VCA Canada Downtown Animal Hospital

Negative experience: this is not a vet its a sales center. every time I come for a specific problem they hard sell you on a bunch of unnecessary things. Don't care about dogs actually just how to drain the owner

Negative experience: been their client for 10 years spent $$$$ of dollars. my dog has cancer. lung x ray is needed. I have to pay for a consultation for any procedure with the same doctor that has seen the dog for years. money grab. dont care for dogs. they know when the pet is sick how to drain money from the owner. why am I paying for another consultation with the doctor that already suggested the treatment.

Negative experience: We had a 3:30 PM appointment scheduled and cancelled about an hour beforehand. I completely understand that this was short notice, and we accepted that our deposit would not be refunded, that part was fair and aligned with their policy. However, about 30 minutes later, we became anxious again about our dog’s condition. He had seemed better, which is why we initially cancelled to avoid the stressful trip across town and the TTC ride (he gets very uncomfortable on public transportation). But as worried pet parents, we decided it was better to be safe than sorry. We called back to ask if there was any possibility of still coming in for the 3:30 appointment. On this second call, the staff were quite rude. We were told we would still be charged the cancellation fee, which we understood and did not dispute. We repeatedly apologized and explained that we were just concerned about our dog and hoping there might be a way to squeeze us in. Instead of empathy, we received a lecture about what we “shouldn’t have done and was made to feel bad for changing our minds. We fully respect clinic policies and understand that last-minute changes are inconvenient. What was disappointing was the lack of compassion in how the situation was handled. As anxious pet owners, a little understanding would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, this interaction left us feeling uncomfortable and unsupported during what was already a stressful situation.

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend this clinic, all vets are very professional and kind. Dr. Steede and Dr. O’Shell have been very patient and empathetic with us and giving options for our senior dogs treatments.

Negative experience: We visited for the first time with our newly adopted cat, using the advertised free first visit. Dr. O’Shell was wonderful—thorough and kind. The initial front desk staff were also friendly. Unfortunately, our checkout experience was very poor. The lady handling payment was rude and unhelpful. There was confusion over pricing for tests discussed with the doctor, and she was dismissive when we asked for clarification. The main issue was the "free first visit" offer. Despite registering for it online and even making a deposit (which included an agreement about the visit), the $170+ exam fee wasn't waived. The reason? I couldn't physically show a coupon because I had lost my phone that day. The checkout lady was rude, stating, "It's not my fault you don't have your coupon," and refused to help, citing a "no coupon, no waiver" policy. This procedure is flawed. If a clinic requires a physical coupon for a promotion you've already registered and confirmed for, that should be communicated clearly before the appointment—not discovered at checkout. We had to re-register on the spot to finally access the offer. Another staff member kindly explained the coupon comes from a separate office system, which the first lady did not mention. While the veterinary care was excellent, the unprofessional, inflexible, and uncomfortable financial process has left us not wanting to return. A clinic that values patients would have better systems and customer service training to handle these situations.

Fantastic experience: I can't say enough wonderful things about Downtown Animal Hospital and Dr. Steede. We’ve been coming here for over a decade and they've been with us through every stage of my dog, Stella’s, life. Stella is 19 years old now and I truly can’t imagine trusting her care to anyone else. Dr. Steede is nothing short of incredible - compassionate, thorough, patient, and deeply invested in her patients. She's always taking the time to explain options, answer questions, and make sure we feel supported and informed. The level of love, attention, and genuine care Stella receives here goes far beyond what you’d ever expect from a vet clinic. But the entire team at Downtown is exceptional. Every single person is kind, warm, and treats Stella like she’s their own. You can feel how much they truly care - not just about doing their jobs well, but about the animals and families they work with. They don’t get nearly enough kudos for the work they do and we appreciate them more than words can say. All of my future pets will absolutely come here. I’m endlessly grateful for this clinic and the incredible people who make it what it is.

Fantastic experience: We have a longstanding relationship with Downtown Animal Hospital. Dr. Steede is our veterinarian and has provided excellent care for our 2 cats over the years. She is a friendly, empathic and knowledgeable veterinarian who always takes the time to talk with us about our cat’s health and how we can help maintain it. Dr. Steede phones and emails us about Jake’s yearly blood and fecal test results - and gave frequent updates about his progress after dental surgery last year. Last week Jake had an upset stomach, and I was assigned Dr. Walsh as Dr.Steede was not available that day. The staff was excellent, arranging a prompt appointment with Dr. Walsh. Dr. Walsh is also a kind and knowledgeable veterinarian, who takes the time to explain what is happening with Jake, thereby alleviating my worry. Dr. Walsh even phoned my partner and me about Jake’s progress and dietary after care. The quality of care and service from these veterinarians is just outstanding - and the clinic staff is sensitive and accommodating. We are very happy with the level of service and care provided at Downtown Animal Hospital. Kudos to you

Fantastic experience: I had a great experience bringing my cat, Cookie, to this hospital for an urgent ear concern. The staff was kind and gentle with her from the moment we walked in. The vet did a thorough check, cleaned her ears, and gave us an ointment that’s already helping. I really appreciated how calm and professional the team was, especially since I was feeling quite stressed. They explained things clearly and made sure Cookie was comfortable throughout. Thank you for taking good care of my girl. She’s already doing better and I feel so relieved!

Fantastic experience: Very helpful and considerate. Called a week after our appointment to check up on our kitty which we found thoughtful :) They helped our little guy feel much better

Fantastic experience: They are one of the few fear-free vets located in downtown Toronto. The staff always take great care to provide wonderful care for my anxious and reactive dog. Dr. Heather Steede is fantastic!

Negative experience: I came here a few years ago my dog was very sick and I asked them to please look at her and they said no. Later, I went to an emergency clinic after finding one for so long my dog was about to die from pneumonia. They don’t care about your animals. Update: You wouldn’t find me in the system as the vet refused to take a look at her. Yall made me wait for so long, my puppy had severe pneumonia and she had to be put in a catheter for days. Your vets are so heartless that they didn’t give a shit about the emergency that was clearly present. I will always advise people in our area to stay clear of this hospital.

Fantastic experience: Great people here! I had a 19-year old cat who became very ill and needed euthanasia. The VCA were extremely accommodating and thoughtfull throughout the entire process. A+++ Trust your animal care to these consummate professionals

Fantastic experience: I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to Dr Walsh, Dr Steede and Dr Hall for saving the life of my chunky cat Walnut. Without their fast action and diagnosis, Walnut would have died from the tube he swallowed which got stuck in his small intestine. Also a big thank you to the front desk and technicians whose names I did not get a chance to catch, thank you for squeezing walnut in 10 minutes after I called last Thursday. Last week, Walnut stopped eating and Dr Walsh found there’s a tube stuck in his intestine via XRay. On the second day when I bring him back to the clinic, Dr Steede acted very fast on confirming that it is a total blockage while keeping walnut on IV Fluid to preserve energy, then she managed to communicate and squeeze walnut in for emergency surgery at the emergency clinic within 4 hours. After the surgery, walnut did not have bowel movement and stopped eating again, Dr Hall was really patient and helped walnut find the food he loves, adjusted the painkiller dose, and replaced his collar so he could get a really good rest (which helped with bowel movement as well!). Everyone at the clinic act with not only professionalism but also heart warming care towards my furry buddy, I really can’t ask more and this is the best I have been to in GTA. Sending a lot of love from Walnut to everyone!

Positive experience: Had to come here twice this past week because my usual vet was fully booked and it was an emergency. We absolutely loved Dr. Hollie Poulter. She is so professional and kind. She never pressured us into doing unnecessary tests and was overall an excellent doctor. However, I cannot say the same for the vet techs. I specifically asked to hold my dog for the blood draw to which Dr. Poulter had no issues whatsoever. But the vet techs did not allow me to my dog and ending up poking all four of his legs to get enough blood. I know my dog very well and at his usual vet I’m the one who holds him and we have never faced this issue because of that. For the fourth leg I was very adamant to hold him and low and behold - they got the blood easily without any movement from my dog and no overflowing blood. He literally bled out twice all over his fur when I was not allowed to hold him. It absolutely ruined my mood and the whole experience. I brought this up at the reception and I hope next time you listen to the owners. Absolutely unacceptable.

