VCA Canada Calgary Animal Referral & Emergency Centre (CARE)

Fantastic experience: We can't thank enough to the team at VCA Care! On the January 14th our French bulldog Freddy lost ability to walk, worse nightmare for any pet owner. We were assuming it might be IVDD, very common for this kind of breed. French Facebook Airdrie group suggested to go right away to VCA and not to waist time to go to regular vet because they don't have proper equipment to give diagnosis. I called them and they said to come right away. We were there just after 2pm, they helped us in and we meet up with the staff to discuss the process, surgery, recovery and care of our boy Freddy. They were all very helpful and understanding.Dr Diaz will do surgery but at the moment he was busy with another emergency. We left Freddy at the hospital and on the way home we received the call from Dr Diaz explaining the process of the surgery, risk and recovery. I was a mess but I had faith that Dr Diaz will do what's best for our boy Freddy. By 6:30 pm we received the call that surgery went well and that Freddy is doing good and he's resting. We were calling every couple of hours to check on him and they were really helpful and compassion over the phone. They would even send us a picture of Freddy resting in his crate ❤️ Freddy stayed for 9 days in hospital do to urinary complications, we visited every day, took him outside to help him do business. Dr Diaz and stuff was great, explaining everything and answering every question and concern to us. We are so grateful for all of them. After taking Freddy home, they would check on him and some of the nurses even privately reached out to check on Freddy's progress. So thankful for all you guys and highly recommend this clinic! Freddy is doing great and walking with no issues ❤️ Thank you

Fantastic experience: I cannot say enough about Dr. Diaz and the entire veterinary team who saved my dog’s life. My dog, Astro, was admitted with severe cluster seizures and it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. Watching your dog go through something like that is absolutely heartbreaking and I truly thought I might lose him. Dr. Diaz and the vet techs were incredible from the moment we arrived. They acted quickly, confidently, and with so much compassion. They not only worked tirelessly to stabilize Astro, but they also took the time to explain everything to us, answer our questions, and reassure us during an extremely emotional time. The vet techs deserve just as much recognition. They were patient, kind, and clearly cared deeply about Astro. You could tell he was in good hands every moment he was there. Because of Dr. Diaz and this amazing team, Astro is still with us today. I will never forget the care, dedication, and professionalism they showed when it mattered most. If your pet is in an emergency situation, this is the team you want in your corner. Thank you for saving my boy.

Negative experience: I seriously doubt vca worth 4.2. I have used their services for a few years for one reason only: it's 24 hours. The choice is very limited when your pet has an emergency. But never in my mind would I ever imagine myself give it two stars. Pet owners should check reviews from other websites, like yelp. Apparently, vca only tried to manage google map reviews. This pet hospital is known for its extremely high cost! Let that being said, the service provided is by no means any better than other providers, if not worse! Because honestly they CAN be rude!! Honestly, the only reason I have to go there is because this is the only 24 hours pet emergency hospital in South Calgary. So there is no other choice if your pet has an emergency. Let me first tell you how much you are expected to spend each time. in 2024, my dog was referred to VCA for tooth extraction that costed me over $ 5,000. In 2025, my another dog had emergency checkup and follow-ups, totaling over $2,500. In 2026, my dog was diagnosed with pancreatitis. One emergency visit costed me $1,500. The vet offered me for hospital stays that costed $1,200 per night. I refused but told her I would bring my dog back if he was not improving. My dog was discharged and that's the end of the story from this vet. Normally ( I mean literally every time) vets in this hospital or any others will call within two days to follow up. Not her. I emailed her a day later to address some of my concerns. NO RESPOND! Finally I called the hospital to speak with her, but just got a message through the receptionist who indicated that my dog was discharged so there was no reason to follow up!! I have to get some more medication for my dog, so the vet told the receptionist that they would call me when it was ready. That was yesterday, she literately takes more time than human pharmacy. Tomorrow I will have to call again!! This is the most untimely services I have ever received in 8 years as a pet owner!!! I think the vet is untimely and insensitive in providing her services. Overall, for the costs you have to spend and the services you receive, I think VCA is the worst place, not just for pet hospitals but for all service places overall. Next time, I will go to other part of the city for pet emergency. P.S: I forgot to mention that after the vet finished with my dog, her nurse supposed to go through the instructions with me and discharge my dog. Well, the nurse forgot about me and my dog. I sat in the back room for almost an hour. First I thought maybe my dog was not ready to leave, so I waited patiently but when it was almost an hour, I got worried. So I went around to find a staff. It was a very quiet afternoon and it took me a while to finally find another nurse, who BTW did apologize to me for forgetting me in the back room even though it was not her fault. The nurse who forgot about me was sitting at the front desk. Neither did she apologize to me nor did she go through the instructions with me. Also, she forgot to give me the specialty food I have paid for my dogs. It felt like she didn't wake up yet from the night before!! Thanks for that only good nurse at that place who caught her mistake. Because I doubt I can ask for the food back once I step out of the door.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Nikki was absolutely fantastic when we had to euthanize our dog. She was empathetic, patient and comforting. She explained the process thoroughly and made us feel like we were taken care of. Thank you!

Negative experience: This is not a 24 hour emergency clinic no matter how they say they are. They are in the business of extracting as much money from their pets family as possible. It has nothing to do with caring for the pets. DO NOT GO HERE if you case anything about your pet

Negative experience: Had to drive my pup in from Eckville, AB with the understanding that they would check his eye out when we arrived at the hospital. Arrived and told to leave our pup there and they would get to him when the had time. Pathetic! Will never consider taking any of our pets there again! There are more compassionate vet hospitals in Alberta.

Fantastic experience: Dr Diaz & his Neuro team are amazing! They gave my dog another chance at life & he sized the day. Forever grateful. Keep up the great work. A wonderful asset for pet owners in the city.

Fantastic experience: The ophthalmology team at CARE is bar none, the best in the Prairies. When no other optho team Western Canada had urgency, your team showed up with kindness and truly cared. Amber, thank you for your understanding, encouragement to drive across two provinces, assurance she would have great care, and thank you for having critical urgency when our primary vet didn’t. Dr. Brian, thank you for your calm demeanour, guidance, reassurance, and truly caring nature, thank you for giving us your weekend and being so grounded. Danielle, thank you for being so great with our girl, you are truly the reason she loves the vet and you gave us so much comfort. Thank you to the entire team here, you guys are incredible. Thank you to VCA for investing in a facility with this level of care. Even though my sweet girls eye couldn’t be saved, we are beyond grateful.

Fantastic experience: They have taken Great care of my boy Chewy discovered a collapsed trachea. Dr Shearer and her team have been extremely helpful and explained the care process extremely well. I can’t thank you enough for everything!

Fantastic experience: I have taken my dogs to both Dr. Campbell for dentistry, and Dr. Skorobohach for opthamology. The service we've received from the CARE team goes above and beyond what I have experienced at any veterinary clinic in the city. Highly recommend specialized care rather than wasting time and money with regular DVM's.

Fantastic experience: Heather was very kind to me and my dogs tonight. Thank you.

Fantastic experience: I’m so thankful for the amazing service and support from the team at VCA. My dog got into a muffin this morning—wrapper and all—and I was really worried about him. The staff was quick to respond, kind, and very reassuring. They explained what to watch for and made sure my pup was safe, which really put my mind at ease. I couldn’t be more pleased with how caring and professional they were. Highly recommend VCA

Fantastic experience: I received a referral for this specialist clinic from my vet to deal with my cat’s intolerance to insulin, and I spent weeks stressing about what this would mean for the future of my pet, the state of my finances, and the natural guilt that comes with owning a diabetic pet. But every worry I had was put to bed at this appointment. I am blown away by the level of care and dedication that the entire team thoughtlessly put into helping me and my cat meet our needs. I am leaving with a care plan that I got to feel I actually had a say in, and a wealth of information that I never had before (and that Dr. Chalhoub so kindly spent nearly an hour teaching me). I was also pleasantly surprised by not only the affordability of treatment, but by the team’s sympathy and effort in making the process as cost-effective as possible. Thank you so much Dr. Chalhoub, Morgan, and everybody else at this facility! You’re truly making the difference that scared pet owners need to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Fantastic experience: We received emergency care at VCA Care Center on January 17th at 12:00 a.m., and I cannot say enough about the level of care and professionalism shown by the entire team. We arrived extremely worried, believing our Goldendoodle, Simba, may have been experiencing GDV. Before we even had a chance to park, the staff was already at the door and ready to take him in. Their sense of urgency, compassion, and preparedness immediately put us at ease during a very stressful moment. Simba was given quick scans and immediate medical attention, and thankfully GDV was ruled out. Throughout the process, the team kept us informed, calm, and reassured, explaining each step with clarity and care. The dedication, efficiency, and genuine compassion shown by the doctors, technicians, and support staff truly went above and beyond. We are incredibly grateful for how professionally and lovingly Simba was treated. Thank you to the entire VCA emergency team for taking such exceptional care of our dog and for supporting us during a very frightening time. We will always be thankful.

