I was close to amputating my dog's leg had I not called up Dr. Farese and his staff at Golden Gate Vet's oncology/surgery department. My maltipoo had a mass on his leg for some time. I had my primary vet take a sample for cytology on it a few years ago and came back inconclusive. I noticed the mass grew faster than normal the first 2 weeks of April. I live in the south bay and was not able to get any oncology/surgery appointments in a timely manner. I ended up booking apts with two different vets that specialize in surgery/oncology to speed up the process. The wait was about 1.5-2 weeks. Then the mass burst open. I stayed up using google AI search to educate myself on mass/tumor on a dog's leg, treatment, surgery, options. You'll be surprised how much you learn in a short amount of time. It helped me guide my meetings with vets. In my opinion, this is the most important part in finding care for your fur baby. You HAVE to educate yourself. I booked Vet A with a surgeon (not an oncology specialist) and Vet B with an oncologist (but not a surgeon). B requires that I meet with oncology first before consultation with a surgeon. This was frustrating because I didn't have time and my dog was bleeding. I had to wrap it daily and it smelled like rotten flesh. I was finally able to meet with Vet A on Tuesday and the surgeon was adamant about removing the leg and refused to remove the mass itself. While I think the advice to remove the leg was medically sound (large mass, potential spread, eliminating the need to have another surgery should the mass grow back, no clean margins on a small dog legs, dog can still have good quality of life), I refused to take his leg. My dog was 11 and I want to give him the best quality of life in his senior years with his leg. I could not sleep for the next two days. I went back to google AI search to get a second opinion and had it provide the best oncologist/surgeons/pet hospitals in the greater bay area. It consistently came up with a few Doctors, UC Davis center, etc.. I narrowed my search to find an oncologist surgeon, a Dr. who does both and came up with Dr. Farese at Golden Gate. I called GG Wednesday and Andrea was patient, listened and acted with a sense of urgency! She had me explain everything in an email to her and Dr. Farese, share the report from Vet A and go from there. I did not realize how a strong and dedicated front office can make such a big difference! Initially, Dr. Farese cannot meet till the following week, but Andrea was able to get me to meet in front Dr. Farese the next day Thursday (Vet A's apt was Tues)! I can't believe it! At this time, the tumor/mass hole was even bigger. Pieces of it were starting to fall out. It was disgusting. My meeting with Dr. Farese was a step change when compared with Vet A. I felt Dr. Farese was: 1) extremely knowledgeable and technical, explained medical terms that's understandable to a general audience 2) was not disrespectful and realize his customers can learn a lot from AI and search nowadays 3) was sincere about listening to my concerns and proposed options, then educated me on the risks (I was ok with future surgery with debulking and amputation because my dog is already 11) 4) All pet owners know it is pricey, Dr. Farese was up front and honest about it (most vets let others do the talking/negotiating about cost of the work) At the end of my meeting, I was sold on having Dr. Farese operate on my dog, amputation or not. I also felt comfort, my stress level went down.... my research paid off. I told him to do his best to save the leg, but understood if he had to do it at the time of surgery. Dr. Farese and Andrea looked at their schedules and were able to move things around to do the surgery next Thursday. What urgency! What made me feel even better was that I received the surgery details about removing the leg from Vet A, 3 days after my visit (when promised that I'll receive the details the same day). 3 days while he was bleeding! It was a happy ending where my dog recovered, kept his leg, tumor removed, tumor was low grade and not malignant, X-rays came back negative with no spread. Dr. Farese was personable and made me feel like my dog was his first surgery and he was still trying to grow his business. In short: Solid front office staff operates in unison with Dr. Farese Fast response and acted with urgency Listens and makes you feel at home read more

We had visited this office in 2023 with our feline whom had an ear polyp issues, ear infections. Our ex vet had botched the extraction procedure and lead us astray to proper treatment and mentioned cancer w-out diagnostics. I found Dr Farese, and we had a consultation. He is a personable, professional person and took care of our sweet boy with compassion. Dr. Farese is honest with you, explains procedures and costs, pre estimates are given to the client. We had a complete examination with X-rays and a CT scan. Antibiotics were given and Our boy did well the past three years and now we're back to see Dr Farese as the ear polyp grew back. We elected years ago not to do an ear ablation. We know that polyps can grow back. Dr Farese has referred us today to a Dermatologist in office. We're on a waiting list. We are impressed with Dr Farese. We would refer our family and friends to him without any hesitation. read more