Negative experience: I had a terribly disappointing experience at VCA Downtown. As a long-time and delighted client of the VCA Midtown (Yonge & Davisville) location, where the service and care have always been exceptional, I expected a similar standard. Unfortunately, that was not what I received. The primary issue was the completely inconsistent advice; each team member provided different recommendations and guidance, which created significant confusion and a total lack of confidence. To make matters worse, the vet was not helpful. Switching to this location for convenience was a major mistake. I will not be returning and cannot recommend this branch.

Negative experience: I’ve been bringing my pets to this clinic for over 5 years, but after my recent experience with Dr. Kate Hall, I will never be returning. Dr. Hall was incredibly rude and dismissive, both in person and over the phone. Her tone was condescending and completely inappropriate for someone in a caregiving profession. There are professional and respectful ways to communicate, and Dr. Hall demonstrated neither. There was zero compassion, no sense of accountability, and certainly no remorse. I left the clinic and that phone call feeling shaken and deeply uncomfortable. After years of trusting this clinic, I’m heartbroken to say that I will no longer be bringing my pets here. No one should be spoken to or treated the way I was.

Fantastic experience: I had to make an emergency appointment on Friday and I had never been to this vet before. The reception staff were so kind and helpful, they found a spot for me to get my cat seen. Upon entering, the receptionist with the red hair was warm and welcoming. They treated my cat very well, made us both feel comfortable, and eased my anxiety.

Negative experience: Unfortunately, our experience at this VCA clinic was extremely disappointing. We were initially greeted politely, but our interaction with Dr. Issaam quickly turned sour. When I mentioned that our cat had previously received a booster shot at a different clinic, he suddenly accused us of lying about it being our first visit to VCA. He then demanded that I show an invoice from the other clinic on the spot—otherwise, he said he would not provide us any service. What’s crazy is that everything was fine until I mentioned that she had a previous booster shot. Am I not supposed to tell the vet her history?? Why am I getting punished for not having an invoice for something that was not asked to bring…?She was due for her FCRP shot and I mentioned to him she had a booster shot. Not related to FCRP at all what so ever. This was shocking and completely uncalled for. Nowhere in the email confirmation or appointment information did it state that we needed to bring invoices. I brought exactly what was required—our cat’s vaccination passport—and still, I was refused care. The accusation, tone, and lack of professionalism left us feeling frustrated and disrespected. We wasted our time expecting a warm, welcoming first visit (which was supposed to include a deduction of the examination fee, as advertised), but instead left feeling dismissed and unfairly treated. This experience was unacceptable, and I would caution others before booking here. I ended up getting her vax with another VCA that gladly accepted us! Good luck to this clinic…

Fantastic experience: This hospital has been a part of our familyfor a long time including our pets as well ( 2 felines and 2 canines who has sonce crossed over the rainbow bridge and currently 2 canines and 2 felines that vary from 2 yrs to 13 yrs of age) as our family pets that visit and at times required an emergency care. when it was time for our dogs " last visit" ( 4 years ago)the clinic kept the staff longer passed the opening hours instead of sending Us off to emergency hospital we could not have been more greatful for that especially that he was always comfortable when going in for his visits. Recently Karla has taken the initiatives upon herself to look into our insurance policy and taken the time to contact them as well as clarify everything and submit passed appointments/medications visits to the insurance company as well as then explain everything to Us and Clarify. Never have we come across with anyone taking the initiative and doing it on our behalf with so much patience. Thank You for your on going care for our fur babies and always educating Us on their treatments and pro activeness in that. Basia and Tim on behalf of Ari, Capri, Callie and Penny

Fantastic experience: I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Eythan Walsh for seeing my dog yesterday on such short notice, especially when I couldn’t get a timely appointment with my regular veterinarian. Dr. Walsh was incredibly compassionate and genuinely involved in my pet’s care. I left the clinic with a smile on my face and peace of mind, knowing my dog was going to be OK. It’s refreshing to find a veterinarian who doesn’t rely on running test after test or piling on unnecessary expenses. Dr. Walsh clearly knew what he was doing—he focused on what mattered and didn’t waste time or money when it wasn’t needed. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate vet who truly cares, look no further than Dr. Eythan Walsh.

Negative experience: This used to be my favorite vet, but ever since VCA bought them, all they care about is gouging everyone for every dollar they have. I went from having an appointment a year for regular checkups, being about $400 after tests and shots, to immediately the next year paying $800+ for routine tests and vaccinations. They would send me mail and emails telling me that I need to get more and more things done forever. If you look up "How the corporatization of vet clinics is driving up prices across the country" you will see the CBC story about this very issue. Now, I changed vets to someone I trust less purely because I cannot afford the new prices, and my new vet discovered high levels of liver enzymes. I wanted to ask Dr Heather Steede for a second opinion, but because I haven't given them money in a year, she won't even take a phone call with me. I've been abandoned by the person who I trusted most with my dog, all because I'm struggling financially. UPDATE: the response says that they need an appointment to make the correct recommendation, but I explained to them that besides the routine blood test I wanted them to look at, there has been absolutely no changes in anything about my dog and her care. I just wanted to let them know what the new vet said about the blood test and see if they agree, but they won't do it unless I pay for an examination even though I said I would be paying them for any further testing. I sympathize with needing to charge for services, but there's a disregard for my situation where paying for an unneeded examination is not something that's really possible for me right now. I get that if everyone asked for advice on a bunch of tests forever, it would be a lot of extra work, but I'm in an unfortunate situation and they don't care to help. Saying so is met with the same response given here. No compassion, just corporate copyright. Even after saying that I would get the tests done through them which, due to VCA in all their corporate heartlessness, are going to cost an arm and a leg more than they would have previously.

Fantastic experience: I had an incredible experience at VCA Canada Downtown Animal Hospital with Dr. Skye O'Shell. From the moment I arrived, the entire team demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, care, and compassion. Dr. O'Shell was thorough, attentive, and truly went above and beyond to ensure my pet was comfortable and well cared for. Dr. Eythan Walsh and Manager Allyson were equally outstanding — kind, knowledgeable, and clearly dedicated to delivering top-tier service. Though I wasn’t able to catch everyone’s names, every staff member I interacted with contributed to a calm, reassuring environment. Their teamwork and attention to detail made all the difference during what could have been a stressful appointment. Thank you to the whole team for your compassion and professionalism — it does not go unnoticed. I feel truly confident trusting my pet’s care to your clinic!

Negative experience: UNFAIR COMPANY I have been a client of VCA Downtown Animal Hospital for some time, but my recent experience has been nothing short of unfair, unethical, and unprofessional. I visited this location to get my dog’s health checked and his vaccinations updated for international travel. Having done this process multiple times at other vet clinics—including the VCA at Yonge & Davisville—I never faced any issues before. However, at this location, I was met with disrespect, wasted time, and unnecessary expenses. The veterinarian, Eythan Walsh, attended to my dog and asked me to return the next day to pick up the completed travel forms, as he was too busy at the time. While that was unusual, I had no issue with it. Later, I called to confirm the forms were ready, and the front desk attendant, Allyson, assured me they were. Upon arriving, I immediately noticed the veterinarian’s signature was missing and the documents were printed on the wrong paper size. When I pointed this out, I was told the veterinarian was not available and that the incorrect formatting wouldn’t be a problem, as they had done it that way before. Trusting their word, I proceeded with my scheduled CFIA appointment (a required step to certify the forms for international travel). The next morning, I returned to VCA before my appointment, only to find the documents were still not ready—the veterinarian had not arrived yet. This time, a different front desk attendant, Vicky, who was very kind and helpful, reprinted the forms in the correct format. She even admitted that the previous attendant had misinformed me. Due to these delays, I had to reschedule my CFIA appointment, causing significant inconvenience. Later that day, after making multiple unnecessary trips, I finally received the properly completed forms. Vicky assured me that she would inform her manager, also named Allyson, about the situation and that the manager would contact me regarding a potential refund or some form of compensation for the time and money I had lost. When I finally spoke to Manager Allyson, she was rude, dismissive, and completely unhelpful. Instead of acknowledging their mistakes, she offered a refund only if I returned the forms—knowing full well that I was traveling in the next couple of days and had no time to restart the process with another veterinarian. It was not just unfair, but outright ridiculous and ironic. In the end, this experience with VCA Downtown Animal Hospital left me frustrated and disappointed. They wasted my time, cost me additional money, and showed zero accountability for their mistakes. I would strongly advise others to avoid this location if you value professionalism, efficiency, and customer service.