Fantastic experience: Outside of being a bit of a rigmarole to get to for someone who doesn't live in Calgary, the hospital was excellent. Very clean, nice large seating area so you can sit away from the dogs in the waiting room if needed (i have a cat) they have vending machine and coffee if you are waiting, the ladies up front were very friendly and quick to get the line through. I went in with Lexus my cat, and the doctor was waiting for me. He was very personable, friendly, and understood my stress. He was very informative, even drawing a picture on the whiteboard for me to fully understand what he was saying my companion needed. He listened to me and my concerns, lots of eye contact, smiled and just made me feel overall taken care of. Especially being in the middle of the day and a very busy hospital, he made me feel as if i was his first client. His suggestion was for an injection (my companion had entropion) which was a high unexpected cost but it needed to be done. i had to go to the bank for cash, and when i got back, Lexus ws still being worked on so when i went to the front desk to pay, the front lady was so sweet and trying her best to tell me the cost, unaware that i already knew the cost of the procedure. With a sigh of relief she took my money and just was very pleasant. You ladies have a tough job, having to tell people what they have to pay if they dont know already. Anyway, i got Lxus back, and she is in recovery. All in all, I would 100% recommend this place.

Fantastic experience: I would give more than 5 stars if I could. Everyone was amazing and helpful. Kelsey explain everything she was doing for our kitten. The front desk was nice and answered our questions. Great experience considering how sick our kitten was. Really felt like they cared. Thank you

Negative experience: I can’t say enough good things about my experience here. Dr Brian and the whole team was very informative and reassuring throughout the process. My dog had to undergo emergency eye surgery. I had full trust in Dr Brian and the team there and I would highly recommend. Thanks for everything! **Update**I am changing my review to one star based on how my most recent experience was handled. At my last appointment, the veterinarian clearly told me that two follow-up visits related directly to my dog’s eye surgery would be covered. I attended the first follow-up and was not charged. I was then instructed to book another follow-up six weeks later. When I booked that appointment, I specifically stated that it was a follow-up related to the eye surgery, and this was acknowledged. At that second follow-up, the veterinarian discovered that my dog had developed cataracts in the same eye that had undergone surgery. This was a new issue. I was told to simply monitor it and left the appointment under the understanding that this visit was one of the covered follow-ups. Later, I was contacted and told I owed money for the appointment. I politely explained that this was a covered follow-up, as discussed directly with the veterinarian. I was then told that it would be taken care of. However, about a week later, I received an email stating that payment was due and that my credit card on file would be charged. I called the office to resolve the issue since my email had not been understood. Unfortunately, the staff member I spoke with was rude and dismissive, making comments such as, “What did you think—your dog’s appointments are covered for the rest of his life?” This was never my expectation. I was referring only to the second follow-up appointment that I had been explicitly told would be covered. What made this especially frustrating was not just the billing confusion, but the lack of professionalism and respect when trying to resolve an issue that was not my mistake. Promises were made verbally and then not honored, and the communication afterward was poor. Based on this experience, I would strongly recommend getting any financial agreements in writing. I was very disappointed, as my initial impression of this place was positive, but this experience completely changed that.

Negative experience: Vca is a dishonest greedy American enterprise. They use extortion, threats, gaslighting and abuse to extract money from pet owners. Some staff members may good people but my experience was absolutely horrendous. The majority of my terrible experience I dealt with a bossy, entitled, fake blonde haired receptionist with an obnoxious and heartless attitude. I was surprised to learn she was just a receptionist because she acted like she owned the place. Her first words to me were "you have delayed your dogs suffering long enough so we reduced the bill." For context I had been waiting in the "death room" for over 20 mins. The first admin person came to discuss urns while my dog suffered before her euthanasia. I requested the bill portion to be done after the procedure but as per their policy they wanted the bill taken care of first. She also casually told me that my bill would be the same. I had agreed to up to $2149 of treatment for my very sick dog. Unfortunately as soon as I arrived home I was called by another Dr who said the treatment wasn't working and they recommended the dog be euthanized. I hurried over asap to be with my baby during her final moments, but was sat in this room, and subjected to the stupid discussion of urns and my bill while my poor baby suffered. I was completely shocked when they attempted to charge me for a whole 12 hours of treatment when the dog barely survived a couple of hours. Back and forth with the first admin trying to get me to pay the whole bill, a grueling 25 mins must have passed in that room. Finally that fake blonde haired receptionist comes in and says the stupidest most horrendous comment in an obnoxious and loud snarky tone "you have delayed your dog's suffering long enough so we reduced your bill." Well I was so disgusted and shocked that I gave her the same energy back she gave me. Like excuse me its your policy to do the bill first! Its you guys who had me sit in this stupid room when I rushed over to see her! And why am i being charged for 12 hours when shes being put down after 2! This bill should have been reduced to begin with, but no its my fault and the reason shes not euthanized yet??? This was textbook gaslighting. Of course she didn't like that I gave her the same energy back. Her ego was hurt and she threatened to call the police and kicked me out so I couldn't be with my baby during her final hours. I was crushed. As I was out the door she said "you waited too long to bring your dog in and you're the reason she's dying." What kind of heartless low intelligence person would say this to a client. Not only disgusting and totally unnecessary but absolutely inaccurate. My dog was a 12 year old goldendoodle and had pneumonia that progressed rapidly. This person was also not my doctor, had only spoken to me briefly in this room, and had no knowledge of her or my history. Even if the dog could have been saved with earlier treatment this was the most horrendous comment you could say to someone who was losing their pet. What kind of person gets off on saying something like that? I was not even in the building and she felt the need to hurt me further. I have been traumatized since this whole experience unable to eat or drink. This is actually only partial account of the whole terrible experience. The rest involves more abusive comments, intimidation and threats. "If you don't go with my recommended treatments we will call the police'" sort of thing, just like the other comments. Well its great that police are used to check on animals but the way it was presented certainly felt like a threat and extortion. Pick either a $2000 or $5000 treatment plan and if you don't I will call the police is what the vet said. It wasn't until after this initial conversation that she brought up euthanasia as a third option. Nevemind that you don't like the hospital or the consultation, if you don't pay they call the police. This whole experience has affected my health and mental state. I would never go here and feel compelled to warn others. It's a cult of greed and tactics.

Fantastic experience: Hello my name is Kathy and our beloved child is Willard a 6yr old Rottweiler he became the CARE VCA animal hospital patient a little over a year ago he was diagnosed with Bone Cancer and we were devastated not only for that reason but we have had 6 rotties and each one had health problems Willard’s front leg was removed and then 6 rounds of chemo he has been Cancer free now for almost 1year it was a tough road but due to the Care VCA team we would not have our Willard thanks to everyone exspecially the surgical team and the Oncology team we owe everything to them they saved our child we worked with everyone there were many tears but the tears turned to gratefulness for everything they all have done and he’s even got a few girlfriends there who LOVE him deeply . If your loved one needs medical care we highly recommend the CARE VCA hospital They have become apart of our family because of the excellent care they provide and Willard is doing Fantastic . Sincerely Kathy Willard and Ralf the Schmitt Family

Negative experience: I have a 2,5 year old cavalier male: got him at 10 weeks from a breeder in Ontario.. numerous health problems: allergies and eating problems. Have paid close to 20 thousand dollars for blood tests, ultrasounds, X-rays, internal medicine doctor- still no real answers except they Think he has IBD, but could not give me a definite on that. The employees and doctors at vca-are kind and understanding! But that’s not what I’m paying for- I want answers, and unfortunately I couldn’t get them so I’m back to square one. Annette Kinder

Fantastic experience: We needed neurology for our lab, who experienced a sudden issue. The team of Dr. Diaz is excellent. The emergency veterinarians are stellar as well. The front staff and the back tech and aids are extremely awesome. They made us feel cared for during a horrendous time.

Negative experience: Over priced. Staff always trying to get you to spend more money than you need to. Very disappointed.

Fantastic experience: I have been here many times with my cats and always have a great experience. Because emergency hospitals are pricy, I was extra appreciative when my cat was seen for free yesterday. I had received a seasonal promotion in my email from his family vet, VCA Forest Lawn, saying that emergency exams were free until January 11 for VCA clients and was so happy when there was no catch and the promotion was exactly as stated in the email. I cannot thank you enough! My baby is recovering well at home (except for his terrible haircut, that will take some time) and the emergency vet fund has not been depleted, thanks to your generosity!

Fantastic experience: I want to sincerely thank the entire team at VCA Canada Calgary Animal Referral & Emergency Centre (CARE) — the doctors, nurses, and staff — for the tremendous care and compassion they showed to my German Shepherd, Joy. From the moment we arrived, the level of support was beyond anything I’ve experienced before. Every staff member treated Joy not just as a patient, but as a truly beloved family member. Their compassion, attention to detail, and genuine care were extraordinary. The doctors are absolutely amazing. I’ve met many doctors throughout my life, but I can honestly say the level of professionalism, knowledge, and heart shown here is unmatched. The way they explained everything, supported us through the process, and focused on Joy’s full recovery made all the difference. What truly stood out was how even my reactive Shepherd responded so positively to the environment, the treatments, and the team’s calm, caring energy. You could feel that everyone there has a pure heart and a real love for animals, and that shows in the results. A special thank you to Ronny — what a wonderful, kind, and supportive person. Along with the rest of the staff, he made an incredibly stressful situation feel manageable and filled with hope. I highly recommend this hospital to anyone who needs emergency or specialty care for their pet. If you want a team that treats your animal partner with respect, compassion, and true dedication to recovery, this is the place. Thank you again for everything you did for Joy. We are deeply grateful. ❤️

Fantastic experience: We had a great experience at VCA. The staff were kind, clear, efficient, and helpful. Dr. Shawn Neate was helpful in his diagnosis and recommendations and thorough in his care for our dog.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Diaz was amazing during our consultation with my cat. He clearly loves what he does and shows a level of care and interest in his patients that is rare.

