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Shafia Adil
Feb 17, 2026
We had a borderline traumatizing experience with Oakvet. I dont even know where to begin, it was so much.
The moment I brought my cat in, I was told rushed by an administrator of some sort telling me that my cat was about to "pass away", and I better give them $1300 real quick if I wanted to save him. My cat looked nowhere close to dying or anything but they did not give me even a minute to gather our thoughts, and kept pressuring me to hand over the money. Voila, the moment we gave them the money, their entire sense of urgency disappeared and they actually left our cat untreated and alone with us for over an hour. I sat there thinking, if it was such a dire situation, how have they left him untreated and just hanging out with us for hours with no treatment? It was so bizarre, omg. Add to that, even though we were told our cat was dying, it did not stop them from pitching us to neuter him "since we were there anyway!" I was like, if my cat is passing away, how can you be sitting there trying to upsell another procedure to me so casually? You scare the hell out of me of me and my family to get money out of us, then leave us alone like his treatment is nothing, and then upsell other things to us like he's in the peak of health.
There were so many little things like this that happened, it would take really long to list out all the things we went through.
The nurses, btw, are experts at making you feel bad about even taking a minute to consider your financial situation before saying yes to whatever they want. When we tried to understand the procedure/ask questions about what was recommended to see what was necessary/feasible for us, the nurse was extremely condescending and told us what we were doing was "a last ditch effort before euthanasia." They constantly made us feel like bad people for not just blindly saying yes to going into thousands of dollars of debt. I could go on and on about this aspect of our experience. My goodness.
Also! To top it all off, our cat actually got a secondary infection at this hospital, something he has taken months to get better from and is still recovering from. He has gone through a lot thanks to this place.
After we got his treatment done at Oakvet, we visited a similar 24/7 dog & cat hospital in the Berkeley area, and their estimate for the same stuff came to half of what Oakvet charged.
Oakvet really represents American capitalism to its core - you are treated like a cash machine, and humanity and empathy go out the window because all everyone there wants to do is profit just a little bit more.
I am posting this so others are aware and think twice before coming to this place.
Our little dog, Longan, just recovered from a complex surgery for an extrahepatic liver shunt and bladder stone removal at OakVet. After consulting with several other specialists in the South Bay, we found OakVet to be the clear winner. Compared to other local options, the overall experience here was far superior, and the pricing was much more reasonable for such a high-stakes procedure.
Dr. Funes was our rock during the whole experience. Her patience and practical advice were exactly what we needed while navigating a scary diagnosis. Her caring nature and passion for her patients are truly inspiring. We managed Longan’s treatment medically for several months before the surgery, and Dr. Funes was always incredibly responsive. She even replied to an urgent email regarding Longan's blood in urine on a Saturday (her day off), which we deeply appreciated. If you are looking for Internal Medicine Specialist, Dr. Funes would be my No.1 recommendation!
When it came to the surgery, Dr. Grange was absolutely exceptional. During our initial surgical consultation, he was incredibly candid and forthright about the procedure. He explained the technical steps of the liver shunt surgery and the bladder stone removal with such precision and clarity that it was a total game-changer for us. Having already consulted with several other specialists in the South Bay, I can confidently say that no one else was able to break down the complexities as clearly or effectively as Dr. Grange. His transparency and obvious expertise gave us the confidence we needed to move forward. The surgery itself was a major success, and his skill as a surgeon is truly world-class. Now that Longan is one month post-op, he is recovering beautifully—his surgical scar is practically invisible. We are so grateful to have had such an elite surgeon looking after our boy.
Lastly, want to share a huge thank you to the nursing and surgery coordinating team as well. They looked after Longan with such attention to detail during his post-op stay, and the frequent updates they provided meant the world to us. If you’re looking for a specialty vet that combines elite expertise with genuine heart (and fair pricing), OakVet is it!
HR
Heidy Zohar Ramirez
Feb 11, 2026
Dr. Wignall is the best!
My pup (4-year-old, female, 65-lb Cane Corso mix rescue), who I absolutely adore, had a partially torn CCL and needed TPLO surgery. I spent a lot of time researching and asking questions, ultimately consulting eight different clinics. Pricing ranged from 3k in Mexico, to 5k non-board-certified vets, 7k out of state, and 9k+ board-certified surgeons in the Bay Area. Despite the range, each option left me with some degree of uncertainty—something I wasn’t willing to compromise on.