My dog had TPLO surgery with Dr Farese . From start to finish this practice has it dialed in, efficient compassionate and competent. They kept me notified by text of every step of the surgery process. I just knew my dog would be ok. Dr Farese is the best vet I've ever experienced. Calm and reassuring . His qualifications and experience are the best . You will immediately feel confident in his skill. This is a significant surgery and I wanted the best outcome which is why I chose Dr Farese. My dog is still recovering. But the support golden gate vet has given has made a huge difference. If your beloved dog needs TPLO surgery I highly recommend Dr Farese. You will find cheaper vets but I was not confident about the expertise . This is what determines the outcome. read more

This practice is very close to our home. Dr. Ruppel is a good veterinary specialist, knowledgeable and confident during our first visit. However, our small dog needs Chem (11) CBC lab tests every two months. After the first exam and back home, we received estimates for an ultrasound and lab tests but nothing for the important Chem (11) CBC. After three weeks, February 13, 2025, we called and requested an estimate for the Chem (11) CBC. A staffer replied that she will leave a note for Dr. Ruppel's department and that someone will get back to us. As of today, March 14, we have not received an answer. On March 2, we faxed a written request. As of today, we have not received an answer. It appears unlikely that we will receive an answer. read more

The doctors are great, but it's IMPOSSIBLE to call and get anyone to answer the phone. It always goes to voicemail and you wait forever to get a call back. No one responds to the app messages and email responses take a while as well. Pets going here often have serious issues, so not being able to get a hold of anyone is so stressful. read more

I was desperate to find out the name of the procedure my dog needed for a medial collateral ligament tear. That information was not included with the diagnosis. I got very frustrated because there were two possible procedures, and surgeons seemed to specialize in one or the other, not both. I spoke to Tatiana in the Surgery department at Golden Gate. She listened to my dilema and said she would get back to me. Other clinics I spoke to were taking several days to get back to me. They also wanted to book an appointment when it wasn't clear if they could actually do the surgery. She called back as promised with great information to help nail down the name of the procedure and let me know if their surgeon did that surgery. Great listening skills, and follow up. Thank you! read more

Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists are amazing! Particularly, their oncology department. They've been so helpful during our pets chemotherapy treatments and treated her with absolute care. She's in remission! read more

Our veterinarian was spectacular but professional veterinary, medical and dental practices simply cannot function safely and properly without engaged, competent and diligent office staff. The dysfunction was evident even before we had our first appointment and that was just previews of coming attractions. I was sent an inappropriate invoice which made no sense. During their specified business hours no one answered the phones, I left multiple messages to no avail. I tried to reach out by text and in response I was sent links that I did not understand at all. The more I requested clarification of the invoice, the more confusion and bizarre texts with links I could not follow were sent. It is clear that if the office staff cannot resolve an issue with a text exchange, than it cannot be resolved at all. I requested that the office manager contact me. I was promised that she would and, of course she never did. I will not go back there, for the safety and welfare of my dogs. What an absolute disgrace. read more

We turned to Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists because they came highly recommended and had the earliest available internist appointment despite being 50 miles away. Our dog was facing a potentially serious diagnosis--cancer or a fungal infection--and time was of the essence. We had the fungal blood test done on Tues 08/20, knowing that every moment counted. By Thurs 08/22, our dog's condition deteriorated rapidly, with recurring fevers that made us fear the worst. I reached out to Golden Gate, and they assured me the results might arrive on Fri 08/23 but would most likely be in by Mon 08/26. They promised to keep me informed. Fri 08/23 came and went with no updates, despite my attempts to reach out. We scheduled an appointment with our primary vet for Mon 08/26 at 4 PM, hoping we'd have the results in hand. At 3:30 PM, I called Golden Gate and was told to expect a summary and a call from the doctor. By 5:10 PM, I had heard nothing. I called again and again, only to be met with voicemail even though their office states they close at 5:30 PM! In desperation, we took our dog to the emergency vet. The blood tests revealed she was in bad shape. We were faced with an impossible choice: if it was cancer, the vet advised it might be time to let her go... If it was a fungal infection, it would mean a long and uncertain treatment. But we still didn't have the critical results needed to make an informed decision. Over the weekend, our dog fought hard, but by the end of the night, we made the painful decision to let her rest. The uncertainty made it even more agonizing. On Tuesday morning, after multiple inquiries, I finally received a call informing me that the fungal test was negative. The result had been ready since Fri 08/23 morning! Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists failed us when we needed them most. Their lack of communication during such a critical time is inexcusable. We trusted them with our dog's life, and they let us down. No one should have to experience the distress we went through. read more

Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists - RIP to our beloved pup. - Veterinarians Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Dr. Farese is a kind and gentle surgeon. After surgery, my sweet girl walked right up to him wagging her tail, even though she was still coming out of anesthesia. He listens to your needs and he makes sure you know what to expect. He is a skilled surgeon. My girl, Charlie, got a little facelift with her growth removal :-) read more

Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists - Charlie right before surgery - Veterinarians Near Me - San Rafael, California

The best place to bring your pet for specialized care. Dr Eckholm and her staff are wonderful. My lab Hank has dealt with skin issues and chronic allergies. Dr Eckholm nailed it and fixed the problem. read more

Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists - Veterinarians Near Me - San Rafael, California

I've now taken my cat and dog here for 2 separate issues. Both have been a disaster. Don't bring your pet here! Go to UC Davis or Sage. Brought my puppy here for a CT scan. They diagnose her with an entropic ureter that they don't have the machines to fix. So we go to UC Davis for the surgery and lo and behold they find out she has NO entropic ureter! GG Vet Specialist's radiologist completely misdiagnosed the scan. I called them back and they looked at it again and stood by their reading which was wrong. So we spent thousands of dollars and had dog sedated twice for nothing. They refused to give me any kind of refund. Our cat had an ear mass. Take him into golden gate vet specialists to get sedated and remove the mass. Surgery goes fine. Then they call me to report that the lab LOST the culture in his ear which was needed to see what antibiotics he should be on and what kind of mass it was. They only refunded me the price of the lab test out of thousands of dollars spent. I ended up having to take him back into our local vet to get on different antibiotics after he got another ear infection! More money spent! read more

This center is just amazing. The front desk staff is very attentive, responsive and friendly. The parking out front is plenty. The oncology nurse read all the notes before the consult and asked pertinent questions. The oncologist was very caring. Finally, we had surgery for our dog who had a tumor. Doctor Farese, the surgeon, told us he had done the same surgery in the past and described in detail what he was going to do. The surgery nurse, Katie, was wonderful. We were done from start to finish in about 1 month (initial oncologist appointment, surgery consult, surgery, sutures removals). Our old dog is now running again, she is like new, she feels good and the post-surgery recovery has been smooth so far. Other centers told us they could not do the surgery so I am glad we found this place. They are very busy, if you go at 8:30 am and you see all the surgery patients being dropped off, some are repeat patients as dogs get injured easily, you would understand. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for saving our dog. read more

I brought my cat in with what a previous vet had told me was an allergy causing skin eruptions. None of the treatments tried had made any difference. I found GGV searching for veterinary dermatological specialists. We saw Dr. Eckholm and she knew immediately that our cat likely had squamous cell CA with a slimmer possibility of it being lymphoma. She was super helpful in prioritizing treatment approaches without unnecessary additional costs. She contacted a vet that she trusted that was closer to my home for my convenience. Her office contacted them, sent my records, and provided me with an estimate for surgery. All the staff was super helpful and Dr. Eckholm was thorough, thoughtful, excellent in timely responses and patient with my repeated questions. I would highly recommend this practice. read more