Fantastic experience: Coming from a family vet that was very dismissive and seemed uncomfortable with our dog being anxious/reactive, we were very relieved that the staff was not only super empathetic and caring towards Lucas but also just had the right energy that made him and our family feel comfortable and cared for. Thank you all!

Fantastic experience: We have had many emergency trips here this year for my 16 year old dog, she was always taken care of amazingly and the staff was kind and treated her and myself with love and care. I’ve never seen a team of smarter vets, they really know their stuff here. It’s definitely more expensive than your average vet clinic, but honestly you get what you pay for!

Negative experience: There are countless reviews of people that had the same experience as us. Unprofessional, extremely long wait times (8+ hours), poor communication where we didn’t know what was going on or what to expect. We had to call 4 times to get our lab results and finally on the 6th day a vet called to go over the results. We went to Fish Creek Pet Hospital to repeat the lab work and they took the sample and phoned us with the results in less than an hour! Trust the reviews and go somewhere else for your loved one. It was such an awful and draining experience.

Fantastic experience: The staff at VCA are wonderful. They are friendly, kind and compassionate. Dr. Larson in Oncology called us personally after every appointment our Golden Retriever had at the clinic. She gives very detailed updates and answers all questions. It was obvious she really liked and cared about our dog, and he loved going to see her even though he did not like going to other vet clinics. Dr. Shearer and Dr. Wallis were incredibly kind and patient with our family as they delivered some hard news to us. The support and admin staff that we encountered were lovely as well.

Negative experience: Terrible wait times. Poor management of time and triage. 5 hours here and waiting. Multiple people seen ahead of my dog who were fine (I talked to owners). My dog has infection that is moving rapidly. And is sleeping in a vet’s office which is totally lethargy for her. Finally see doc and get told that she has a high fever and should probably be hospitalized. This is after I was told 2 hours in that her vitals are great. No one was listening to me. And somehow a dog that simpered a couple of times during the day and the owner walked in 2 hours after me, and they didn’t know what had happened but feared a fall, got sent home with a “rest” order for the dog…they were triaged before me. I literally walked in telling them I think it’s mastitis. I had the diagnosis. And they let it sit so long now it’s an issue with potential hospitalization. Don’t go here. Waste of money and time.

Negative experience: Just picked up my cat today. She was there for 2 nights and they recommended she stay another but I refused after finding out it would be another 1000$ and all they were going to do was watch her and make sure she eats which I am capable of doing. I show up to pick her up and they present me with a bill of 3 nights and I tell them that is wrong and that it should only be 4800 not almost 5200, and I was emailed a copy of the bill earlier that day. A bitchy blonde comes out with a different bill saying the reason for the added on money was taxes and I said no now the bill is only 5000 which is what it would be with taxes so you just tried to rip me off of 200$ and she starts saying no she didn’t change anything. They fixed nothing with my cat other than send her home with medication they could have done from the start and try to rip me off. When I first dropped off my cat I also caught one of the receptionists laughing at a guy that needed to call his family because he couldn’t pay the full bill and she called him poor. I should have left immediately after because that’s how they treat everyone.

Fantastic experience: The compassion and care i got from VCA was unmatched anywhere else. They took my concerns seriously and diagnosed my dog as well as followed up on a monthly basis with her throughout her treatment. I would recommend this neurology team to anyone who has issues. They treated her with kindness and patience. My dog has never liked people much but she loved everyone here. Especially Dr Diaz. From diagnosis to the point when I had to put her to sleep VCA was there for me with so much compassion and I am forever grateful for the extra time they gave me with my dog. Thank you to everyone

Negative experience: I understand it being open 24/7 but getting in at 11:30pm then waiting till 2:10 am to be told my pet is fine? Not a good experience at all.

Negative experience: **UPDATE** Dog recieved polar opposite service from Paramount Animal Hospital in the NW. Immediate service, attentive, transparent, professional environment. Modern. Coffee bar. Couches. Amazing receptionists, incredible doctor. Calgarians - go to Paramount for top shelf customer service and professionals. CARE - go visit Paramount, see how it's done. _____ I brought my dog to this hospital at 9:00 a.m. and was extremely disappointed by how poorly the front-end operations were handled right from the get go. From the start, the receptionist gave me no reassurance that my dog would be seen by a doctor within any reasonable timeframe in the day. Instead, they kept repeating that he would need a “consultation” — essentially a way to charge another fee for something I had already explained in detail from a vet. What stood out most was how disconnected and non-committal the receptionist seemed. There was no sense that they understood or cared that my dog was stable but urgently needed a CT scan, for a surgery on his spine likely needed very soon. They offered no confidence that the neurology department could be involved, nor any real insight into the hospital’s workflow or priorities. It came across as flakey and unprofessional — not what you expect when you’re dealing with private veterinary healthcare, where the costs are SIGNIFICANT and customer service should reflect that. After waiting the better part of the day, I finally received a call — 7.5 hours later (4:15PM) — that a doctor was available. I had already left, to another hospital. While I understand that emergencies can happen and schedules can shift, basic communication and LISTENING go a long way. Clients deserve to know what to expect, especially when they’re preparing to pay premium rates. In short, this clinic may have capable doctors, but the front-end experience needs serious improvement. Professionalism, transparency, and respect for clients’ time are not optional — they’re part of what you pay for in private veterinary care. The receptionist at this hospital operated like Canadian "free" healthcare services do (hours of waiting, no idea what is going on) but doesn't seem to be trained that this is actually private paid healthcare, and customer service is a big part of the equation.

Fantastic experience: This place was pretty amazing! We arrived at 2 AM and the doctor was helping us within minutes. They also helped us find a hotel as we were not from Calgary. The next day they were in touch early and let us visit our dog. Dr Diaz was amazing before the MRI he explained everything and was in touch right after explaining everything. They answered all questions we had moving forward and the care the dog got was terrific! They clinic looked clean and well maintained, plus the amount of services they offer are among the top in Alberta. Big thanks to Diaz and everyone else!

Fantastic experience: I had to bring my dog here a few years back because he had a fever and an abscess in his throat. Everyone was so friendly and patient and the vets did a great job of explaining all possible causes and potential treatments. Thankfully, all he needed was antibiotics for a few days and has been fine since. Fast forward years later to labour day weekend 2025 and I knew my cat would be in good hands when I had to take him in after getting blood results back from our vet suggesting he was septic. Unfortunately, his outcome wasn't as good as my dog's and I made the choice to have him euthanized. I was very distraught and everyone in the building I interacted with was so kind and compassionate, not making me feel insecure about all of my sobbing at all, and they offered to do a necropsy on him so I could at least know what caused his rapid decline. Having that answer helped with my grief so much and I am so thankful to the CARE team for giving me that. 10/10 recommend VCA CARE and 12/10 recommend pet insurance.

Fantastic experience: Our experience at CARE was the best that we could have hoped for after bringing in our seriously injured little dog Penny following a brutal dog attack. Our dog was in critical care for 3 weeks at CARE and we nearly lost her. We had the opportunity to meet the medical team (various criticalists and technicians/nurses) daily during those deeply stressful weeks; we were also contacted by phone twice a day for updates, this added to meetings during our daily visits; we also made many phone calls and emails during that time and we were always treated with respect, compassion, understanding and such patience. The outstanding medical staff at CARE brought our dog back to full good health after grueling weeks of critical treatment. We have nothing but praises for the medical team and staff, front desk included, at this hospital. We are more grateful than works can express for the excellent care and affection given to our little dog and to us during that emotional month. THANK YOU especially to Dr. Stillion, Dr. Tong, Dr. Walters, and to the various technicians who treated our little dog with such affection and tenderness during her stay. In the past, Penny always demonstrated stress when visiting veterenarian clinics , but she walks into the CARE reception area calm and comfortable just as she does when she comes home, that says it all.....

Fantastic experience: There are no words for how much gratitude I have for the team at VCA Care Centre. My pup had an emergency visit on Sept 18 after a fainting episode and she stayed the night. They completed referrals to cardiology and were so thorough in her care. We saw Dr. Chalhoub on Oct 7 for an internal medicine apt and he was able to figure out what was causing the fainting episodes. Sadly my girl passed on Oct 9, but I can’t say enough good things about Dr Chalhoub and the care he provided to Nym and the support he provided me last week as I was having to make decisions about surgery etc. Thank you to Dr Chalhoub and the rest of the staff at the CARE Centre for taking such great care of my girl.

Negative experience: Terrible service they nickle and dime you for everything you have . Brought my pup there and they did nothing for him except charge me 5500 . His bill doubled in 45 mins without any explanation when I tried to ask they said I pay or I don’t get my dog . They didn’t want to get to the route to the issue and just kept glossing over it . Their medications they wanted him on are 400 more than for the same medication at my family vet which is disgusting . My pup has a liver infection / disease and was admitted to trinity yesterday when they requested my medical files Vaungh from care called me at 1:30 in the morning I was half awake when I answered he was short and rude with me and hung up on me without a goodbye as soon and I said I was who I was it was we are sending your files over and I ended the call

Negative experience: While emergency veterinary care is understandably more expensive, the pricing here appears significantly out of line with reasonable expectations. I was charged $190 for a consultation, compared to $78 at the Fort McLeod veterinary clinic for a similar emergency visit. The diagnostic testing recommended here was quoted at about $1,700, whereas the same tests were approximately $700 at Fort McLeod. That level of discrepancy raises serious questions about pricing standards and transparency. Pet owners come to an emergency clinic during stressful, emotional moments and rely on fair guidance. While the care itself was professional, the cost structure makes it difficult to trust that affordability and compassion are part of the clinic’s priorities.