From the first consultation, I felt completely informed and supported by Dr. Wignall. He took the time to thoroughly explain the procedure—the risks, expected outcomes, and recovery process—in a way that was clear, thoughtful, and compassionate. He patiently answered every question without feeling rushed. That initial appointment alone gave me the confidence to move forward with scheduling the surgery.
On surgery day, Dr. Wignall was calm, reassuring, and incredibly professional. I could tell he truly cares about both his patients and their owners. Throughout the procedure, I was updated regularly, which meant the world to me during such a stressful time. A huge thank you as well to the techs and staff who helped facilitate the exceptional care and experience for me and my pup—responding to nervous pet-parent calls and seamlessly coordinating logistics.
The aftercare was just as exceptional! Dr. Wignall provided detailed recovery instructions, monitored my dog's progress, and continued to be very communicative and supportive throughout the healing process. Beyond the medical care, Dr. W offered genuine emotional reassurance and understanding, which made a difficult situation much easier to navigate.
It’s hard to overstate how challenging and emotional this entire process can be—from receiving the initial diagnosis, to choosing a surgeon, to surgery day, post-op care, and everything in between. Finding a clinic that allows you to focus on your pet’s recovery—while they handle the rest through skilled surgeons, proactive staff, and consistent, transparent communication—made all the difference. We're about four moths post-surgery, and my lovely pup is happily back to her regular activities!
If you are considering TPLO surgery or an orthopedic procedure for your pet, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Wignall! His expertise, communication, compassion, and dedication truly set him apart.
QM
Qiyamah Muhammad
Feb 10, 2026
My fiancé and I brought our cat to the ER for an obstruction of the urethra. After leaving our cat in the hospital for 48hrs and spending over $5,000, they called us and told us we had to place another catheter and spend another $2800 or consider euthanasia. We spoke on the phone with a vet technician named Vanessa who was very condescending and rude. She flat out told us if we didn’t hurry up and decide then our cat was going to die. She has no empathy or no bedside manner for owners who are dealing with stressful situation. Any time I tried to speak she would speak over me and my fiancé, leading to her responding incorrectly to what we were trying to say. When my fiancé went in to visit with our cat he was met with a technician who refused to identify herself (who turned out to be Vanessa) after telling him that our cat would die in 24-48hrs if we did not go along with one of their treatment plans. Overall the experience has been horrifying. Vanessa was quite possibly the most abhorrent person I’ve ever dealt with during a situation like this. Hopefully this type of behavior will be rectified with a swiftness because a person like this should not be allowed to interact with people in trying situations.
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Christina S
Jan 28, 2026
OakVet has set the bar incredibly high and is truly in a league of its own. In October, Dr. Updegrove, Dr. Grange, and Dr. Funes saved my cat’s life after a freak gallbladder rupture. We had been to multiple vets and hospitals, and no one could figure out what was wrong. Ultimately, we opted for exploratory surgery, and Dr. Grange did exceptional work.
After surgery, my cat refused to eat and needed a nasal feeding tube. I was terrified, but the team reassured me every step of the way, and they were right. His recovery was fantastic.
I trusted OakVet again today with my other cat, and once more, after vague symptoms that didn’t point clearly in one direction and a referral from my regular vet, Dr. McIntyre quickly figured out what was wrong and took care of it. We are excited to see Dr. Funes again for continued care.
They are a specialty vet for a reason. If your pet has strange, complex, or hard-to-diagnose issues, this is the place to go. Everyone here is incredible… the doctors, vet techs, and reception staff.
Yes, you may wait. Yes, your pet will be taken to the back for triage. But it’s clear they are highly organized, deeply knowledgeable, and prioritize cases thoughtfully and appropriately. Will always be coming back here. It’s simply a waste of time and money to go anywhere else and not get the right answers when I always get the right answers here.
Their kindness, skill, and knowledge is unbeatable. They take the time to explain and communicate everything thoroughly and are so patient with all of my what ifs and worst case scenario questions. ERs can sometimes make you feel rushed and not heard but that’s not the case here.