Negative experience: They take blood from my dog to make money ❌❌❌❌❌❌ I have been bringing my dog to this clinic for three years and initially had a good experience with Dr. Emily, who was knowledgeable and caring. However, since she left last year, my experiences here have been frustrating and disappointing. Recently, I visited for a consultation regarding the necessary paperwork for traveling with my dog. During the consultation, I told Dr. Heather Steede that my dog had previously done a rabies titer test at this clinic. Instead of checking the records or verifying the travel requirements, she immediately told me we needed to do another one and proceeded to order the test. She did not check whether it was actually required. The cost of the rabies titer test had increased significantly since we last did it here. Previously, it was around $600 CAD, but this time, they charged $955 CAD. When I asked about the reason for the drastic price increase, the nurse told me that the U.S. lab had raised its fees and that they were charged more, so the clinic “had no choice” but to pass the cost onto customers. However, when I called another clinic in downtown (2km away), I was quoted $700 CAD for the exact same test. Unnecessary Blood Draw & Lack of Accountability After my dog’s blood was drawn for the test, I later found out that the rabies titer test was not needed at all for my travel plans. When I raised this with the assistant manager, she immediately agreed to refund the cost, thanking me for letting them know the correct regulations because they “didn’t know.” When I asked why the vet didn’t simply say she was unsure instead of immediately ordering unnecessary bloodwork, the assistant manager told me that they expect pet owners to know what’s required. How is it acceptable for a vet to make a decision without verifying the necessity of a procedure, then place the responsibility on pet owners for knowing what should be done? Even though they refunded the rabies titer test, they refused to refund the consultation fee, despite the fact that the vet gave me incorrect information and subjected my dog to an unnecessary procedure. Repeated Mistakes & Inconveniences • After the blood draw, they gave me a document that should have been kept at the clinic and mailed to the lab, forcing me to make an unnecessary second trip to return it. • Last year, they gave me the wrong medication—prescribing meds for a cat instead of a dog—forcing me to return yet again to exchange it. While the clinic’s extended hours are convenient, the repeated lack of accountability, disregard for accuracy, and unreasonable price gouging have been frustrating. My dog should not have had to endure an unnecessary blood draw because of a vet’s lack of knowledge about regulations. Pet owners should not have to double-check procedures or correct mistakes that a professional clinic should get right the first time. Given these experiences, I cannot recommend this clinic and strongly advise fellow pet owners to be cautious. ❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌

Negative experience: Had booked an appointment for my pup to get neutered. Within the week prior I got 4 phone calls from the clinic asking the same question. I ended up canceling the appointment due to fear of them being unable to document the answer to a simple question which lead me to believe they wouldn’t be able to properly keep track of the medication they gave my pup.

Negative experience: Overall, staff and doctors show some affectionate to animals, but hospital's system felt very exploitative. Our cat got anemia and we brought her to emergency room first, and then did follow up visits in this location. Both locations were from VCA, just different branches. They recommended us to run couple of tests initially, and when it came back inconclusive, they just recommended further tests and medications, and did not explain us if there was any other options to explore. And some of those medications, they did not explain the entirety of how painful it can be, so we had to look up on our own, since our cat's condition got deteriorated so fast once we started to give new meds to her. At the end, our cat had to be euthanized. When I phone called the doctor to tell her that we were gonna euthanize our cat, doctor said sth like she knew that there was not a lot of hope for my cat to begin with in the first place. I understand where the comment is coming from, but it was definitely something that she should have mentioned it when we visited the hospital in the first place, or at least not on the phone call where I was telling her that I'm letting her go. I can't help but feeling that we've been exploited in this situation for profit in a way. I don't think this is anyone's fault, that this has been just very unfortunate situation. However, I do think doctor's attitude had some sort of mannerism. Staffs are very nice and friendly, and I do believe they did their best, but I also think the system itself felt very exploitative.

Fantastic experience: After over a year of our 2 yr old bulldog struggling with allergies, and living in discomfort.. we finally can say we see light at the end of the tunnel & the feeling of defeat is no longer. We went to countless appointments with our previous vet where we were basically shrugged off, and made to feel that the only way to help our dog is to get him on life long antihistamines and immunotherapy. Within ONE appointment at the downtown VCA we left with a plan of action & most importantly.. just 2 days later my dog (Jax) no longer in pain. Dr.Emily was absolutely amazing, explained thoroughly how allergies work, what we can do short and long term to help him, and to maintain them.. rather than to just mask the symptoms with medication, rather how to live with them and make Jax comfortable. My fiance and I left that appointment with hope for our baby. Not to mention the next day Dr.Emily personally phoned me to check in and see how Jax is doing. Hands down best vet we’ve seen.

Fantastic experience: The vets and the staff here are beyond wonderful. My cat needs monthly shots and they took the time and effort to teach me how to do it on my own. It’s no exaggeration that they are my favourite vet clinic ever.

Negative experience: I took my dog in for a test after I found a tick on him a month prior. He was also due for a fecal test, it turns out that he had an illness found in that test. By the time I got the results from the test my dog and I were no longer in Toronto. They charged me to get a copy of the prescription to transfer to another VCA location - I've *never* heard of a clinic forcing you to pick up your pets medication from their pharmacy else charging you to get a copy of your prescription to be filled out elsewhere. Also, when asked how long it would take to get a copy of the prescription (because I'm traveling) they could not guarantee that I would get it in a timely fashion. I would avoid this place. The vet however, was nice and thorough.

Negative experience: My dog had anemia due to cancer illness, Heather told me to feed the dog with whatever the dog wanted, so I was giving chicken (as a pet parent you don’t want to see them suffer) a few days later, my dog was so constipated, and of course Heather wanted to see us for an appointment to charge more money! How IRRESPONSABLE of her to advise this, a Vet shouldn’t advise you to feed your dog with just treats and chicken, specially if they are sick! I have the emails, and when I took my dog to a really professional, they told me what products my dog need it, and specially because of the anemia. Fast communication but at what cost.

Negative experience: For context, our puppy had diaherra that had consisted throughout the day and due to him being a puppy, me and my partner decided to get him checked up to make sure everything was okay. As soon as we arrived in the examination room, one of the receptionist's walked in and asked us to sign off on two tests, one of them being Parvovirus, without explaning why the tests were needed but that they would cost $300. This was within 5 minutes of entering the room and at that point, no one had seen our dog or even knew what his symptoms were. We refused and waited to see what the doctor had to say, in response the receptionist left the forms on the side and left the room. Me and my partner instantly got the feeling that our dogs health was not a priority. Once the Doctor entered the room, they didn't really introduce themselves or look at us directly, rather they started to ask us questions whilst facing the computer. At this point, this was the third time I had given them the information they were requesting and the manner in-which the Doctor was gathering information from us came across extremely rude. Finally, the Doctor examined our puppy and said initially our dog had some gas but he didn't have a fever. She then listened to the dogs heart and lungs, but said in an undertone that things were "fine" or something to that effect. After this, she said that she would send in someone with a quote of what to do next. At no point was anything explained to us, about the dangers of Parvovirus and why in puppies testing is needed, why he needed bloodwork done, why he needed painkillers, why he needed fluids, why he needed anything. She simpy left the room, and someone came in with a quote for around $1,000 worth of treatment. This is when my fears of my pets health not being a priority was confirmed, that is when me and my partner decided to go to another vets to receive better treatment. I said to the assistant that had brought in the quote that we didn't want the treatment and that we wanted to go. As soon as we entered the lobby, the Doctor who had seen our pet instantly came over and we felt started to berate us. The Doctor, I felt, was trying to play on our emotions to perform the tests or taking the treatment. As mentioned, we had already decided to go to another vet, so I simply told her I thought this was all overkill so that we could leave as soon as possible, but the Doctor persisted in trying to get us to at least buy a meal what was essentially boiled chicken and rice. All this time, my partner noted the receiptionist was shaking her head and when we signed papers to discharge, just like the Doctor the manner she talked to us came across extremely condersending and patronising. The whole experience from start to finish was extremely uncomfortable for us. I feel one of the most important things for a vet is to build trust with the owner of the pet, the whole time we simply felt so put off by their approach. We thought it couldn't get any worse, but it did. We went to a another vet close by, as soon as we arrived the new vet instantly explained why this could be a Pavovirus case and the importance of getting testing. The new vet examined our dog and found that he did actually have a fever and his respotory rate was high, which the previous Doctor said were both fine. We were recommended to take our dog to the emergency room straight away. Once we got to the ER, the Doctors tested our dog for the Parvovirus and fortunately, he did not have it. All he simply needed was some fluids and an anti-narsea injection, that was it. Throwing back to earlier, the Doctor and receptionist at DownTown made comments about us not at least giving our dog a painkiller. Both the second vet we went too and the ER Doctor's said our dog was not actually in pain, he has discomfort which was explained to us is not the same thing as being in pain and a painkiller was not needed. Fair to say, we won't be going back.