Negative experience: My 81-year old mother’s cat was attacked today and needed stitches on his belly. They made her wait 9 hours before he was sorted out. Apparently just before we arrived a serious situation had just gone in, then nothing major after that. It’s a Sunday. I’m not sure if there weren’t enough staff working there? It doesn’t seem right for a cat with an open belly gash to wait 9 hours before being stitched back up.

Negative experience: Absolutely horrible. They are rude, they don’t care about anything other than just their flow of money. PET OWNERS BEWARE. They will mistreat you and bully you into expensive treatments with no regard for your animals health and safety. Steer clear of here if you care for your animal.

Negative experience: THEY HAD MY DOG CUT OPEN WHEN HE COULD HAVE POOPED OUT HIS OBSTRUCTION. Absolutely horrible experience here i brought my dog in due to him being lethargic and agitated and was made to wait for almost 10 hours to be seen Once seen i was told my dog would need xrays and after 4 hours of not hearing back asked where my dog was and received a phone call from the vet while I was still in the building telling me my dog had a blockage in his small intestine and was heavily advised it needed surgery. After finding this out I was told it would be 8000 dollars and they were confident surgery NEEDED to happen and when I brought up I can't pay that I was told I could surrender my dog or EUTHANIZE HIM. after much debating we decided to leave him over night for fluids and see if the blockage would move on it's own and talk about surgery in the morning. That night I found a cheaper vet to do the surgery I was told needed to happen and when I asked the vet to contact the clinic he said he would and never did so my dogs surgery spot was taken. In the morning I found a different vet willing to take over my dogs care and was advised yet again that my dog NEEDED surgery and a secondary x-ray would be a waste of money because they insisted surgery was needed so I took my dog to airdrie and when he was cut open NOTHING WAS IN HIS INTESTINE it was in his colon and he could have pooped it out. My dog was cut open FOR NO REASON and my husband and I were terrified and taken advantage of. This place is an absolute disgrace and absolutely cruel.

Negative experience: This "clinic" doesn't care about animals, or their owners. They care about money and pushing "pet health loans". They expect dog owners to call everyone they know, to also apply for this "loan" to help pay for surgical procedures. They are not candid about the well being about the animals in their care. They push extremely expensive "treatments" and when you panic about not having ten thousand for a surgery - they suggest euthanasia or surrendering your dog to the humane society. This is AFTER paying for pet insurance with them. Somehow, imaging, fluids and a potential overnight maxes out the 2 grand limit of their insurance. Its despicable, they prey on the vulnerable and panicked pet parents and deliver cold, steely, heartless information and "options"

Fantastic experience: The whole team at VCA has been amazing! So caring, knowledgeable, and attentive. Both of our girls have had surgeries here, and we always felt they were safe and loved every step of the way. We’re so grateful for the compassion they show and would recommend them to anyone looking for a veterinarian who truly cares.

Negative experience: We brought our 11-year-old dog in. We didn't think it was a good idea to do surgery on such an old dog, but they assured us that they do surgery on old dogs like this all the time. We paid a large amount of money to have surgery done on our dog based on their recommendation. After less than a week our dog was leaking water out of his abdomen. There was no fixing this and we had to put him down. So $5,000 and a lot of pain and suffering for our dog later we ended up putting him down. Hard to trust a company that would recommend such an expensive fix that only led to pain and suffering for our awesome dog.

Negative experience: I would not trust this hospital with critical care. My kitten had a serious neurological condition that required immediate treatment, and instead of acting quickly, they pushed for some repeat diagnostics that we had already done elsewhere and extensive diagnostics to confirm our suspicions, which we simply did not have the time for. When pleading with the vet to administer the treatment my kitty absolutely needed, that night, he initially said that in his opinion, immediate treatment wouldn’t change the prognosis, even if he was legally allowed to administer it (the medicine isn’t even illegal in Canada anymore, this must have just been a clinic policy for reasons which are still beyond me when it comes to saving an animal’s life), then backtracked when I asked for a transfer to another hospital. He said “I never said that he didn’t need the medication tonight”, right after he had just told me that it wouldn’t change the prognosis. I was appalled, and that alone broke my trust. While I was adamant on the transfer, he seemed to be scrambling for ways to keep me there to spend the money at their hospital. He claimed that “it’s going to cost the same amount if not more” and that he can transfer me but “they probably won’t even be able to get him in right away”. The other hospital got us in immediately and while it may have ended up costing more, I felt a million times more comfortable with the people I dealt with once I arrived there. The cost was never the issue at all. My kitty has now significantly improved after being on the medication for a few days and will be discharged tomorrow for ongoing treatment at home. I fear that without me advocating for him that first night, he may have not made it. I am so thankful I listened to my gut. All in all, the entire experience here felt more focused on upselling with scare-tactics rather than saving my pet. I left feeling deeply uncomfortable and misled. The doctor also already started to set my kitty up for the night prior to the transfer request which was absolutely not consented to, and ended up costing me an extra $900 that I could’ve put towards the proper care. I didn’t even fight it at the end because I just needed to get out of there. I won’t be returning, ever, and unfortunately can’t recommend this clinic, or at least the specific doctor I dealt with. To all pet owners considering care for their fur babies here, please be careful, and do your research.

Fantastic experience: Thank you Dr Campbell and team for the care. If only Champagne can talk , she’ll say you’re the best dog dental surgeon in Calgary !

Fantastic experience: Would just like to thank the Wonderful support & professional care I received this weekend during an emergency visit with my aging cat who was in distress.We were both treated with the utmost kindess and empathy! I will be forever grateful...

Negative experience: Brought my dog in at 2am as he was choking and had something lodged in his throat. There is literally NOBODY here, the parking lot is empty and I had to be buzzed in. It's the only hospital that states "not busy" online and they refused to help. They said they could test his vitals and send him on his way, or I could try another hospital. All others are over capacity and this one is empty!!!! Don't take your pet here if it's truly an emergency because those are just words to staff that appear to be stoned

Fantastic experience: We've had excellent experience with Dr. Connery, Dr. Shearer, and Dr. Teja. We highly recommend them for admitting our dog for emergency as well as diagnostics and surgery and after care. Well done to them for excellent communications and customer care.

Negative experience: This has taken me a full year to be able to process the trauma of the event that I experienced at this veterinary hospital. Apologies for how long this will be but the back story is critical. I got a puppy from out of country, as a responsible pet owner i immediately got said dog insurance. After regular vet visits ect at one year old my puppy was diagnosed with an incurable neurological disease. Our vet told us we would need a specialist so we entrusted our puppy’s care to vca “care”. She required chemo and two night stay monthly at the hospital. She also had testing done, spinal tap ect, coming to over 15,000$ total (which luckily our insurance covered the majority). Monthly expenses paid to the hospital were 600$+ (again mostly covered by insurance). This was such a delicate situation for me and my husband as we had never cared for a dog with such complex needs and we wanted to do the most we could to try to give her some sort of quality of life. At first things were okay with the clinic, we took her for a full year to do her monthly over nights and chemo as well as administering multiple daily medications, unfortunately after the year of treatment we returned from a trip to see her stomach black. Side note we were also warned that the drugs she required to treat her neurological condition (GME) would also be very hard on her organs and potentially lead to cushions and other diseases. Her quality of life was bad with daily soiling and her having to sit in it while we were at work, uncontrollable thirst, blindness, and almost the absolute loss of function of her back legs. With her being only two it was soul crushing to finally come to the decision to put her out of her misery, and after a hard year long battle and lack of improvement we decided to set a day to put her down. This is where the clinic really added to the trauma and sorrow of this event. We called to inform them and tell them we would not be coming for her monthly chemo as this was the decision we had reached. We were gas lit by staff … at first it was personal interpretation but when we requested a refill of her medication to keep her as comfortable as we could until the end of the month they out right refused as “we were no longer patients”. THIS IS A TERMINALLY ILL DOG, I don’t care who was upset we came to this decision but the most humane thing to do is supply us her medicine THAAAT WE PAY FOR !!!! To help her stay as comfortable as possible. This added to the stress and depression of this horrible time in our lives being absolutely abandoned by this clinic after paying over 20k+ over the year. No matter the situation it felt like they were upset they wouldn’t get anymore money out of us, the insurance company, or our dog. Thankfully our regular vet was able to source her medication for us. 0/10 experience showed the absolute lack of humanity and that this location is only looking at your pet as a cash transaction and will take it out on said pet when the transaction comes to an end.

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful experience with Dr Brian and his team. They are the best ! our kitty had to remove the mass from the eyelid and replace the eyelid with part of the skin from the lip. The whole process was tricky but Dr Brian and the team delivered the best result. We are so relieved that our kitty is now recovering very well .. We have pet plus insurance and the admin team took care of the reimbursement submission in timely manner. We received our reimbursement within 7 business days. Thanks to Dr Brian and VCA Team !

Fantastic experience: Despite some of the negative reviews, my dog and I came here on a serious note and I’m pleased with the service. My dog is recovering well and any questions I have are answered as promptly as they can and they are patient when we had to make a serious decision. Couldn’t be happier. Thank you.