My Dog Jaxon has had a heck of a time the last six months with eye issues and allergies. We saw Dr. Fleischman yesterday and I was extremely impressed with how great this Doctor is. After he examined Jaxon he came in and discussed options for him. He was very nice and what a gentleman he was. He answered my questions, and the staff that took care of my scared little guy did an amazing job. We now have a plan that should help him and hopefully between Dr. Fleischman and his eye doctor they will be able to take care of this issue. I highly recommend Dr. Fleischman and Golden Gate veterinary clinic. read more

Dr Eckholm is the best. I drive all the way from San Lorenzo and they are worth it. I have been taking my girl here for about a year and I wish I found them sooner. Everyone here is so kind and helpful. Dr Eckholm has gone above and beyond with helping me get my pitbulls allergies under control. The waitlist is long but it is well worth it. And once you're in they are so responsive even with emails and always there to help. I appreciate everyone at golden gate. And I highly recommend them. read more

Horrible, organization. I did not receive follow up from the vet. Receptionist is rude. Go to Marin Pet Emergency. They are much nicer and caring. read more

My dog Joaquin has an extreme case of the Papilloma virus that has been going on since last September. He was receiving treatment with Dermatology for Animals ( Oakland) but it was time for a change. Our doctor is Dr. Fleischman. Our first appointment went great. Dr. Fleischman was able to examine my dog without having to use a muzzle. He did not hesitate when touching him, which is something that my dog will take advantage of when others including myself do it. I could tell that he put a lot of time into reading Joaquins medical records ( its a long read) and even offered some ideas that had not been mentioned at the previous clinic. We returned a few days later for his first cryo session. I was really amazed by how pain free it was for both my dog and myself. They came to get my dog right at his appointment time, and I had him back in around 90 minutes. He slept comfortably in the car on the way home, and seemed to do better with the sedation compared to our previous clinic. Golden Gate Specialists is a large, clean, modern facility. They appear to be well staffed, and everyone has been great to my dog, especially the techs that worked with us. The price is to be expected when you are going to a specialist. But, they do not over charge, and I was actually surprised by how reasonable the cryo session was. I even noticed today that someone gave him a mani/pedi while he was sedated. I am so happy that we made to move here. I did notice that they appear to be increasing the number of specialists that they have on staff here. Hopefully that will make it easier for people to get appointments faster. read more

Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists - Animal Dermatology and Surgery 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. Not only was the mass removed successfully but Dr Farese was able to pull a flap of skin around so that her cheek looks almost as it did before the 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 and compassionate canine oncology surgeon, Dr Farese, in Marin. I cannot thank him and his team enough! read more

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I have been going to this specialist for oncology treatment. Yes the cancer is gone at this moment. But the service that I received is extremely poor starting with the front desk Prices change on a regular basis Answers are vague The front desk is not really concerned. And now the straw is "what is done during the physical".? Answer- a general overview. My question was referring to the fact that my dog has gone blind- is this part of the treatment? "Don't know! And we don't look at their eyes. "It is a physical from nose to tail", but they do not give them a physical. They look in their ears manually, and they look at the sclera-manually. They do not take a scope and look at the eye so I have no way to document when she became blind in one eye. I have one more visit and then I am done with this place. I am so happy my dog is well, and I am so happy I will not be returning to this place. read more

I have just been to the GGVS for a check-up with Dr. Eckholm. Winnie, my black lab, is being treated for allergies and itching. It's been a year now and she is doing very well. I love this veterinary practice. The staff are fantastic. I drive up from Pacifica - it's well worth the drive. I have a lovely vet in Pacifica but GGVS are specialists. Dr. Eckholm is so wonderful. I didn't have to wait; the staff are so courteous. Altogether a great experience. read more

I was very happy with the caring knowledgeable staff who took care of my Boston Terrier. They gave me meds for her ulcerated eye and troubleshot why she had suddenly seemed lethargic & had trouble walking. She was even able to see a neurologist. I totally recommend that his hospital. read more