Fantastic experience: I don’t usually write reviews, but after reading a few here that, in my opinion, unfairly describe Dr. Issam Kadri, I felt compelled to share my experience. I became a dog dad 12 years ago, and since then, Dr. Kadri has been our go-to vet at Richmond Hill Animal Hospital, where he built his practice. Dr. Kadri is a highly experienced, caring, and compassionate vet who always does what is best for my dog. My dog is now 12 years old and has been through a lot—cancer (a low-spreading type), allergies, a heart condition, arthritis, and seizures—but thanks to Dr. Kadri, he’s still doing fine, happy, and enjoying life. When VCA took over Richmond Hill Animal Hospital, Dr. Kadri decided to switch to part-time and relocated to Downtown Animal Hospital. I was thrilled when he moved downtown, as it meant I no longer had to travel to Richmond Hill. If he relocates again, I’ll follow him—it’s not easy to find a vet as good as Dr. Kadri. If you want to know more about Dr. Kadri, just check what his Richmond Hill clients have written about him

Negative experience: The reception was very friendly. Unfortunately, the veterinarian was not. The prices were about 60% higher compared to my previous vet. Considering the high cost, I felt that the veterinarian did not provide adequate service.

Negative experience: Attention; DO NOT GO TO THIS VET! Dr. Issam has no idea about dogs all he does is charge people but he has no idea what your dog actually needs he says all dogs need only injection he gives you only OPTION A. injection OPTION B meds and less injection he is a scammer and waste of time and money, I Would actually want a refund back he charged $250 dollars to see my dog not even fully exam him but minute he walled in he asked IF WE HAVE insurance because it will coast US ALOT OF MONEY which he didnt even have an idea yet of what is happening but right away he brought up money talk, He didnt exam my dog at all and of course gave me option a and b of injections and meds and gave me a price of over $500 dollars he is useless he should be fired and stop charging people we love our pets and want them to be healthy and happy we dont wanna over pay someone who has no idea and wont help our pets. PLEASE STAY AWAY from this vet DO NOT GO. I would like a refund i was scammed all he did was talk about prices and money and not my dogs health.

Negative experience: We book appointment on 6:40,but the doctor came late. During the exam, we always needed to wait long time to get their prepared things.The doctor is not friendly at all. Worse more,they added many items without discussing with you when you check out. The price is not apparent.

Negative experience: **Unprofessional and Uncaring Service at VCA - Dr. Issam Kadri** I had an extremely disappointing experience at VCA last week. My dog, who is 16 years old, had swollen joints and a decreased appetite. We scheduled an appointment and were seen by Dr. Issam Kadri, not our usual vet. Upon entering, I expressed that we were there for an annual check-up and to address the joint swelling. Dr. Kadri didn't conduct a simple examination of my pet. Instead, he offered two options: Option A was to take an X-ray and then give an injection, and Option B was to directly give an injection. I mentioned that my dog's swollen area had previously undergone cruciate ligament surgery, but Dr. Kadri interrupted me, claiming he already knew. During the visit, Dr. Kadri tried to give my dog a treat to make her walk, even though I informed him that she couldn't eat such treats due to her lack of teeth. He interrupted me again, insisting he knew, and continued with his approach. Throughout the entire visit, Dr. Kadri showed no patience in listening to my concerns, nor did he attempt to comfort my anxious, aging pet (who is deaf and has deteriorating vision). He coldly examined her and provided seemingly optional plans that both led to the same outcome - an injection. This was a stark contrast to our past experiences at VCA, where the vets were respectful, compassionate, and offered genuine choices for treatment. After the appointment, my dog's condition worsened. She became lethargic, refused to eat or drink, and experienced severe vomiting and diarrhea. Researching the injection later, I found that many people reported strong side effects and that it wasn't effective for treating cruciate ligament inflammation but rather for osteoarthritis. Dr. Kadri never mentioned the injection's success rate or potential severe side effects. My dog's joint remained swollen and painful, and the side effects only added to her suffering. We promptly sought treatment at another clinic, where anti-inflammatory medication resolved her issues, and her appetite returned. Thanks to the unprofessional care at VCA, we found a far better clinic. For reference, VCA's exorbitant prices are: - Exam: $140 + tax - X-ray: $8xx + tax In contrast, the new clinic charged: - Exam: $88 + tax - X-ray: $2xx + tax

Fantastic experience: My pup stepped on glass in the park on her morning walk and we carried her to the Downtown Animal Hospital as her foot was bleeding and there was obviously still glass in the pad of her paw. Even though they were short staffed that day, including being down a Veterinarian, they made time to see her and treat her. That included sedation so they could check and make sure they got all of the glass out, and wrapping her foot up. I am extremely grateful to the staff there for their help then, and their ongoing care of my dog as her regular vet. They were also extremely kind and patient with me as an anxious owner on our first emergency visit to the vet.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Kadri provided honest and friendly service. He made both my anxious dog and myself very relaxed. Elizabeth at the front desk is a superstar and deserves 10 stars. She was amazing with all the clients coming through and treated everyone with a level of kindness that is rare to see nowadays.

Positive experience: A bit pricey but we were able to get a same day appointment for our cat who had swallowed something that got stuck in his digestive tract and made him sick. Dr. Emily was extremely helpful and understanding. She was very empathetic and made my partner, myself and our baby Niko very comfortable throughout the whole process.

Fantastic experience: I have been here three times and have been impressed all of the times so I wanted to write a review. The first time was sadly due to another vet screwing up so badly that my cat who was old but fine came to death's door. I went here for a second advice and found out what I have been doing because of the first vet had triggered all these health problems in my cat and she was quickly dieing. Downtown Animal Hospital (DAH) did NOT blame the other vet. I just found out what the other vet had told me to do ended up causing all these issues in my then healthy cat. DAH did their best to help my cat, even going above and beyond with holding her to see if they can do treatment to save her, and did offer to keep her there overnight, but were honest that there was not much they could do even if they kept her as this was just a matter of time. Sadly, I did lose my cat but seeing how hard the vet there tried, made me swap vets. That was over a year ago. A while later, I took another cat in who was recovering from surgery, and I was blown away by how well the veterinarian treated my cat. They had her treats ready in the room, and I could tell the veterinarian (who was the same one that tried to helped my first cat) read her files and she was super comfortable with him. I came back a year after with two cats, and had a different veterinarian this time, but still equally impressed. My calico doesn't is very skittish, and though she has only been to this vet office, I have taken my first cat to the other vet place. They told me not to pet my cat (which I do to comfort her when she is stressed like being touched by strangers or when she is about to get a shot). This veterinarian did not get upset I was scritching my calico's ear to comfort her. She did not try to pull my cat away from me when my cat tried to get up against my belly for comfort. She knew what my cat disliked and went about it quickly to make it the least amount of intrusive. My other cat was much more difficult as this was her first vet visit with me. She moved around a lot, and was completely upset after getting the shot and was not having it. The veterinarian did it really fast but my little red head has a sassy personality. The veterinarian was patient trying all sorts of tricks with the pill, but did not push my cat so far as to hate coming to the vet. After my cat pouted by the door, the veterinarian let me take the pill home so we could give it to my cat once she is in a more relaxed environment. The veterinarian helped me figure out how to get my cats weight down, which is hard to do in a multicat house. She gave me lots of suggestions and listened to me about issues I had with trying to control my Calico's weight. I just felt like DAH and their vets care a lot more about the pets here, and I did not feel like an inconvenience. The receptionist here all times I went were very nice too! They answered any questions we had and seemed to really like animals, so it was a very welcoming environment.