Negative experience: I visited your animal hospital this morning at 6:00 AM for my puppy’s surgical wound dehiscence, which occurred less than 24 hours after her surgery. Despite being the only customer there, I waited for three hours to be seen. When my puppy was finally taken in, I was taken aback to see that her open, raw incision was wiped with an alcohol swab upon her return. I was then instructed to monitor her for signs of infection, all of which cost me $100. Later in the day, I took her to Diamond Valley, my family vet, where I was seen within 30 minutes. There, she received a thorough examination, had 4 staples placed, and was given 2 medications for only $63. Unfortunately, my experience at VCA was very disappointing, and I will not be returning.

Fantastic experience: I had a very good experience working with Dr.Thomas-Hollands with my cat London. We were referred to the CARE Center when she had a possible IMHA diagnosis. They were able to book us in within days (we drove 6hrs for this appointment). We were able to get ultrasound, X-ray, a number of blood tests, and biopsies done the same day. We received some results the same day and others within 24hrs. They were upfront and clear about costs & cost estimates which was very helpful. They were clear, and took time to explain all possible outcomes. Thank you CARE Center for your help in saving our cat London!

Fantastic experience: I cannot say enough about Dr. Diaz and Sam. They are so thoughtful and new exactly how to work with my big dog with big anxiety. They took it slow and his needs and his experience were their main concern. If you need a veterinary neurologist I would highly recommend this team!

Fantastic experience: Lovely, super caring team. We brought in our beautiful gsd with stage 4 lymphoma who was later put to sleep here :(. Both vets were super transparent with the protocols, testing and findings. providing multiple estimates. I got multiple phone call updates through the night our dog spent here. I found the team to be especially respectful and caring when navigating through such a heartbreaking and painful time.

Negative experience: I leave honest reviews regularly — and this is one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. My dog Meesha has a suspected lung tumor. My veterinarian submitted a full and thorough referral, including all relevant medical records, history, and lab work. Everything was done correctly on our end. I then personally spoke to a staff member at VCA Care Centre and clearly explained that we were dealing with a possible cancer diagnosis. I even asked directly about CT imaging. And yet — despite all of that — they booked us into the wrong department. Let that sink in. A pet with a likely cancer diagnosis… and they scheduled us with the completely wrong team because no one bothered to actually read the referral or listen to what I said. And instead of owning that mistake, they tried to deflect and blame my vet — who did his job perfectly. To make things even more outrageous, I waited an hour and a half to speak to the manager in person, only to be met with coldness, defensiveness, and absolutely zero accountability. Not even an apology. No urgency. No plan to fix it. This wasn’t a mix-up about nail trims or routine bloodwork. This is a case involving a potentially life-threatening condition, and their complete failure to act responsibly may have cost my dog valuable time. If you care about your pet and expect a specialty care center to treat urgent cases with the seriousness they deserve — stay far away from VCA Care Centre in Calgary. The system is broken, the staff is careless, and the leadership lacks even the most basic empathy or professionalism. They should be ashamed.

Negative experience: My dog was in there for 7 hours, they did tests I had said no to when i had arrived. Instead of treating my dog for the issue we brought him in for they insisted on pushing the fact he has diabetes and kidney disease and that’s why he can’t use his back legs. Got charged for things I said no do that they did any ways. When my dog finally came back out he was covered in his own urine. The doctor proceeded to yell at me when I said no to get him tested for things that weren’t the emergency I brought my dog in for. My opinion on this place, they only care about the amount of money they can get from you and not the care of the animals they see.

Fantastic experience: A big, BIG thank you to the incredible criticalists and CARE team who took such wonderful care of our Fysh. I truly appreciated all the thoughtful updates and the compassion you showed to our whole family. We are so very grateful to have Fysh home with us — and won’t hesitate to call again if needed.

Fantastic experience: We've had first hand experience with the dedication and care everyone at this hospital puts into each and every patient. My partner is a contractor who had rare behind the scenes access to the hospital. Every day he had stories about the gentleness and dedication of the staff. He described every patient getting one on one care including a staff member sitting beside a dog or cat for hours, just so they wouldn't be alone or afraid at their most vulnerable time. Dr. Neil Connery and his team have done multiple surgeries on our dog with hip dysplasia, and we can say unequivocally he is a magician. He's the absolute best in his field with the support from his fantastic team. Our dog is thriving under his care and we'd like to express our heartfelt appreciation for everything the staff does for our dog while she's in care. This hospital is second to none for caring for sick and injured animals, THANK YOU ALL.

Fantastic experience: We arrived there with my cat, Biscuit at 5am on a Sunday as he had an unexpected seizure for the first time. I was really scared for him but was thankful for VCA to be open 24/7 as most vet places were closed. The staff were very polite and calm. No wait time as we were the only ones there. The vet was very nice and explained the causes and answered all of my questions. I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for an emergency care place for their pets. Amazing people and great patience!

Positive experience: It's convenient that the location is 24/7, not many of those in Calgary. The wait times are long however, even when very few other people in lobby. Seems they mix doctors for both emergency and regular appointments, which isn't ideal. Everyone is nice to chat with, but be prepared for a hefty bill. We also thought that the vet evaluation wasn't very good and pill dosages given seemed high, so after ensuring our pet was stable, we definitely went elsewhere for a second opinion.

Fantastic experience: I take Axel my sphynx cat there all the time. All the Doctors are very nice and accommodating with me Axel feels comfortable with All the specialists he sees it is a great place. All the receptionists are, very nice, friendly, and very helpful.

Fantastic experience: We had two big, beautiful Bouviers, both with different kinds of cancer at the same time and both in treatment at the CARE Centre. We lost our beautiful Winnie in January 2025 and our gentle giant Sully in February 2025. We have settled into our new normal with a house much too quiet, more spare time, too much room for people on our couches, and a lack of obstacle courses on our kitchen floors. We are not fans, but this is the way things are right now. We have sincere and abundant gratitude for the Oncology team and their treatment of our Sully and Winnie. We so appreciated the kindness and understanding that we received with each visit. Dr. Larson’s candid yet gentle approach to very difficult questions and delivery of difficult news was valued. At all times we felt that they had our babies’ interests ahead of all else. They gave us a clear understanding of our options but made it clear what was best for Sully and Winnie. We never felt like we were pushed into anything. Dr. Larson’s honesty was invaluable in deciding when it was time for us to let go. As difficult as it was, we knew it was best for our babies when the time came. Winnie was diagnosed first with lymphoma and actually went into remission twice within an 18-month period before we lost her to other circumstances. Sully was diagnosed later with a very aggressive form of MAST Cell cancer. Should you ever have questions about the value of their treatment, I would be happy to talk to you. I was also skeptical in the beginning, but Dr. Larson’s team gave us an additional 18 months or so with our Winnie and a little extra time with our Sully. Time we cherished and used to send them over the rainbow bridge as spoiled and loved as possible and we will be forever grateful for that. Of course, the price of that extra time is high, and we had pet insurance, so we were able to do it. Not everyone can. The oncology team sent flowers and cards with personal, thoughtful messages after each passed. The messages in the cards made us all shed a tear, but it was touching to know that they all found Sully to be the gentle “goofball” and Winnie to be the quirky lovable pooch that we knew and loved. It would be remiss of me not to mention the same caring and kindness from Dr. Genovese and the Dermatology team (Winnie), Dr. Little and her surgical team (Sully), and the ER veterinarian (I did not get his name) that helped us through Winnie’s chaotic end of life. As well all of their receptionists were always pleasant, sympathetic, and kind. I have nothing negative to say about anyone in the CARE Centre whatsoever.

Negative experience: The service has been poor. I feel like they are here to make money. We were told on two separate times they needed to watch vitals before they made a decision on what to do. Our dog had a laceration and needed stitches. Three hours later we were still waiting for any decision.

Fantastic experience: My dog Bella had non-healing ulcers in both eyes & Dr Brian Skorobohach + his team took the best care of her. After a successful procedure, they made sure to continuously follow up with us until she was all healed up & feeling back to her normal self.

Negative experience: Greedy organization. They will take advantage of your desperate situation and take as much money from you as possible. I had to bring a puppy in for an emergency. Long story short, I asked the vet how much this is going to be. He didn’t give me a clear and firm estimate but he said something along the lines of 3-4k. They told me to use their financing option with lend-care because i couldn’t afford to pay out of pocket. I got approved for 13k and they made sure they got all of that 13k. How convenient that it wasn’t below or over what I got approved on. Do not bring your beloved pets here. They are only in it for the money. If you can, go to a different emergency vet.

Fantastic experience: Sadly, my dog was there because he lost an eye. However, while we were having a hard time, Dr. Brian and his team were very kind and compassionate towards us, and gave us the best support and explanation we could have asked for. Currently, my dog is recovering well, thanks to the VCA team. Despite these difficult circumstances, we had the best experience.

Negative experience: GOOGLE THIS PLACE BEFORE YOU GO. There are multiple news articles exposing serious issues at this animal hospital. I personally witnessed several distressed pet owners describing outright animal abuse and mistreatment by the medical staff. One person told me their pet was brought in for a minor issue and tragically didn't make it out alive. The atmosphere is terrifying — you can feel something is very wrong here. Please, I’m begging you — do not take your pet here.

Negative experience: My experience at VCA Canada CARE was nothing short of negligent and heartbreaking. After five agonizing hours waiting with my dog, Ginger, who was clearly suffering, I was told her vitals were "fine" and that other animals were more urgent. Despite my pleas for help, they dismissed my concerns, leaving me feeling helpless and terrified for my dog’s life. Thank God I trusted my instincts and went elsewhere. That vet and team immediately recognized the severity of Ginger’s condition—kidney and liver failure—something CARE failed to diagnose or even properly investigate. Within 45 minutes Petzoic had an ultrasound done, confirmed the tragic reality, and helped me make the most difficult decision with compassion. Meanwhile, CARE’s lack of urgency and misjudgment could have left Ginger to suffer needlessly. Their failure to act not only wasted critical time but also added unnecessary trauma to an already devastating situation.

