still use the commands she taught Georgie (it's been about 5 months) but sadly the breed is tough to housebreak - he's smart but particularly stubborn. However, the pee pad techniques Emily worked on is pretty useful so that is a definite plus! And Georgie is pretty cute so we don't mind too much...

Jeremy came highly recommended by a close friend. My aging husky had survived cancer, but developed…read moreliver failure; and the medications the vet gave us made her sick, and lifeless. After consulting with Jeremy we felt much better. He helped us get her off all the medications that didn't seem to be helping, and gave us a list of supplements to get her feeling better. Within a few months she was back to her amazing, playful self. Jeremy gave us the gift of loving our fur baby for a couple years longer than we probably would have had her if we kept her medicated. There's no words I can come up with to thank Jeremy enough. For anyone looking for a more holistic approach for themselves or pup, I cannot recommend him enough.

From the owner: Hopeful Holistics takes an integrative approach towards wellness for both you and your pet. Through…read morethe use of natural supplements, cannabis, and nutrition, we are able to restore immune function to the body and allow healing to occur as nature intended. We treat many conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to auto immune disease and cancer. We have various protocols to restore health and maintain wellness.

I want to say a big thank you for helping my little dog's ear - she's sensitive to ear drops, but…read moreDr. Shannon was able to find some that really helped her and she didn't have any bad reaction! Very dedicated to my dog's health! Thank you

They love our dogs for us when we must be away. McCayla is the most lovely person ever!read more

We were 10 minutes late for our new kitty appointment and they refused to see us. "That's the…read morepolicy". We called stuck in traffic they said we would need to be there within 10 minutes of our appointment time in order to be seen. We made it in the door at 10 minutes past and they refused to see us. We have been coming here for at least 30 years and this is how we are treated. We will never come back again. Taking all our business elsewhere.

$38 to have my birds nails trimmed is very expensive for a bird owner. Especially when it takes…read moreless than 10 minutes or $228 per hour for nail trimming.

My favorite Magic shop in Santa Cruz! (Well, they are in Soquel Village) Not too witchy, but…read moredefinitely witchy enough. Not too pagan, but definitely pagan. They have an amazing selection of goods from cultures around the world! Boomerangs! African sculptures, Asian goddesses, lots of Celtic stuff, drums, flags. It's a perfect place for a gift shop, books, local clothing vendors and unique items. It also is a spiritual shop, so they carry lots of tarot and oracle decks, have astrology and psychic readings, and do fairs the 2nd Sunday of the month. A good place for herbs, crystals, jewelry & candles. A super fun stop whether you're just visiting or local to Santa Cruz. Not to be missed!

We had Gwen and Avalon Visions do readings for our wedding and we couldn't be happier with their…read moreamazing skills!! They had a station set up for tarot and everyone was able to get a reading, they even stayed later then agreed upon which was so kind! Everyone made kind comments about their readings and time with Gwen. It was a huge hit! We are so grateful!