Eckerdt Dena, DVM

We just brought our cat in, who is fighting an infection after a fight and we had lanced the infected area. The doctor did not rush to drain herself, instead prescribed an antibiotic which we knew he needed. He also has a tooth issue. She didn’t rush to remove it, instead wants to wait to see what the antibiotic does for the problem. She explained things while showing us why. This is exactly what we have been looking for in a vet, one that doesn’t rush to the big ticket items! We will definitely bring our other cats in if needed.

Dena is back! After a short lapse in LA, they have returned to Prunedale! We have been using her for our beagles even when we lived in Monterey. She is not a «let’s take some x-​rays and some blood work and I can tell you what is wrong» kind of person.
She sits on the floor and seemingly plays with the dog but is running her hands all over their bodies and feeling for spots causing pain or discomfort. Based upon her «Hands On» approach she then discusses plans of action that can be taken next. Don’t get me wrong — she is NOT against modern medicine but she really checks out the dog before recommending courses of action.
She has given us antibiotics for issues, or pain meds if she thinks it will resolve itself, but also sets another appointment shortly after to evaluate and discuss next direction to go, if necessary.
We have gone to the «picture and blood work» or the «You need to go to Santa Cruz» for an MRI type doctors and after a few grand, they put the dog on antibiotics or pain meds.
When it came time to put our Maggie down (and only after an x-​ray to see the fluid in her lungs) they could not have been any more loving toward Maggie, and also gave us as much time in one of her rooms for us to say an un-​rushed goodbye. When the time came she left us alone and allowed us time to process what just happened.
With all of the above said, we would never take our animals anywhere else.

The new number for this great vet is 831−663−6551. She is reasonable about treatment and reasonable about costs and your budget. She also has a great feel for the animals, and my dogs trust her, which being border collies, doesn’t come easily.

This place is great. Very good customer service and reasonable pricing. I’ve been coming here for 15 years and highly recommend this place ! They are very honest and don’t not try to take advantage of people. Dena is great !

Read the previous reviews about the rude & brusque manners and prepared myself. I really dont take to rudeness from someone who wants money from me. However, I saw none of it.
The gentleman mentioned before was in fact behind the desk. Rather than rude or short, he was jovial and making jokes with people who called in. So I feel the reviews either caught him on a bad day, a rough time in life, or just flat out misinterpreted the interaction they had.
As for the office, it is small & clean. They offer a variety of services & dont try to sell you on anything. In fact, I had to prompt the Vet to see if I couldnt add on services like microchipping & meds. I asked & found that the place only does dogs & cats with a few birds & livestock — no exotics or reptiles.
As for the Vet, she was super nice & very friendly. She really had a common-​sense approach to it & clearly looks to the basic needs of the animal, without pushing anything extra. I listened as the office dealt with some people who called in looking for euthanizing services & were gently told that she will NOT agree to it unless she sees the animal & decides that it is in the pet’s best interest. Apparently some folks get upset at misbehaving pets & opt to put the animals down in response. She will not be a part of that.
Finally — & for some most importantly — the fees were very reasonable. The office visit for me was something like $ 55, and that’s pretty competitive around these parts. The meds werent badly priced — a tad higher than if you shopped them yourself. Rabies & microchipping was pretty much the industry standard. Really did not feel like I got fleeced while I was there.

Dena and staff are compassionate, professional and the only vet I will use. We have been clients since the early 90’s and never had a bad experience with the numerous pets we have, both domestic and feral. The office is casual and getting appointments timely, both in sad times — when our boxer had a stroke and had to be put down — or happy times when our pets get their check ups. I can’t imagine there is a negative review of this treasure of a vet service.

Though I have never lived in Prunedale, I have brought my pets to Prundale vet for almost 20 years. The inconvenience of the drive is NOTHING, compared to the quality & value of their service. A few years back, we had to put our family dog down after finding she had a tumor on her shoulder. Dr. Dena Eckerdt laid out our options… we could biopsy, treat with chemo, prolong her life & mask her discomfort with anti inflammatory meds, etc. etc… or we could decide that our German Shepard, who lived 14 great years before being in constant pain & suffering, was in the natural process of the life cycle… and deserved to be put out of her misery in a humane way. We knew the only choice was to let her go… and our vet supported our decision, with no judgement (or pressure to keep spending $$$ on treatment!) I love this office, because they love animals… and are great with people, too. We will make the drive for all our vet needs.

I’ve been taking my dogs and cat here since 2004, and they have a great manner with all of them. I don’t understand the negative review as it does not sound like them.
Highly recommend

I dread the day that Dena closes up shop. I’ve been taking all my animals here for years, ferals and pets.
They always fit me in, as soon as possible, and are understanding of the realities of caring for animals and that sometimes I cannot afford to do every test under the sun, even if I want to, affordable and thorough.

This vet place is rude & cold hearted. My family found a dying kitten on the side of the road. It was almost 5pm so they rushed to the vet place & asked the man at the desk if he could help (Im pretty sure
this short mean man is the vets husband). He said «we don’t do that here.» My family was crying because the kitten was obviously in a lot of pain. They offered to pay for the kitty to be euthanized to which he replied, «were closed! Now leave.» my sister at that point told him he was being heartless and he shrugged his shoulders & said, «I don’t care.» I’ve worked with and rescued many animals in my life. I rehab, I foster, & I sometimes have to have animals put down. Never in my history of animal caretaking has a business been so incredibly cruel. The man at the front desk has no heart whatsoever. And I hope that the vet he works with understands that this kind of behavior reflects badly on her. I would *never* recommend or bring any animal sick, injured or healthy to this kind of establishment. They get one star only because they don’t have negative stars on here.

I’ve been taking my dogs to Dena for over 16 years. Dena is very professional, really knows her stuff, clearly loves animals and charges very reasonable prices.