My initial attempts to contact Golden Gate Vets to schedule a consultation for my 5 yr old Basenji were not successful. I had made multiple attempts but received no response. Since our regular vet had done nothing more to help but hand me a Googled list of surgeons I was already frustrated at this point (a month had passed since the regular vet aborted a planned biopsy procedure at the last minute). Dr. James Farese responded to me directly, on a Sunday!, to make this right. Apparently, GGVets' staff had tried to contact me but some sort of snafu resulted in their email getting misrouted. Twenty four hours later, I have a scheduled appointment (still a month away but it's the end of the year at this point and we're running straight into holidays so it is what it is). I'm just relieved that I can finally make progress again in getting my poor dog the help she needs. --- original review (2021-12-19) On their website they suggest you to contact them by email or phone. Since everyone's super busy I decide on email, plus it means I can send along additional information (as attachments) about my dog's situation. I tried sending emails at least THREE times and received NO RESPONSE. Finally, I called and was directed to voicemail (during business hours). I left a message and mentioned that I had emailed them several times and that the email included additional information. ALL I WANTED TO KNOW SO FAR IS: "Is this the type of case you can handle?" STILL, they NEVER responded to the emails and NEVER called back. All they had to do is say "No" if that was the case or "Yes, maybe, but we don't have any availability for a consult until X." I get it. We are all busy and Covid has overwhelmed us. ALL OF US. But there is absolutely NO REASON that this can be used as some sort of excuse to treat people poorly. read more

The vets here are great! Amazing! The two stars is for the rest of the staff who; don't return calls, no one EVER answers the phone, it seems that one department doesn't talk to the other, and your appointments are made without even asking. It seems like the animals are literally running the show. Because it's really the only pet dermatology around, your stuck with a bad staff but great doctors. read more

We can't say enough about the wonderful care our very sick adult cat received from Dr. Fleischman. Trixie had a very serious allergic reaction to medication she was given by her primary vet. Dr. Fleischman diagnosed and treated the symptoms, which cleared up in eight weeks. Thank you again Dr. Fleischman. read more

We had to take our dog there for cancer in his limbs and lungs. The doctor and his staff were very compassionate and knowledgeable. The doctor went out of his way to minimize our costs and he spent a lot of time with us to answer all of our questions. Highly recommended! read more

Called in today to see if I was able to schedule an appointment. They were very accommodating and scheduled a same day. Great! Front office is very, very kind. Great atmosphere. They asked a lot of questions and did an exam. Dr. Fleischman was my dogs specialist for dermatology. Saw my dog for weird furry patch growing on the pads. He was very attentive and kind. Asked me questions, thorough ones. Let me ask him any question I had. Made some suggestions. However, did not push for any add-on treatments if not needed. Gave advise on supplements if i wanted to try. Could purchase from them or somewhere else. He left that to me. Had a great first impression. Very thorough. I'm definitely coming back if needed. Thank you to all that work there. I'm glad I was referred to your office. read more

My new dog has a broken leg, the shelter did not perform surgery on her, so I adopted her with the broken leg. I took her to a pet urgent care and they said she needs surgery as soon as possible. I called 6 places around Sonoma and Marin, and they all were either not able to do the surgery or felt it was too complicated for them to do but they all recommended Golden Gate Veterinary. Location is easy to find in Terra Linda right off the freeway. Every staff member was kind and understanding and so good with my dog. Her surgery was scheduled 4 days after the consultation and it went well, and was as complicated as the other surgeons said it would be. Here we are day 4 post op and she is doing great, we went in for a checkup and splint change. And the more I've spoken to people they say this is the best place. I'm sad we had to use their services but I'm so glad it was and is the best place I could have taken my dog to for leg surgery. read more

My Golden Retriever was diagnosed with a very aggressive fibrosarcoma tumor on his upper jaw. I was devastated and prepared my family that we would lose him in a couple months. I went to see Dr. Farese at Golden Gate Veterinary Specialist for a surgical consult. Dr. Farese performed a CT scan and felt confident that his tumor could be removed with a maxillectomy. Dr. Farese did a beautiful job reconstructing my dogs jaw. Pain control was excellent. He was eating normally the next morning! The nurses and receptionist are caring and professional. I am forever grateful for Dr. Farese's expert surgical skills and bedside manner. The best part is my dog is still cancer free 8 months later! We are so lucky to have Dr. Farese and Golden Gate Vet Specialist in our area. I highly recommend them! read more

Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists - He looks and feels great! You can hardly tell he had surgery! - Veterinarians Near Me - San Rafael, California