Negative experience: It is now just pass 5 weeks that our little angel, the love of our lives "Benny Boy" passed away at approximately 7:35 pm on Tuesday, 9 January, 2024. I have wanted to write this review for a while now, but decided to wait to see if my level of disappointment and anger at Downtown Animal Hospital would subside. But it has not, so here goes... In early September of last year Benny got very sick and we rushed him to the emergency Vet, at that time we were told that he suffers from lower respiratory disease, in addition to the heart disease and pancreatits that he has been battling for several years. We were told at that time the prognosis for a dog with his complicated conditions was three to eight months. On the night of Friday December 29th 2023, we noticed that Benny was not breathing normally. Again we rushed him to Downtown Animal Hospital where he was a patient for years on Saturday December 30th, after x-ray and blood tests we were told that Benny had pneumonia on top of all his existing conditions. We had to hospitalized him on that Saturday and Sunday. Then we took him home on New Years eve as he was doing better and seemed to be slowly improving. In the last week leading up to his passing, he had some good days and other days were not so good, but Benny hung in there and kept fighting the good fight until his heart gave out. His breathing never did normalized even though we were supplementing his oxygen at home to help him, but even that couldn't beat the pneumonia and the damage it inflicted on his little lungs. In the last few days he stopped eating and it was a struggle to get him to take his meds. On Monday, 8 January, we resorted to feeding him via a syringe which he hated. When we were getting ready to feed him on the next night, which was Tuesday, 9 January, he took one look at the syringe and went into a panic / anxiety attack. He started to pant very badly and no matter what we did he never regained / caught is breath again. He passed away within minutes in his Papa’s arms at 7:35PM. I / we cannot believe that Benny is actually gone. It is all so surreal and it hurts like hell. But what makes this so much harder to bare, is our final interaction with Downtown Animal Hospital, in particular, Dr. Vihos. On the 30th and 31st of December when Benny was hospitalized there, he was given oxygen therapy, antibiotics, other medications and 2 x-rays were taken of his lungs with a total of just under $2,500. Then when we spoke to Dr. Vihos on the Tuesday following, she wanted to do 3 more x-rays even though Benny had 2 x-rays a couple days ago. We felt it was a bit much and over done, and did not want to subject Benny to all of that radiation. Dr. Vihos never called to check up on how Benny was doing or any other Vet there since we had been seen by Dr. Steede in the past. On the morning of Wednesday, 10th January, I called Downtown Animal Hospital to let them know that Benny had passed the night before and to inform Dr. Vihos. We were told that Dr. Vihos had gone on vacation, but will be informed and that Dr. Steede would be informed as well. Well, to this day as I am writing this review, we have NEVER received a phone call from Dr. Vihos or Dr. Steede expressing their condolences for the passing of their former patient, Benny. You would think that someone in the business of caring for animals, it would have been the natural thing to follow up on the patient. I would always hear negative things spoken about Vets and how money hungry they can be, but never wanted to believe until now. It seems that Dr. Vihos and Downtown Animal Hospital is only in business for the money and how much they can squeeze out of vulnerable pet owners. And lack care and compassion for our fur babies which we place in their care. We are blessed to still have one more fur baby, Teddy and we will NEVER set foot in Downtown Animal Hospital again. Your experience may be different than ours, but BEWARE!

Negative experience: Vet was too scared to get close to our 20lb, 8 year old dog! She asked me to describe the elbo infection and looked at it only from a distance. It’s literally impossible to see without lifting the fur. Very disappointing and unprofessional.

Fantastic experience: Great service. They were very good with our two rescue cats who are still very frightened in new surroundings. Got health check results quickly and walked out with needed medications. Highly recommend

Fantastic experience: We had to bring our sweet cat in for euthanasia on a holiday, and our regular vet was closed. VCA Downtown were able to take us same day and were so kind and compassionate. We are grateful. This is the worst part of pet ownership but the vet, staff, and techs were gentle and helped us send our sweet girl home. The cost was half of what we were quoted at an emergency animal hospital.

Fantastic experience: If you need to travel with your pet, this is the best and most knowledgeable place to be at. Dr. Steede is an absolute guru of pet travel certificates. She completed mine with utmost care and knowledge of all the kinks and details so I had no problem with any technicalities throughout my international travel. Big big thank you for making something so stressful a piece of cake! See you soon!

Fantastic experience: Really caring place. Can tell they love animals. Personally found them very reasonably priced especially for a downtown vet clinic. Have a been a few times now for large and small things and would recommend.

Positive experience: My pets have been patients at this clinic for all their lives. Despite dramatic price increases over the years and lacklustre service from time to time, I chose to continue going to DAH because it was convenient. But the recent acquisition by VCA has, unfortunately, seen a fundamental shift in the way the practice treats me. This quickly became intolerable, and after almost 14 years, I’ve moved to a new vet. I’m grateful fo those at DAH who have provided care to my pets the past and wish everyone there well.

Negative experience: My cat was suffering greatly and at the final stage of his life needed to be euthanized. Unfortunately, his regular vet was not open on Sundays. When I called and asked if they could see him and explained the situation and his symptoms I was simply told, "No, we're fully booked". No empathy, no compassion, not even a suggestion of who else to call. Luckily, the next vet I called was the complete opposite of this place and not only helped us but were kind and compassionate and accommodated us in a few hours. I understand having a booked schedule, but some simple compassion or offering another alternative from whomever is answering your phones would be helpful when a person calls during a very stressful moment in their lives.

Positive experience: A bit pricey. Decent guinea pig vets. We saw them annually for check ups until recently (switched to Greenwood), and one of my guys had a tumor removed there earlier this year. On that front, it would be great if they had cones or collars for guinea pigs, as I had to make do with close monitoring and makeshift onesies, and I eventually had to abandon the latter. It would also be great if they had products for animals other than cats and dogs (and maybe birds? I can't recall), as I would've bought from them if they did. I also love the flexibility in their hours, though this almost doesn't apply to guinea pigs, as the guinea pig vets aren't in every day. I was pretty disappointed that they couldn't put one of the pigs down when he went into respiratory distress during palliative care at home; we had to go to VEC, which was super expensive.

Fantastic experience: My baby yorkie Kashi loves coming here! Came in twice, and both Dr Cappon and Dr Vihos made me and my puppy very comfortable. They gave us full attention and didn’t rush through the appointment at all. Thank you! We will be back!

Fantastic experience: I’ve been a client here for about a year and couldn’t be more pleased with their service. The vets, techs, and admin staff are all pretty great! It’s not a cheap clinic, but that’s to be expected for a downtown clinic (particularly with their expansive opening hours). Dr Emily goes out of her way to make my dog feel comfortable and to help me through my concerns as a first time dog mom. My little rescue doggie loves her and so do I!

Fantastic experience: Hassle free experience They were very patient with my cat who gets anxious outside. They didn’t force any test or process. They did communicate what are the items that are needed. Also, it was easy for me to get an appointment the next day!

Fantastic experience: Took my cat in for an emergency. They were able to see him promptly and were upfront aboutball costs and procedures. The doctor who saw him was very kind and polite and treated us both with kindness. The reception was also amazing, and it helped put my mind at ease. I decided to make a second dental appointment, and again, the staff was amazing. I highly recommend this vet. 10/10

Negative experience: BEWARE: This is NOT an urgent care clinic. My dog got hurt and was bleeding profusely and after being told to go elsewhere for help as they were too busy with regular appointments, I had few options left as I was covered in blood and Uber/taxis would not pick me up to get to help at a clinic that would prioritize something urgent over expensive ‘non-urgent’ appointments and then suggest going to ‘non-urgent’ veterinary clinics as they might be able to help - they could not. I wasn’t able to get my best friend help when he was hurt today simply because of greed. This clinic should not only change the sign to not cause hardship for pets and owners in need by falsely advertising urgent care, but all of the people who work there should be ashamed of themselves for dismissing an animal in clear need to focus on greed. Admittedly, I was slightly traumatized by all the blood and found it soul-crushingly disappointing that people pay this clinic for caring for animals when they clearly do not care about anything but their bottom line. Perhaps I was a bit PTSD or filled with fear for my friend over some blood - but It is frankly disgusting behaviour that left me in a terrible spot and I will make sure to advise any person I ever speak to for the remainder of my dogs life to never ever trust you to do anything in the interest of an animal. You failed in an unforgivable way today. Shame on you.