Fantastic experience: Hello, it has taken me until now to write a review. On boxing day, Dec 2024, I had to bring my cat in to VCA to euthanize her. I still feel like crying. When I arrived, the front desk staff treated me with such kindness and understanding. They put me in a private room where Snowy and I were made comfortable . The young lady explained the process for Snowy . The vet came and explained her part of the process. Everyone treated me and Snowy well. It's never easy . Thank you, everyone !❤️

Negative experience: If I could give zero stars, I would. My cat was referred to three specialists—dental, ophthalmology, and internal medicine. All three were disappointing. The dentist recommended removing only three of my 15-year-old diabetic cat’s seven remaining teeth when I specifically requested that all be extracted. It seemed absurd to subject him to annual cleanings for just four teeth. I will say the quote on the dental extractions was comparable to other clinics. The ophthalmologist, Dr. S, immediately recommended eye removal for my cat’s acute glaucoma. While his eye pressure was indeed extremely high, I explained that this had happened once before, and with around-the-clock eye drops, the pressure had normalized. I was also concerned about how he would handle both dental and eye surgery given his age and unstable health conditions. My concerns were dismissed, and the earliest reassessment they offered was in a month. I then sought an urgent second opinion at Calgary Animal Eye Care with Dr. Combs, who agreed to try eye drops first before resorting to surgery. She also prescribed pain medication, as acute glaucoma is extremely painful, and scheduled a reassessment in one week. This plan worked—my cat avoided surgery and kept his eye. Dr. Thomas Hollands, the internal medicine specialist, saw my cat—who had diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and IBD—and told me everything was fine. She simply suggested trying a different protein diet, despite the fact that we had already experimented with different diets, my cat was persistently losing weight, and his glucose levels were wildly fluctuating (ranging from 2-18 on just 0-1 units of Humalog). I sought a second opinion with Dr. Clarkson at Trinity Hills, who immediately recognized that my cat’s hyperthyroidism and IBD had worsened. She adjusted his medications accordingly, and within a month, my cat’s condition significantly improved—including stable glucose levels on insulin. I strongly advise seeking care elsewhere, especially for internal medicine. Had I followed their recommendations instead of trusting my intuition, my cat would have undergone unnecessary surgery and likely died soon after due to misdiagnosed chronic conditions. Additionally, I had all of his remaining teeth removed at another clinic, where the vets immediately recommended full extraction due to his age and health conditions. His energy levels improved after the extractions.

Fantastic experience: VCA Canada Calgary Animal Referral & Emergency Centre (CARE) provides exceptional veterinary care with compassionate staff and state-of-the-art facilities. They offer 24/7 emergency services, ensuring pets receive the best treatment when they need it most. Highly recommended for urgent and specialized pet care!

Fantastic experience: We spent a lot of money at paramount vet before being directed here by our regular vet. We got a diagnosis and treatment in one place in one session. They were professional and concise. Our boy needed a neurologist we found out. Dr.Diaz is the only one in the province. He has gone above and beyond for our boy Pluto. My only regret not coming here sooner to get the help he needed. Wet will not be going to any other emergency services from now on. And we drive from the north end! Can’t best the quality service. Thank you.

Fantastic experience: We can’t say enough positive things about the staff at the VCA , from the moment we went in with our gorgeous golden retriever Nelly the front desk staff couldn’t have done more. very friendly and so accommodating, Becky was truly amazing checking in on us and keeping us updated. The vets are truly miracle workers for what they did for our Nelly , We are forever thankful and grateful to everyone that helped Nelly . The care she received was outstanding and as very worried doggie parents the Communication and updates we received was amazing . We even got pictures sent to us. Nelly spent 4 days in the care of the vets and nurses it’s so hard being away from your pet but we knew she was in the best hand at the VCA . Thank you all so much for making our girl better and giving her so much love and care ❤️ ❤️

Negative experience: DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE. This place is a franchise that is clearly in it for the money and has absolutely no care for the Animals. Absolute worse experience. We left our poor dog who had been puking and having strange poop and horrible sad and weak…over night at this hospital after they convinced us to leave him so they can do a bunch of tests on him. We picked him up the next day to bring him home. His butt was filthy and had poop all around it because they failed to take clean him up in anyway. We bought him his own food and they didn’t feed him any of it. We brought him in with a blanket to keep him warm and they completely lost it. Called a few times asking for them to look for it and they couldn’t give two poops. After almost $3000 dollars they never gave any test results or why he was sick and made what seemed like a guess and gave him some medication. They asked us to bring in a poop sample which we did the very next day after we took him home. Didn’t hear back after a week, we called and they said “oh you have an outstanding bill to pay” “For what” we asked” “For the poop test.” After nearly $3000 for an over night stay and not getting any clear answers AND not telling us the poop test will cost more more, we said forget about it. We ended up taking our dog to a vet who was so incredible. Eastern Slopes Veterinary Services After $125 bill at this amazing Vet… she gave us sound advice and and some changes to his diet… after a few days he’s back himself. This place actually cares! And won’t rob your bank like this VCA. If you offer value we have no problem paying. This place offered nothing but a sour taste.

Fantastic experience: Our dog Biggie has been receiving treatment with Dr. Diaz for almost two years, and we truly cannot express how grateful we are for him and his team. Dr. Diaz essentially saved our dog, and we owe Biggie's recovery and well-being to his expertise and dedication. From the very beginning, Dr. Diaz and his staff have been nothing short of amazing. They consistently keep us updated and ensure that we are informed every step of the way when Biggie is in for his treatments. Their communication is outstanding, which has given us peace of mind during what could have been a very stressful time. We are beyond thankful for the exceptional care and attention Biggie has received and continue to receive. Dr. Diaz and his team have made a lasting impact on our family, and we wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone in need of compassionate and skilled veterinary care.

Fantastic experience: My dog underwent a major surgery to remove a tumor over 20 pounds on Jan 30th. Dr Neil Connery and his team did an exceptionally great job to save my dog. I want to express my gratitude to the surgery team for care and compassion they showed during a tough surgery. From the moment I reached out, the entire team including front desk was kind, understanding, and supportive.

Negative experience: I had a very disappointing experience at this emergency pet hospital. While the staff was professional, the entire experience felt like more of a cash grab than genuine care for my pet. I ended up spending several hours at the facility, waiting to see specialists who didn’t seem interested in providing any real solutions or preventative care. Instead, it quickly became clear that their approach was focused on scheduling multiple follow-up visits—likely because they could make more money that way. It was frustrating to see that they weren’t addressing the root causes or giving any advice on how to manage the issue long term. If you're looking for comprehensive care for your pet, I strongly recommend finding a local vet or specialist who truly has your pet's well-being in mind. This hospital didn’t feel like they were in it for the right reasons.

Negative experience: On Saturday, January 4, we were sent here from another vet clinic due to our sweet, perfect boy, @Mr.GeorgeTheDog having a lump on his shoulder and swelling in his front body. [If you don't care about the story, but want to understand the 2 stars, skip to the bottom paragraph]. For more than a year, our boy had been suffering from what I believed to be from separation anxiety induced seizures and we had them well managed. When they whisked our boy away from us, we were very upfront and honest that we wanted to be with him but were told no. We explained his anxiety induced seizures and again were told no. As our anxiety heightened in the front reception area, we knew we were likely going to be taking him home with the expectations of a seizure. Eventually, they moved us into the room, and we were met by the very sweet student who brought us our baby and was taking a history. (Cathy is largely the reason you received any of the 2 stars). While taking the history, our boy began to seize. She called for help and was met with a very stressed assistant who was asking repeatedly what medication she wanted. Cathy kept telling her she was a student and couldn't make that decision. As my husband and I felt like the calmest people in the situation, our boy was again whisked away from us. One vet assistant tried to stay back and clean up the pee on the floor from the seizure but was called away and apologized profusely. My husband cleaned the floor, using paper in the room long before they came in to mop the floor. AGAIN, we told them we were not comfortable with this, and WE KNOW OUR BOY, so this was NOT the best for him either. They told us they had to keep him back for observation and had given him an IV in case they needed to push medication. Eventually, the Emergency Vet, Dr. Matthies came in and while she was kind, I was very frustrated George continued to not be brought back to us. She explained that seizures at his age were most likely structural (Tumour) and the edema (swelling) was likely additional tumours growing in my sweet baby's body. My husband had to bring up the lump on his shoulder which she then came back and again told us that she was sure that too was a tumour and not a knotted muscle as we had believed before. She also explained that these were assumptions and not guaranteed without further expensive diagnostic intervention ($1200-$5000). Knowing that our boy was suffering and at 14, it wasn't fair to put him through painful/stressful treatments and we wouldn't leave him overnight, alone; I asked if she could help us keep him comfortable. She told us she'd give us 4 days of Prednisone (steroids), that would reduce the swelling, increase his thirst and appetite but we needed to follow up with end of life or further diagnostic measures with our family vet clinic. They did also send us with a vial to administer up his nose should he have another seizure, stating multiple times it was because they drew the medication for him but hadn't administered it in clinic. Sunday, I began seeking out at home euthanasia clinics, hoping to have the 4 days, but Monday night, it became clear it was harder and harder to keep our boy comfortable and the Prednisone was doing NOTHING. Thankfully, Tuesday morning, a friend was able to bring us Gabapentin that she has for her dog because he was very agitated and uncomfortable, but our appointment wasn't until late afternoon on Tuesday and we were not putting him through further transportation and stressful clinics. 2 Stars, First, to encourage Cathy to continue on her journey to becoming a Vet. Second, to encourage a better experience for other fur parents who may be in our situation one day. The fur parents should not be the calmest people in a stressful situation or left in a messy room if there are other available. Asking to keep your palliative dog comfortable for a few days while you process saying goodbye and making decisions in their best interest should not be as unachievable as they felt for us at this clinic.