I was referred by my vet of 32 years to this vet practice. It was a very bad experience right from the beginning: !. Parking is close to impossible in the parking lot. I am a disabled senior and not only where the disabled parking spaces always taken but all other parking spaces as well were taken whenever I had an appointment at their office. 2. When I spoke with Anne Munk, Client Services Representative, about the parking problems and other issues that were problematic, she responded in saying that none of the things I was expressing as a concern was true. In other other words dismissing and negating all of my concerns. 3. When I brought up my experience with Anne to Dr. Eckholm she got very defensive and justified Anne's behavior thus negating and dismissing my concerns. No apology or concern was ever expressed. 4. Recently I spoke with Dr. Eckholm to discuss options for my dog's allergy problem whereby I as charged $99 for the telephone call. At no point was I informed that I would be charged for the call or the amount of the charge or whether they had my permission to go ahead and charge my credit card. I am 69 years old and have had pets my entire life and have seen many Vets for care for my animals. During my lifetime I have had telephone conversations with these vets including my current one of 32 years and have never been charged for a telephone call. 5. When I called and spoke with Leslie Williams, client services specialist, to contest the telephone charge I was informed by her that "if I even tried to contest the charge I would be terminated immediately from the practice." 6. I spoke with Dr. Farese, Dr. Eckholm's husband about the telephone charge and other issues with their practice. I received no apology. He did refund me the $99. Needless to say I no longer go their practice for my dogs care. 7. Whenever I called to make an appointment no one answers the phone and when I have left messages no one returns my calls. Given my experience over the past year with this office and their staff I have found them to not be client friendly or caring in the least. There are other dermatology vets in the area. I would suggest you stay away form this one. read more

Wow! I called today to book an appointment for our guy ,who suddenly presented small patches of missing hair on his back. Asked when we could bring him, as they were recommended by our regular vet whom highly recommended them for skin issues. DECEMBER, yes, "I heard right", DECEMBER!!! I should have asked "what year?" SHAMEFUL... read more

The veterinarian was great, but my dog's medication was shipped to the wrong location and I had to drive 30 minutes round trip to pick it up from someone else's home in town. I asked the vet for a refund for the shipping charge but was told that they did their part and the post office made a mistake by placing the wrong label on top of an existing correct label. If I ship something and already have a label on it, I don't understand why the post office will find a label with another address and stick it on top of mine. I asked them to refund me my $25.00 but they said it wasn't their fault. Had I said no, I'm not willing to drive to pick up the medication, they would have had to remake it to send it to me which would have costed them another $315.00 to make. That would have been a bigger hit on them. I would appreciate the $25.00 refund since I didn't ask you to remake the medication and reship it. I'm disappointed with this service. If I were to order something from most clothing stores, and they ship it to the wrong location, they would often quickly process a new shipment. read more

These people are outstanding. They helped my dog when nobody else could or would. When your dog is suffering from severe skin problems, you want to be helped given a plan to fix the problem.. Golden Gate Vet did just that. Their communication is stellar, doctor was a 10/10 and the staff inside was extremely pleasant as well! We really really appreciate these people!! read more

I brought my recently adopted Shepherd mix to see Dr. Eckholm for severe itchiness, yeasty paws and ear, and digestive upsets. Dr. Eckholm is a miracle worker! Since our appointment, Scrappy has been so much happier in every way. His itchiness is greatly reduced. He has stopped eating grass excessively & stopped vomiting. His stool looks normal and is much less foul smelling. He also has bright white paws and clear ears. Not only do I recommend GG Vet Services for what they have done for Scrappy, but I must acknowledge how amazing Lupe, the receptionist has been. Her customer service and organization skills are top notch. They could not ask for a friendlier face to greet new clients coming through the door and refilling orders/scheduling appointments. Thank you GG Vet Services for everything! read more