Positive experience: No good experience on Sundays. I have been bringing my pets seeing the vets at this hospital for at least 5 years and I seriously don't know why everything is going downhill, especially when there is a change in ownership or maybe one coming up. I have 4 cats. I asked the receptionist during making appointments twice (one for weekday and the other one for Sunday) if i have trouble bringing in the one I booked, can I bring in the other one instead. She replied yes twice for the 2 bookings. Also even I left them voice messages at least half an hour before I attended the appointment on Sundays. But when I got there on Sunday and checked in at the reception, she didn't make the change until I told the vet in the examination room. And the reception/tech asked again after the vet went out maybe asked her to make the change. It's either they don't want me to be there on Sundays or there is problem with their capability in carrying out their jobs properly. What I wrote seemed insulting, but they seriously gave me that feeling.

Fantastic experience: We had an emergency with our senior dog and Downtown Animal Hospital was able to take us within a few hours on a Sunday. They truly are one of the best vet's we've ever been to. Dr. Emily is attentive, compassionate and very knowledgeable. She was able to treat our dog and checked in multiple times over the following week. Being a dog owner for over 10 years, I can say Downtown Animal Hospital is one of the first vet's I've visited in an emergency where I was not scared into expensive treatments or felt like I was being taken advantage of during an emotional time. All of the staff we met were kind and patient with us. We can't thank them enough.

Negative experience: Poor customer service is all I can say. After taking my dog in on Jan 23, I reached out to them by email in regards to my dog's condition and requested for a record of health history of my dog in order to submit to the insurance company. A week came and gone and I have not heard anything (after I followed up with two emails and a phone call). Not to mention a $600 vet fee! When I called in today and was told because Dr Hall is off till next Wednesday so I will not hear anything from her till she's in again. And to make things worse, the receptionist Vicky showed no empathy. Being empathetic is important in all industries. If you don't have it , you should at least train your staff how to treat your clients. I would think twice about going back. Bad service and no sense of urgency isn't what I expect after paying $600 vet fee. Update Feb 1, Just got off phone with Dr. Hall and I explained to her the situation and she said because I have written a bad review of them and that I should take my business elsewhere! This is by far the worst experience I have had. Think twice about going there pet owners. They charge you so much and then give you the customer service you don't deserve! Do not go there!

Negative experience: The clinic forgot to call me and tell me my cats urn and paw print were back at the clinic. It took me calling to find out that she was returned even though I was reassured that I would be called. She had been back for two weeks Please be mindful should you need to make arrangements. There was no need for the unnecessary shock and grief. It was already hard enough as it was

Fantastic experience: Incredible staff on every level. Always an expensive trip, but the staff and service are worth it. I've paid more at other vets in the past for much less service and care. For sure. They are gentle and kind to your pet and very informative with info and options, which is huge. Amazing. I'll never take my kitty or any future fur-ldren anywhere else. Thank you Downtown Animal Hospital.

Fantastic experience: Brought my Rottweiler Tyson here this week and everyone was so kind. Great reception team who made us feel welcome right away but most importantly I felt like Tyson was well taken care of and the issue we came in for was broken down and properly explained to me. 5 star service!

Negative experience: I recommend any other vet over this one. This spring, I took my cat in for a checkup because he looked like he was resting uncomfortably after an earlier discovery of a mild heart murmur. Vet found nothing else wrong, anything else would have to wait for a heart specialist weeks and weeks later. Barely 24h later, my cat started hyperventilating. I took him to an extremely costly (over 2k) emergency vet, where we learned he had asthma. Guess there was something else wrong?? Cat now has an inhaler every 12 hours, each puffer lasts 2 months. Vet won’t provide more than 2 months at a time, and require me to pay a $35 prescription writing fee each time before forwarding to the pharmacy (medication itself is $70) I’ve requested multiple refills, as this is a lifelong medication, and DAH continues to ignore this request, instead charging $35 each time. Called to fill my cat’s prescription and pay them another $35 as my cat’s puffer is running out. Two days of calls now, they are not signing and sending the prescription to the pharmacy, even thought they shared they would complete the task before end of day. So not only are they asking a ridiculous amount of regular funds for the prescription (again, not the meds themselves…) but they also aren’t making good on this one task they have to do for my cat’s care at this time. Services are also well-known to be overpriced, as they are located in the village and know our communities will pay more for pet care, and they don’t actually seem to be using a fear free approach at all. Horrible. I started with them mid-covid due to an urgent issue on a friend’s recommendation and I’ve regretted it since.

Fantastic experience: Received the best care and service possible for an emergency situation with our dog. On top of that, they handled the transfer to a 24-hour emergency clinic for us as well. Wonderful team and I’m super grateful for them!

Negative experience: I really, really wanted to like this clinic as it's so conveniently close to my house. But after 6 months and 4 visits, it has been increasingly disappointing and frustrating. I felt they were trying to oversell me stuff rather than giving advise. They even wanted to test my cat for things that she had already been tested for in another clinic with her prior owner "just in case", they said. And ultimately, after all this time, I'm still dealing with the same issue with my cat, for which I get more information reading online than going to these visits. But the last straw for me, was that with advance notice, I booked an appointment to travel with my cat outside the country and I sent them the documentation needed to be filled out. Only to find out when I arrive to my appointment that the vet didn't know how to fill it out -- even after I sent them the docs through email and with advance notice, there was apparently 0 preparation for that. But they were quick to charge me close to $300 for it. They filled the papers however they felt like doing it and not in front of me -- they went to a separate room to do so, which still to this day doesn't make any sense to me--, and then when I went to CFIA, they were wrong. So I had to re-do the whole process, which they didn't even want to give me an appointment for, I had to insist due to the window of time for the trip closing in and not having the time or energy to deal with another failed trip to CFIA. In the end they agreed but again, went to a separate room to fill the papers and I wasn't even allowed, after the process, to ask an unrelated question about my cat's health to the vet. They told me to send an email instead. It's like going to the dentist and having to tell the doctor what they need to do and how, really. Yet you pay the same price. Incredibly disappointed, and wouldn't recommend this kind of service to anyone.

Fantastic experience: Dr Hall was really great with my 16 year old cat. She took her time assessing him and making sure he was comfortable before doing her exam, and spent tons of time talking with me to discuss his options. My cat and I were comfortable the entire visit and the doctor even called the next day on her day off to give me his blood work results and recommendations for follow ups. This clinic truly cares about pet health and well being and I highly recommend.

Negative experience: I would just like to say how disappointed I am with this hospital. Our beloved dog of 14 years was killed from medication given by the doctor. Never told of any serious side effects let alone ANY side effects, it was presented as a simple fix. Our poor girl was in good health prior to our visit. And when returning to this hospital after our girl’s death, there was zero compassion given by any of the employees, zero! Everyone please do not take your animals to this place. They are horrible. RIP Mika

Fantastic experience: Best. Vet. Office. Ever. Name another clinic where your dog is EXCITED to go to the vet, starts smiling and wagging his tail when he recognizes where he is, and starts sprinting down the road when he hears me say “Let’s go see Marla and Dr. Steede!” The incredible, thoughtful, and most importantly caring staff at DAH watched my dog grow up and held my hand through it all, physically and emotionally as a first time dog owner raising a corgi puppy on my own (no small feat). Their clinic goes above and beyond when it comes to making your animal feel safe and welcomed, from pheromone air plugs to treats galore, from all the cuddles and love from the staff to letting the animals get used to their environments. They are a FEAR FREE CERTIFIED clinic, and I am 100% certain their expertise in how to treat animals even beyond medically has made my life so much easier with a dog that doesn’t even mind thermometers stuck in his bum and vaccines sprayed in his nose because he trusts the vets handling him THAT much. Of all the vets in Toronto, DAH has been the most responsive, ALWAYS finding a solution to an urgent problem, and helping me manage stress and logistics through nose infections, parasites, new dog-mama blues, tummy troubles, neutering, preparing my doc for cross-continental travel - and everything in between. I have and always will trust this clinic with my dog’s life. All in all, my concerns are their concerns. My wins are their wins. My love for my dog was completely and authentically matched. They never make me feel like I was under reacting or over reacting. They always make me feel cared for, they make my dog happy and healthy. No concern or question is too small, and as someone who pretty much visited them once month (if mot more often) during my puppy’s first year, I never felt like a burden. I only felt like my dog was a local celebrity there. A special shoutout to Dr. Steede for being SO knowledgeable, and warm - you can immediately tell she is clicked on for any situation. And also to Marla, for being our #1 fan, for all the treat, help, support, joy, hugs, and much much more. So basically, if you’re looking for a vet, drop what you’re doing and visit our friends at DAH. It will be the singular best decision you’ll have made in your and your beloved pet’s life.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Steed is the best vet I’ve ever dealt with. She truly cares about my dog, and makes reasonable suggestions on his health and well-being. She is kind, compassionate and caring to both me and my dog. I’m grateful to be her client.