Fantastic experience: Our dog was really sick and this clinic is the only reason that she survived. I want to give credit to Dr. Thomas Holland as she was the primary vet to take charge in this scenario. This was incredibly stressful for us and I'm grateful to her and the team.

Fantastic experience: I want to express my gratitude to this clinic for the care and compassion they showed during a really tough day. From the moment I reached out, the entire team was kind, understanding, and supportive. They guided me through every step of the process with patience, answering all my questions and making sure we felt comfortable. They created such a peaceful and loving environment, allowing me the time and space to say goodbye. Their empathy and professionalism made a heartbreaking experience a little easier to bear. They were respectful in honouring our financial limitations when offering treatment options. Thank you for treating us with such dignity and respect during such a difficult time.

Fantastic experience: My dog had been receiving treatment for lymphoma here for over a year. Dr. Larson’s team was highly professional, skilled, and compassionate. They showed us so much love and care, which deeply touched me. The emergency team is also truly admirable. During my time in the emergency room, I witnessed their dedication and hard work firsthand. They work tirelessly with a strong sense of responsibility, which is truly commendable. Everyone here is genuinely friendly. I am truly grateful to them and will always cherish the time we spent together.

Fantastic experience: Our senior fur baby had to be taken to the CARE center recently where we had to make the difficult decision to let him go, the staff and doctors were so kind, gentle and compassionate as we said goodbye to our loved one. For anyone dealing with an injured or end of life family pet, I would highly recommend the CARE center. Although we mourn our loss, you made us and our little guy feel special and cared for during a very painful time. Thank you. T

Negative experience: I have debated for quite some time as to whether or not to post the details of my experience here and my dogs passing. I don't feel like airing dirty laundry, it won't bring her back or change what happened, so I won't outline it all... But I will say to trust the negative reviews. I'm thankful they were able and willing to squeeze us in when we were advised by our vet to take our dog to urgent care after some unexpected results from routine blood work. I'm appreciative to the staff for giving me time to transfer funds from my bank to pay for everything. The docs that treated her were all wonderful. The techs in the back were amazing and so kind. However. A lot went wrong and some understandable but unacceptable mistakes were made. Some of these mistakes were simple human oversight, such as staff not paying attention to notes on file or giving me incorrect information. Or being told to wait to pay a bill until I came to pick up my dogs keepsakes then being secretly charged penalty fees for having an open invoice. A less understandable one was giving us a package that was supposed to contain our dogs keepsakes and remains without actually putting her remains inside (which was not discovered until we got home - I immediately called in and waited on hold for a substantial time because they were trying to find her) Some are more serious, like not communicating our wishes for no drastic measures to the surgeon (our dog was a senior - we signed a DNR and expressed to multiple people our desires) resulting in a deviation from the initial surgical plan without our knowledge or consent. I don't care that this cost me an exorbitant amount of money (over $15k by the end, thousands more than originally discussed)... I care that she suffered, her suffering was avoidable and they prevented me from giving her a peaceful passing. I did wait a couple months to clear my emotions and then reached out to discuss our experience as not just a client but as someone who has worked in healthcare for nearly 20yrs. Management took zero accountability and was dismissive. At one point she asked me what I hoped to achieve from this and tried to skirt the issues by insinuating I was still grieving and suggesting I come to one of their support groups. I would not recommend this facility unless you are in dire need and your furbaby must been seen immediately. Proceed cautiously.

Negative experience: We recently had an awful experience at the emergency vet. 8 hours, $1,000+ and ultimately left with no answers or solutions to my pets problem. We waited over two hours to initially see a vet and went hours alone in the room at a time without getting any updates. We were there overnight and my pet was never offered a blanket or bed to lay on, nor a bowl of water (even though part of his issue was dehydration). They leave you sitting alone in an empty, plain, uncomfortable room for hours on end. There is nothing warm or inviting about this place. I left feeling horrible that I brought my pet there. I also paid for and was also told I would received further follow up from the radiologist which never happened. I’ll never take my pets here again.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Campbell and his team were amazing. My little dwarf cat with a bunch of health issues needed her teeth removed and any other vet we had gone to didn't feel comfortable doing it so we were referred here. She pulled through and did amazing. We were kept up to date once she was actually in surgery. The downside was that we were asked to be there at 7:30am (and we live two hours away), and her surgery didn't start until about 2:30pm. However, it's an emergency hospital so that is to be expected. Dr. Campbell really gives his all for this place, I can only imagine how tough this line of work would be. The receptionists weren't the best, they were very cold and wouldn't tell us what was happening at all. But 5 stars for the actual dental team.

Negative experience: I wanted to love this place knowing that our dog's neurologist works here and he is 1 of a very few in Alberta. Unfortunately that is not the experience or review that I can provide here. We decided to bring our pup here under the recommendation of another pet hospital due to the fact that he would have benefited from being assessed by the neurologist. From the time we arrived (around 9pm at night) to the time he had to leave and then return the next day to pick up our pup from his overnight stay it was a very unpleasant experience that left me sad and angry that I left my dog to be cared for by this place. We were told that if we left our own medication that it would help reduce the overall cost of the invoice as they would be giving him the same medication. Ok! no problem....until the next day when we picked him up and was still charged for using our own medication and on top of that having them tell us that they "misplaced" the medication but "as soon as we find it we will give you a call". Well, that doesnt work so well when you live an hour away and he needs those medications every 12 hours and they are controlled medications that one cannot just order over the phone for quick pickup. We were called by the Vet to arrive at a specific time, yet when we arrived that time was put into the calendar at a different time an hour and a half later. Instead of apologizing for the mix up they got frustrated with us as if we made the mistake of the timing. Our pup was also covered in his own feces and dried urine.... leading me to believe that they did not take him out at any time to properly use the bathroom and instead made him wait so long that he soiled himself in his kennel and they did not even notice ( and yes I have pictures and yes I brought their attention to it ). Their response "Oh wow that is weird...let me ask in the back" only to come back and say "I'm not sure what happened but would you like us to wash him off quickly for you?" Seriously?! it is not like we don't pay enough there on the invoice for an overnight stay, one would assume your animal was getting proper care and attention when you leave them. Also if you have an appointment booked and something happens outside of your control getting there (i.e traffic, accident, etc.) please know that they do not tell you that if you are any amount of time over checking in for your scheduled appointment that you will not be accepted and in fact they are rather rude about it. I had even called in on the way to the appointment to let them know that we had been held up due to an accident (and yes we left extra early for this appointment because it was that important) and no one had the courtesy in the hour and 10 minutes post us calling in to tell us not to come if we were late as they could not see us. When we arrived they were very rude about it and offered no solutions except to book the next appointment that was 2 months away. My hope is that if we ever ever have to use this place again that they take a look at some of the customers experiences here and opt to change some of their practices to being better. Trust me, using a Pet hospital in the first place is an emotional experience for people when their animals are going through things, and this makes that experience 1000 x worse.

Positive experience: Disappointing Experience with Front Desk, but Exceptional Dental Medical Team I recently visited VCA on the morning (8:30 am) of October 22nd, and while the medical care my pet received was fantastic, my experience with the receptionists left much to be desired. There were two receptionists training a new hire, who, despite being new, displayed incredible charisma and professionalism. Unfortunately, the two older staff members training her were quite the opposite. They seemed uninterested in their work, projected negative energy, and were rude—not just to me, but to others I observed them interacting with. It’s disheartening to have such unpleasant staff as the first point of contact at a place where people are often concerned about their pets. These two women made the experience difficult and uncomfortable, and I hope the clinic takes this feedback seriously. I would hate to deal with them again on future visits. On the other hand, Dr. Campbell and his assistant Calvin were absolutely incredible. They were professional, caring, and thorough in addressing my pet’s needs, and I cannot praise them enough for their excellent work. The entire medical team was warm, attentive, and provided exceptional care. I hope management looks into addressing the concerns with the reception staff, as they are affecting the overall experience of an otherwise wonderful clinic and an exceptional dental medical team.

Fantastic experience: To all the kind hearts and skilled hands that helped with my sweet girl Aster, Thank you for your compassion and patience with me while my heart broke for her. Thank you for taking the time to give her love and snacks, and doing your best to make her stay and all of the pokes and restraints and diagnostic processes as stress-free and painless as possible. My heart goes out to you that have to cope with people like me and pets like her every day. I'm sorry we didn't win this one, folks, but I am so grateful for you all and how hard we tried. Thank you for making that effort possible. Thank you for everything you do, every day, to give these pets a fighting chance.