Dr. Farese at Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists just operated on my 6-year-old, one-eyed tripod GSD for cancer in her mouth. (I was familiar with him because several years ago, he had also operated very successfully on my OES, when other vets I had consulted were not competent or qualified enough to assure the hoped-for outcome--which he achieved....) On the initial consultation, he spent 45 minutes explaining the procedure in great detail, answered all my questions, and tried to allay those fears that I imagine every pet owner has about their beloved pet-child undergoing major surgery. Her surgery was long and complicated--and I was apprised several times during the actual procedure of her status by his assistant. After the surgery, Dr. Farese went over all the details of the procedure, clarified what to expect, discussed her prognosis, and all the necessary followup care. She just had her last surgery checkup and is now doing great! I am honored to very highly recommend Dr. Farese and his caring staff to any pet owner who demands excellence and professionalism in the health care for their pet. J. Taylor read more

I have a twenty year old teacup poodle. That's an insane age for a dog; it's like having a two hundred year old horse. After giving our pup a grooming we found some nasty skin problems. Dr. Eckholm altered her schedule to squeeze us in. Her focus is amazing and her diagnostic skills are first rate. She helped us resolve Gabriel's problems. He's still with us. He just doesn't quit. I give Golden Gate Vet five stars. That was personal service we got, above and beyond. read more

This is a review specifically about Dr. Farese. He did TPLO surgeries on my dog a few years back at AIMSS in San Francisco. He did the first knee surgery, and the staples got infected, there was fluid buildup and it and very painful for my dog. She then hurt herself on her other leg and he scheduled another TPLO (which from speaking to other surgeons is not how it's done and both knees are done at the same time for better results, and more even healing). The surgery was suppose to happen early in the morning, turns out he didn't get started until late late afternoon, so she was just at the emergency (already a stressful place right?) vet for hours for no reason. When he called to let me know how the surgery went he said she didn't actually tear the ACL she just sprained her knee which is why there was fluid buildup and he went ahead with the TPLO anyways. When I asked why he would go through with the surgery when there was no tear and not at least call me to ask if I wanted to go through with it (I would not have), he completely lost his temper on me. I was not being accusatory at the time, just surprised and curious why he decided to go ahead with the surgery. Totally unprofessional, I was left in tears after he hung up on me! Wtf right? Please don't send your pets for surgery with him. And now because of him we have a giant dog with more issues in her back end than she would have if we just did nothing. read more

I was referred by my primary vet for my dog who after testing ended up with a plethora of allergies. Dr. Eckholm is a lovey person and seems incredibly knowledgeable. My dog was started on immunotherapy and Dr. Eckholm instructed me to keep her abreast of any issues that my dog was having. I telephoned her office one day asking to speak with Dr. Eckholm and the receptionist refused to take a message for Dr. Eckholm to telephone me back to discuss the issues. She indicated that I would have to make an appointment and be seen, however the soonest I could get in was almost two months after my phone call. Additionally, the receptionist was quite rude on the phone. I will not be taking my dog to Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists again. Especially due to the negative attitude that I received from the receptionist, not to mention the long wait to be seen. read more

Dr. James Farese has a veterinary practice in San Rafael, CA named Golden Gate Veterinary Services. My labradoodle had mouth cancer (an ameloblastoma) which grew rapidly. After trying stereotactic radiation through a different veterinary hospital, which was not successful, it was determined that Coco needed to have a bilateral rostral radical maxillectomy in order to survive more than a few more weeks. It was very difficult to find a surgeon capable of doing the radical surgery which entailed removing a large portion of my dog's upper jaw, front teeth and nose in order to remove the large neoplasm (tumor). After losing confidence in the prior veterinary hospital, I found Dr. Farese who came highly recommended by another veterinary specialist. Dr. Farese's staff was incredibly helpful and Dr. Farese agreed to work my dog into his busy surgery schedule. Dr. Farese did an excellent job. He removed the neoplasm and did a fantastic job of reconstruction, creating a new nose for my dog. Although the surgery was major and my dog's appearance is somewhat unusual, she is still cute. The surgery was on November 30, 2021 and it is now September of 2022. Most importantly, my dog is now happy, healthy and living cancer-free. Dr. Farese has also been excellent about follow-up visits to check on my dog's health and progress and has not charged for the follow-up visits. I highly recommend Dr. Jim Farese for his surgical skills and compassion as well as his fabulous, caring and helpful staff. read more