Fantastic experience: I'm giving a 5 star review based off of my experience for the last 2 years with Downtown Animal Hospital. Before I found this animal hospital, it was nearly impossible to find a hospital who would deal with rabbits, as they are considered a rare breed. Every single interaction I have had with their staff since the beginning has been amazing. They really treat you and your fur baby with so much kindness and respect. I've had to leave my rabbits overnight and they made it very easy for me to do so. Its a very trusting environment and I have no negative experiences, I find their pricing fair as well.

Fantastic experience: Best vet clinic in the city! Both of my cats have been with this clinic for over a year now. Dr. Guo and Dr. Cappon are very empathetic and accommodating. Friendly staff. Price is reasonable and estimate is accurate. No hidden costs. I would recommend to any pet owners.

Negative experience: Money hungry, over priced. Please do not take you pet here. The only thing these people care about is money and they will put the best interest of your beloved animal aside if that’s what it takes. We took our dog to several vets before finding a good one and unfortunately this was one of them. Please don’t make the same mistake we did and stay far away from these people.

Fantastic experience: I've been bringing my cats to DAH for years. The vets offer choices but are not pushy. Whether it's a routine checkup or a heartbreaking end-of-life visit, the care is stellar. All staff are compassionate and friendly, and Dr. Steede gets an extra gold star.

Fantastic experience: Great customer service, staff are super helpful and create a positive experience. My dog loves it

Negative experience: I’m appalled by my experience at this clinic. My kitten has been registered with them since he was young and got all his vaccinations here (rabies, etc). After his neutering surgery they called me to let me know that my cat lightly nipped at one the staff as he was distressed. The staff then went and had him reported to public health claiming he’d been bitten by an animal that could’ve possibly been rabid, fully knowing that this clinic themselves vaccinated him against rabies and he’s just a small scared kitten. The hospital manager called me to just “let me know” a couple days after. Public health then made me go through a bunch of paperwork, made my cat quarantine and threatened to take him away all because of their mistake. This was absolutely ridiculous. Please do not take your pets here if you care for them as I would never want any other pet owner to go through what we did. Switched clinics asap.

Fantastic experience: I've been with this hospital for a few years till the passing of my beloved cat. Highly recommend it. Your pet will be in good hands. By the way, the whole procedure of euthanasia was carried out with dignity, compassion and great professionalism.

Fantastic experience: We had a sick bunny emergency. Dr. Vihos & the team at Downtown Animal Hospital were there to help. They made time in their scheduled day to see our bunny within an hour of my call. They quickly diagnosed the problem, gave him some urgent care and got him stabilized and sent us home with a happy healthy bunny. They're fantastic!

Fantastic experience: Absolutely fantastic staff. Genuine not the fake bs people can see right through. The Dr. Incharge is a brilliant Scientist, Dr, down to earth woman who has the touch of Princess Bell. For those unfamiliar with my reference please watch "Beauty And The Beast". We feel so fortunate to have our cat's under her watchful, attention to detail, creative orthodox and brilliant state of the art treatment. Silver always leaves happy as can be.

Fantastic experience: I've coming here many times with my friend and her dog even before I have my own dog. The doctors and staff are so approachable, professional, and knowledgeable. They’ve helped me, my dog and so many other people’s pets in urgent situations. They are also one of the few animal hospitals that is open during weekend. They treated my dog’s eye infection during a weekend when my regular vet clinic wasn’t open. But do call ahead as they might not able to accept walk-ins. ❤️✨

Fantastic experience: I've been going to The Downtown Animal Hospital for over a decade. Dr Steede is a wonderful vet and I'm always confident when she takes care of my pets. She recently took care of my senior cat who was in critical condition and while she didn't sugarcoat the situation, her kindness and patience with both him and myself was touching even in the midst of a terrifying situation. He's home and comfortable now while we await the test results and I couldn't be happier to have had Dr Steede take care of him (and her staff who stayed late to make sure he was stable!). Thank you!

Fantastic experience: Had an absolutely amazing experience! I had to bring 2 wild kids and a giant stroller with me to my new pup appointment. They were more than accommodating and didn’t make me feel like a nuisance once even when my kids were acting up. The vet was calming and very kind, answered all of my incessant questions without being bothered. My new pup was a little nervous, though they do a lot to make sure the dogs are comfortable. Prices are reasonable compared to other vets, would definitely recommend to others especially if you have to bring kids thank you!

Fantastic experience: I have been a customer here for 7 years and it is the best vet clinic I’ve ever patronized. I recommend to everyone. Dr. Steede is incredible although I’ve had other vets since the hospital has accommodated me last minute many times in times of need and they have all been great. They did a fantastic job throughout the pandemic but I’m happy to be able to attend appointments again

Fantastic experience: We bring our cats here and they really helped us feel at ease and confident our whole visit. And they were absolutely fantastic with our very grump old lady Milly. Thanks for all you've done and continue to do! P.s they even make me feel less anxious which I didn't rhino would be possible

Negative experience: Not a great experience. Went with my dog who got a burr splinter. I don't have enough time to write and explain all that happened, but here's some of it. Dr. Vinhos didnt have good bedside manner, pinched on her sore paw 3 times at the exam as she squeeled in pain and said "oh yeah that's bad and hurts". Well yeah, you should've known that the first squeeze. She was very rough to the touch and kept brushing off my questions...was very tight lipped about anything I asked. It was essentially a splinter, but she only gave 1 treatment option - surgery. I asked if there's other options if she can freeze and try to pull out, but she said no - need to swab, xray, and do exploratory surgery. I felt really pressured to get her treated there as my usual vet couldn't get me in for 3 weeks, my husband was out of country and her paw was already getting infected. I regret it and wished I went to the emergency - I probably would've been treated better, and it probably would've been cheaper...cause for the paw surgery, xrays, swab, re- bandaging, 3 meds it was nearly $3000. And she didn't even find a splinter....just cut into it, cleaned it and stitched it up. Then, each time I had to bring her in every few days for bandaging, I was charges $75 for bandages and they forced her to walk up the stairs with a sore limping paw rather than treat it on the main level. The vet and vet tech said conflicting things as well. I just felt unheard, left in the dark, taken advantage of and overcharged. All that said, I ended up treating it the rest at home, cleaned it, took stitches out myself , and my pup is healed now thankfully.

Negative experience: I went to this hospital because I read a lot of good reviews regarding rabbit treatment by Dr. Vihoos. My rabbit had teeth issues, could not eat, has a lot of saliva in her mouth. Dr. Vihoos inspected my rabbit twice within 2 weeks, so I went to her appointment twice, spent more than $1500 and each time dr was saying that she “doesn’t see any teeth issues” in the mouth of my rabbit. I relayed to her diagnosis, but after 2 weeks my rabbit stopped eating at all, so we urgently headed to Emergency where she had teeth trimming surgery. I can’t tolerate hypocrisy and unprofessionalism of dr. Vihoos in not paying attention to the complaints of pet owners and keeping prescribing expensive procedures like Xrays, blood tests and based on all these tests not being able to say what is the real problem with a poor animal who is gravely suffering. At this point, money doesn’t matter to me at all, but I am writing this review to let everyone know how this dr treat rabbits and provides wrong diagnosis to rabbit. Dear rabbit owners think twice before going to that place!