Negative experience: I have mixed feelings about this clinic. Our senior dog wasn’t feeling her usual self, so we brought her in one evening as other vets were closed. We were seen relatively quickly, despite the fact that our dog wasn’t acutely unwell. They took our girl to the back, did some tests including an ultrasound and this is where my mixed feelings come in. The vet reviewed his findings on U/S and indicated that there was free fluid around her liver, ordered blood tests etc. Despite our dog being in relatively normal condition at the time of this visit, I was shocked when the doctor suggested I keep her overnight for observation and so they could also do a more thorough ultrasound. I decline as she is highly anxious and her staying there would do more harm than good for her health. When I said she’d be anxious, the vet told me that they could sedate her…. “to keep her comfortable”. That didn’t sit well with me either. Upon refusal of leaving my dog there overnight I was given a plethora of medications, one of which for internal bleeding which I was instructed to start giving my dog that evening - even tho she had no symptoms of internal bleeding… which also didn’t sit well with me. I have known my dog for almost 14 years, I think it’s valuable to trust my gut in this scenario. I am also a healthcare worker and albeit, it’s with humans, I still feel believe we should treat animals and their owners with the same dignity and respect as humans. Also, do NO harm, aka why give a medication to a dog, preemptively? I left the clinic that evening in absolute tears thinking my dog was going to die in a matter of days/hours despite her acting like her usual self at this point. Anyways, moving forward she also had bloodwork done and I was called with the results by a different vet who was more reassuring although she still recommended another ultrasound be done because the bloodwork indicates “cancer”. Again, as a healthcare worker I questioned any differential diagnoses that would be a possibility, each shot down with continued concern that my dog has cancer. The vet kindly send a referral to our usual vet in BC for us to get a repeat ultrasound by a more skilled vet -since the “emergency vet” is not apparently “qualified to properly read the ultrasounds”. Given that this is an emergency clinic, and you typically need results in a timely matter during emergencies, it’s concerning to me that the vet working is unable to effectively read ultrasounds in these scenarios. Fast forward a few weeks, we took our pup to her usual vet in BC, they did an X-ray, repeated ultrasound and even did a biopsy of the liver tissue - and they found no evidence of cancer, simply what they call “age related changes to the liver”. We have also since seen another vet in Calgary for ongoing care since we live here now and he also found it concerning that we were told our dog was quite sick when it turns out she isn’t. He also suggested the elevated liver bloodwork could have been from ingesting some unknown substance hard on the liver. Our vet in BC suggested the other elevated calcium level is likely a red herring and just a coincidental finding in that moment. So, the original “emergency” vet put into our minds that our dog was going to die and had some serious liver issue with free fluid surrounding the liver (which - by the way - was NOT seen on ultrasound by the other vet who did the further U/S in BC), who also recommended we keep here there overnight given the dire situation of her health….. and he was entirely incorrect. Shouldn’t a vet at an emergency clinic have more expertise than a regular practising vet? You’d think. Anyways, almost $4000 later, and our girl is completely fine. When I told this to other pet owner friends they also said they have heard not good things about this emergency hospital. It’s highly unlikely we will return to this clinic, simply because other than being open 24/7, they don’t seem to be any different or more skilled than a regular veterinarian in their ability to diagnose urgent or emergency health issues.

Fantastic experience: Thank you Dr.Dominic and the excellent staff. The reception and every one here were super professional and caring. Providing excellent care for our Gilly. He is recovering very well.

Fantastic experience: Awesome vets very caring, I cant say enough about how good this animal hospital is. The attention to detail, the answers they give and the level of care that your pet receives is bar none. My cat Beany is a testament to this and Dr. Thomas Holland is outstanding as well as all the Vet assistants and vet nurses. Beany is seen by Dr. Thomas-Holland and I would just like to thank her and her staff for all the care and time they took with Beany over the past couple of years. I will be booking her blood work in the beginning of April with you for continuity of care and it all being done at the same lab. She is back to her best self again. I cant thank you enough I really cant say enough good about this animal hospital, the vets, specialists, vet techs and the support staff at the front. You are all dedicated and wonderful...

Negative experience: Please trust the negative reviews here. We took our 8 year old rescue in after she ate multiple corn on the cob. When we arrived we were told it was a serious emergency and they were going to see her immediately. We were put in a room and a vet tech (who was absolutely wonderful) came and checked her vitals which showed low blood pressure. This was in the first 20 min after arriving. After that we were in the room alone for over 4 hours without seeing a doctor, without anyone coming to check her vitals again, without checking in to see if symptoms had changed, without any communication regarding a timeline. We had initially been told that they would induce vomiting but they never did this and due to this we missed the window to have induced vomiting potentially resolve the issue. I eventually went and asked the front desk for an update and was told it would still be over an hour. At this point it was past 2am so we called Alpine Pet Hospital who let us take her there and they saw our dog immediately. I’m so let down that at the very least there was no checking on her wellbeing, or any form of communication with us. And especially let down that they never induced vomiting for something that was a serious emergency. No one came into the room once. It is really hard to wrap my mind around an emergency vet office allowing a potentially harmful obstruction to play out like this. I would never recommend this place to anyone.

Fantastic experience: I can't speak for others and their experience here, I can also attest to my own and honestly, my experience was the best it could have been given the circumstance. I had been fighting for months to find answers. I went to multiple vets. Finally, a referral was sent to this animal hospital. My cat and his health took a steep decline and so no longer wanting to wait, I called them and they said to bring him in. 30 minutes later, I arrived with my boy and was met at the front desk. I said I called and they immediately remembered. They took my cat right away to be assessed. I sat down to fill out forms and was updated periodically while I waited. Finally I was brought to an exam room where I waited only moments for the vet to come in. I had Carissa Tong first who came in, I answered questions, gave background and then she shared her findings. Based on his health, he was kept overnight in an oxygen chamber while we waited for the morning to come so he could be seen by a specialist. It was hard to have to leave him, but after talking to a care specialist and working out a plan with tests and all, she asked if I wanted to go see him. The price was.. a lot. I expected it to be. It's an emergency hospital. But I was ready to pay what I needed to pay to get answers, to get help. I went and visited my boy, who seemed to perk up after getting some oxygen. Everyone was sweet, and they assured me they would take care of him. As they walked me out, they informed me of the next steps and that if I had any questions, they were there all night and all I had to do was call. It was a long night and around 10am, I got a call to inform me my cat was moved to critical care, like they said he would be in the morning. The lady on the phone said the specialist will give me a call after she's examined him. By 12, I got the call from the specialist who gave me details of her findings, Jenefer Stillion was very compassionate and assuring. She told me the time she would call back and so I went back to waiting and hoping for the best. Unfortunately, at no fault of anyone, after his tests and further exams, the prognosis wasn't good. Dr.Stillion gave me 4 options, but was very honest with me. In the end, I chose to go with euthanasia. Dr.Stillion explained the process to me as I haven't done this before, she was very kind and understanding. She said there was no rush and when I was ready, to come in. After letting my family know, we went back to the hospital to say goodbye to my best friend. They brought us into a dimly lit, clean and quiet room. Soon after, they brought my cat in and assured us it was ok to take as much time as needed and when we were ready, to press the button on the wall. After lots of tears, cuddles and kisses to his soft head, we pushed the button. Dr.Stillion came in, and at the pace I wanted to go, we got through one of the hardest things I've had to do. In all my tears and blubbering, Dr.Stillion kept reassuring me. Finally, when his passing was confirmed, we were told we could stay with him for as long as needed. When we were ready, a nurse came in and very gently, picked up my boy, let us kiss him goodbye and asked if we wanted to leave out the back doors. The staff said my cat was a charmer, very sweet and had people falling in love with him in only 24 hours. They acted fast, got me the answers I had been begging for for months, and even though there wasn't much I could do that wouldn't take away the quality of life he deserved, and as hard as it was to do, I'm so happy that in his last hours, he was doted on, he was taken care of, he was loved and I had the opportunity to be there, to comfort him, to take in our last moments together and there was no rush. A few days ago, I got his ashes back and there was a card in the bag from the team at CARE. My heart goes out to them, it can't be easy but I am beyond grateful for your support, your compassion, your honesty and the love you gave to us. Thank-you.

Negative experience: Went here for emergency on a Wednesday evening. Was made to wait in the waiting room for 3-4 hours with my sick cat. They never give you updates unless you chase them down. Lots of socializing at the front desk. Exam rooms are absolutely filthy, they should be ashamed. I've been in a lot of vets and this was the dirtiest. They act run off their feet but when you finally get put in the back in an exam room you can see and hear how absolutely silent and un-busy they actually are. Feel like cats are treated like second class citizens compared to dogs. I sincerely hope I never need to visit this clinic for non-emergency or emergency reasons and I will try my hardest to go somewhere else in the future. Sad. Don't bother replying to this review saying you can't find me in the system and want to talk to me about my experience, just clean up the clinic and do better.

Fantastic experience: I can’t thank Dr. Brian enough for the exceptional care provided during Benny’s eye exam. From the moment we walked in, it was clear that Dr. Brian has a deep love for animals and a compassionate approach that made both Benny and I feel at ease. Dr. Brian was incredibly thorough in the examination, taking the time to explain everything in detail and answer all our questions with patience and clarity. His gentle handling of Benny was truly heartwarming, and it was obvious that they genuinely care about their furry patients. Benny (who was in some distress in the car) was adamant for some cuddles and pets from his doctor, he was so at ease with Dr. Brian. Thanks to Dr. Brian’s expertise and kind demeanour, Benny left with a clean bill of health, and all our concerns and stress about his eye went out the window. I highly recommend this vet to anyone looking for top-notch care for their pets. We are truly grateful for the outstanding service and support!