Fantastic experience: I was very impressed with Dr. STEEDE. She understood what I was going through and what I wanted information- wise to help my boy, Bauer. I know when I go to Downtown Vet, he will eventually get what we are trying to do for him and eventually look forward to going for his visits. There is nothing worse than walking this world in fear. Thank you for your compassion. Sharon Kirkby

Fantastic experience: There are no words for my continued and overwhelming thanks for Downtown Animal Hospital. The dedication the staff have to rescue animals is beyond comprehension. I have been working with DAH since 2014 to rescue dogs via several rescues including Coveted Canines Rescue. Their determination, unyielding love, flexibility and care is incomparable. The magnificent Dr. Steede is an truly an angel. The amount of hours she has dedicated to our rescue dogs are far too many to account for. We have rescued hundreds of dogs together and have taken on some incredibly challenging cases. I truly recommend this practice. They are a business that really care. They give back to those less fortunate via their support of rescues. I cannot recommend this vet clinic enough. You will not be disappointed if you come here. Especially if you have a nervous dog or a rescue dog that needs to decompress from the hardships of life. Their fear free strategies truly work. The animals come first. It’s evident in every aspect of their care.

Fantastic experience: After looking for downtown clinics, we regret only not to have been to the downtown animal hospital before. We went to others nearby and none of them offered us the same quality of service! Really really happy! The scheduling of the appointments: easy! The visit was extremely nice and no absurd exams was tried to pushed on us. The vet was extremely nice giving us all sort of useful advice regarding travelling with our cat. The clinic is also trying to to its best to be a fear-free environment and that was clearly appreciated and visibile from every detail: from the dog/cat separate waiting areas, to the padded metal tables that helped out cat being at ease during the visit. The use of pheromones and attentions to all the needs of our cat was incredible! I read many reviews about the cost of the clinic, but honestly it is in line with the cost of other downtown clinics, so nothing surprising. At the end of the visit we only had one question: why did we not go there sooner?

Positive experience: Its a nice cute hospital for our furry friends! Took my new stray boy Luka to check if he got any microchip on him. If u are on after office hours, this is the best place. I even got contact info on how to get him adopted, very friendly receptionists and nurse. Helped us Good for all who❤️

Negative experience: Just my experience with Dr. Vihos. My pet was seriously sick. She just came in and asked how the pet is and blablabla. After that she said to me your pet is sick and needs to be checked. I asked her what could be the reason and she just said without exam she doesn't know but my pet is sick which I can obliviously see it. Then she left room and brought me a full package of exam about 1.5k for exam only. And also the X-ray needs to be sent out to another specialist to review it charge is $160. She just drop the list on desk and that's it. This experience was totally unsatisfying. She didn't provide any professional advise only list all the exam there like a machine. Previously my experience at another vet, even it didn't help my another pet, at least, they made professional suggestions and advised first do what exam and depending on the result what next step it should be. one star gives to reception staff who was nice.

Fantastic experience: I am so happy to be a patient at Downtown Animal Hospital - specifically a client of Dr. Heather Steede. Dr. Steede is thoughtful, empathetic and a great communicator. She has helped my dog navigate various health issues, most notably his allergies and chronic skin disease which is now under control thanks to her. She is amazing at explaining options when an issue arises: outlining price estimates and pros/cons of next steps or possible treatments/tests. Vet Techs/Assistants (especially Ricardo and Rebecca) are incredibly caring and patient with my very nervous and large dog. And Abby who helps with food orders is lovely and supportive when my special food is out of stock from the supplier, even reaching out when it is back in stock to ease my nerves :) A great example of this clinics exceptional care is when my dog recently needed an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Typically, dogs need to be sedated for this because they need to be very still and on their backs. The techs went above and beyond for my dog, calming him down and taking the time to make him comfortable so that they could preform the ultrasound without sedation. They could've easily just sedated him, but they didn't and I am so appreciative.

Fantastic experience: I cannot express how pleased I am with the treatment we received at DAH. From the front desk kindness and professionalism to the patience and empathetic service that Dr. Emily provides. Our cat is extremely anxious and can get very aggressive, Dr. Emily took her time to answer all of our questions and to reassure us everything would be fine. What could be another very traumatic visit to the vet, was a completely calm and informational visit.

Fantastic experience: The team were exceptional while helping us make the heartbreaking decision to put our cat down. Their kindness, consideration, and professionalism made a difficult day much better. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Both my cats first visit to the vet was amazing. The client care was smooth and clear in regards to communication and ensuring we filled out the appropriate information pre-appointment. I love that they're ‘fear free certified’ Never heard of this before. The Dr. was so gentle and calming for my cats and they gave them lots of treats and time to crawl out of their cage to be assessed. 10/10 will return and recommend to other animal owners!

Fantastic experience: I am forever grateful for the loving care that Dr. Vihos and Dr. Steede, and the staff at the Downtown Animal Hospital have given my senior cat for the past 2 years. Dr. Vihos saved her life and, in the middle of the pandemic, when I wasn't allowed in the hospital, she always made me feel like I was right there, keeping me informed, giving me all the information I needed, and caring for my senior cat. More recently, I had another wonderful experience with Dr. Steede. Thank you for all you do for Myrta!!!

Fantastic experience: Dr Vihos is an amazing experienced and caring vet. I have been going there with both my dogs for over 14 years. She is also an excellent surgeon. The vet tech’s are also very professional, patient and kind it’s an excellent animal hospital; your pet is in the best of care/hands.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Vihos is an amazing rabbit-savvy vet who has helped pull my lil bunny from the brink of death a couple times. She seems to genuinely care about her patients and is always super thorough. It's so hard to find someone who is a rabbit expert, nevermind downtown, she is a total lifesaver and I am so grateful for the treatment she provided for my rabbit. I also really appreciate Downtown Animal Hospital's relatively late hours and how they usually have emergency slots available day-of, which can be so hard to find for exotics!

Fantastic experience: My hamster’s nails were extremely long, and I decided to take her to Downtown Animal Hospital. I found everyone friendly and respectful. All my questions were answered, and I was treated kindly by everyone! I felt confident and reassured by Abby and Taylor. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: I’m so pleased with our experience with the Downtown Animal Hospital! They have a rabbit savvy Vet (Dr. Vihos). Finding a Vet who treats rabbits is difficult, but finding a good Vet who treats rabbits is even more so. I had a “rabbit savvy” Vet previously care for my bunny, and he was very inconsiderate and unprofessional. I’m so happy that my bunny is now in Dr Vihos’s good care, she was very knowledgeable and helpful. She took the time to answer my questions and explain her findings in detail.

Fantastic experience: I moved to this location from downtown Wellesley hospital which was a disastrous experience. I emailed Downtown Animal hospital and they immediately made and appointment for my baby Winston. The vet was super thorough. She took her time and explained everything. She told me what was needed and went through pricing and told me exactly what I was being charged for, unlike Wellesley animal hospital that kept pushing their products on me and didn’t tell me a thing about what the check up involved. It’s my first pet so I needed someone to be a bit more gingerly with me with downtown animal hospital really came through for me. Winston is happy and healthy. Thank you so much. See you in a few weeks for her second vaccination.

Fantastic experience: I cannot express how pleased I am with the service, professionalism, and kindness from everyone -- from reception to the doctors/ surgeons. I took my cat here for an ear surgery + to be neutered, and everything went smoothly. I was treated with upmost compassion and respect, and provided a lot of helpful information. When I brought him home, he was acting a lot like his usual self and seemed to be quite happy and comfortable. Thank you so much for all that you guys do Theo says thank you too!

Negative experience: Excellent front desk staff and good doctor, however, I paid $ 500 and was not told any result. I was not even told the diagnosis. I do not believe that a professional cannot identify a fracture. My dog ​​walked with a broken paw for 4 days until we went to another specialist. The price list is very strangely planned. Doctor was unable to recognize the fracture, although he had all the X-rays. He said that he need to send them to other specialists and pay about $ 160 more…. I went to another veterinarian and he immediately said that it was a fracture, it took 1 minute to tell me what happened to my dog. No comments to say true. So I need to pay for visit around $100, for x-rays around $300… and I need to pay $160 because the vet doesn’t see anything on x-rays ?…. I’m so sorry to say it. The vet was very nice to me and my dog, excellent staff, however there are much better and cheaper specialists in the city. I can't give a good assessment of this clinic. I believe that a good specialist could see the fracture from the x-rays… and you don’t need to pay for it additional :/